Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs

DCCA’s goals are to promote a strong and healthy business environment while protecting the community from unfair and deceptive business practices. The areas covered by these goals are set by the Legislature through the Hawaii Revised Statutes (HRS) and further clarified through the DCCA’s Hawaii Administrative Rules (HAR).  To cover these areas, DCCA is organized into divisions, offices and branches.  A brief summary of DCCA’s organization and services follows.  Greater detail can be found by reading the “Overview/Services” on the individual websites of these divisions and offices.  Since 2000, DCCA has also striven to put more of its services on-line .

If you can not find your subject matter, it may be handled by a different Federal, State or City and County agency.  Please visit our helping hand for contact information for areas commonly thought to be part of DCCA’s jurisdiction, but are actually handled by a different agency.

General Services

DCCA is made up of 12 divisions and offices.  The major services of these divisions and offices are: 1) the registration of businesses, securities and franchises; 2) the chartering or licensing of financial institutions, escrow depositories , money transmitters, professionals, insurance agents and companies, security dealers, brokers and investment advisers; 3) the regulation of cable franchises; 4) the examination of financial institutions, insurance companies; security dealers and investment advisers for health and soundness; 5) the handling of complaints against those entities that DCCA regulates; 6) protecting and advancing the interests of consumers of regulated utility and transportation services; 7) providing consumer education through brochures, videos and live presentations.

A quick summary can be found in DCCA’s Directory of Services Brochure.

Divisions and Offices

The Office of ADMINISTRATIVE HEARINGS (OAH) conducts hearings and issues recommended decisions for cases originating in DCCA.   DCCA cases can originate from BREG, DFI, RICO, PVL or SEB.  The Medical Claims Conciliation Panel (MCCP) is also administered by this office.

The BUSINESS REGISTRATION division (BREG) regulates and oversees the securities industry and its filings. BREG examines securities firms, receives complaints, investigates and prosecutes securities violations. BREG also provides outreach to the public about investor fraud. Separately, BREG maintains the administrative business registry through which BREG registers marks, names and business entities like corporations, limited liability companies, and partnerships. BREG also runs the Business Action Centers, local offices that provide one-on-one help in completing state business registrations.

The CABLE TELEVISION division (CATV) issues franchises to Hawaii cable companies and monitors the quality of service that you get.  In addition, CATV advocates for and supports activities for the establishment of affordable, accessible broadband services and its use throughout the State.

The Division of CONSUMER ADVOCACY represents consumers of utility and state-regulated transportation services before the Hawaii Public Utilities Commission and various federal regulatory agencies.

The Office of CONSUMER PROTECTION (OCP) investigates consumer complaints in unfair or deceptive trade practices in advertising, refunds, motor vehicle rentals, door-to-door sales and credit practices.  OCP is also responsible for the Landlord Tennant code and provides assistance to both landlords and tenants.

The division of FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS (DFI) regulates state-chartered or state-licensed financial institutions in the State of Hawaii (including banks; savings banks; savings and loan associations; foreign bank branches, agency and representative offices; trust companies; depository and nondepository financial services loan companies; and credit unions), all escrow depositories, and all money transmitters.

The Hawaii Post-Secondary Education Authorization Program (HPEAP) handles the authorization of accredited post-secondary degree-granting institutions pursuant to Hawaii Revised Statutes Chapter 305J.

The INSURANCE division oversees the Hawaii insurance industry. This office issues licenses, examines the fiscal condition of Hawaii-based companies, reviews the rate and policy filings, and investigates insurance related complaints.  The CAPTIVE INSURANCE BRANCH (CIB) is a branch within the Insurance Division that specializes in the licensure, regulation, and administration of Hawaii-based captive insurance companies, as well as, the prudent development of the State’s captive insurance industry.

The PROFESSIONAL AND VOCATIONAL LICENSING (PVL) division oversees the regulatory activities of 25 boards and commissions and 21 other licensing programs.  PVL also contains the REAL ESTATE (REB) branch.  REB is responsible for Real Estate and Condominium education, real estate licensing, and condominium project registration.

The REGULATED INDUSTRIES COMPLAINTS OFFICE (RICO) investigates and prosecutes complaints against professionals licensed by PVL and protects the public from unlicensed activities. This office also administers the State Certified Arbitration Program (SCAP) for “lemon” vehicles.  The Consumer Resource Center (CRC) is also part of RICO.  CRC can give you information on a business’s complaint history and allow you to file complaints against a business.