The Hawaiian Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs (DCCA) requires a contractor’s license for any project exceeding $1,000 (including labor and materials) and for any project that requires a building permit.

The State of Hawaii’s Contractor’s Licensing Board has performed background checks on all licensed contractors and has verified the contractor’s training and experience to be satisfactory.

All licensed contractors are required by the state to have liability and Workers’ Compensation insurance.

Hawaii has a Contractor’s Recovery Fund available for home improvement projects performed by licensed contractors that go awry. This fund has compensation available based on certain criteria.

When hiring an installer for your custom countertop project in HI, you can hire a specialty contractor to perform the work. However, if your project requires more than one discipline (ie. flooring, countertops and drywall), a general contractor might be necessary.

When hiring a contractor:

• Verify contractor has a license.
• Verify the contractor is licensed, bonded and has necessary insurance.
• Check prior complaint history.
• Ask for references.
• Get a written contract.
• If you don’t understand all terms of the contract, ask questions.
• Monitor progress of work.
• Pay as you go.
• Pay by check or credit card. Avoid paying in cash.

To find out what type of contractor to hire, contact Hawaii’s Contractor’s Licensing Board. To verify licensure, visit the DCCA’s Consumer Resource Center, where you can also find information for registered businesses.  

To search for any contractor complaint history, visit the DCCA’s Consumer Protection page.