How do I check if a contractor is licensed in Hawaii?

Use the State's MyPVL public license search and search by license number or name. Check that the name matches your contract, the license is current, and the license type fits the work.

Should general excise tax be on my remodeling estimate?

Many contractors pass GET on, either as a line item or within the price. On Oahu the maximum rate that can be visibly passed on is 4.712%, according to the Hawaii Department of Taxation. Ask which approach the bid uses.

How to Check an Oahu Remodeling Contractor Before You Sign

Q: Can a handyman do bathroom plumbing on Oahu?

Not unless they hold the right license. DPP states that all electrical and plumbing work must be performed by contractors licensed by the State of Hawaii.

How do I look up a contractor's license in Hawaii?

Use the State's MyPVL public license search, run by the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs (DCCA) Professional and Vocational Licensing Division. DPP points homeowners to the same search. You can search by license number or by business or individual name.

When you find the record, check three things:

The name matches the business on your contract.
It is a contractor license, and it is current.
The license type fits the work you are hiring for.

If you have questions, DPP lists the Professional and Vocational Licensing Division at 808-586-3000.

What license should a remodeling contractor have?

Hawaii contractor licenses come in classes. According to DPP, a "B" license is a general contractor license that automatically includes a set of specialty licenses for work on the structure itself, and a general contractor is typically required when a job needs more than two specialty contractors.

A kitchen or bathroom remodel usually involves several trades, such as demolition, carpentry, tile, plumbing and electrical. That is why full remodels are usually run by a general building contractor. Ward Design Center (WDC LLC) holds Hawaii Class B contractor license CT-39936, which you can look up on MyPVL.

Who should do the electrical and plumbing work?

Licensed electricians and plumbers. DPP states that all electrical and plumbing work must be performed by contractors licensed by the State of Hawaii, under HRS chapters 444 and 448E. Ask your general contractor which licensed electrical and plumbing contractors will do that part of your job, and look those licenses up too.

At Ward Design Center, electrical and plumbing work is done by licensed trade partners under our supervision.

What should a written remodeling estimate include?

Item	What to look for
Scope of work	A room-by-room description of what is removed, what is new and what stays
Materials and allowances	Named products, or allowances with real dollar amounts
Permits	Whether the job needs a building permit, who applies, and whether fees are included
Licensed trades	Who does the plumbing and electrical work, with license numbers
Schedule	A written timeline that separates the time before the build from the time on site
General excise tax	Whether GET is included in the price or shown as a line item, and at what rate
Exclusions	What is not included, such as repairs to damage found behind the walls

A clear estimate makes bids comparable. Two prices for the same kitchen only mean something side by side if the scope, allowances and exclusions match.

How does general excise tax show up on a remodeling bid?

Hawaii's general excise tax (GET) is a tax on a business's gross receipts. On Oahu, the City and County of Honolulu adds a 0.5% surcharge to the 4% state rate, for 4.5% in total on activities taxed at the 4% rate.

Businesses may pass the tax on to customers but do not have to. If they do, the Hawaii Department of Taxation sets the maximum visible pass-on rate on Oahu at 4.712%. It is higher than 4.5% because the tax is charged on gross receipts, which include the tax collected. The department also notes that consumer protection law prohibits a seller from visibly collecting more than the tax actually owed.

In practice, a bid may show GET as a separate line at 4.5% or up to 4.712%, or include it in the price. On a $40,000 job, the most that can be visibly passed on is $1,884.80. Ask which approach the bid uses, so you compare like with like.

What should I ask before I sign?

Who will apply for the permit, and who books the inspections?
Who will be on site day to day, and who is my point of contact?
Which licensed contractors will do the plumbing and electrical work?
How are changes handled, and will change orders be in writing before the work is done?
What happens if you find damage behind the walls?
How does the payment schedule line up with the work completed?
In a condo, who handles the association's paperwork and the insurance certificate?

Where can I report a problem with a contractor?

DPP refers complaints about licensed or unlicensed contractors to the State's Regulated Industries Complaints Office (RICO), and lists the Consumer Resource Center at 808-587-3222 for consumer complaints.

For a written estimate on a kitchen or bathroom, see our kitchen remodeling service and bathroom remodeling service, or request a free estimate. We'll call you back the same business day.