On which date does the four-year term for a Hawaii Notary Public begin?

• A. On the date the commission is issued
• B. On the date of approval by the Attorney General
• C. On the date of oath
• D. On the date of appointment by the Governor

Answer: (A)

The four-year term starts when the official commission is issued. This commission is the formal grant of authority to act as a notary, so the period during which you may perform notarial acts begins on that date. The oath is a separate step that may occur after issuance, but it does not start the term. Likewise, the appointment by the Governor and any approval by the Attorney General are part of the process leading to issuance, not the moment you begin counting the term.