Which of the following is NOT a typical Hawaii notarial act?

• A. Drafting a contract
• B. Taking an acknowledgment
• C. Taking a deposition
• D. Administering an oath

Answer: (D)

In Hawaii, what a notary public is allowed to do is defined by statute, so the acts you perform must align with those authorized duties. Drafting a contract isn’t a notarial function—notaries don’t prepare or edit legal documents; their role is to verify signatures, witness execution, and attest to certain statements.

Taking an acknowledgment and taking a deposition are typical notarial acts because they involve verifying the signer’s identity and willingness, or administering a sworn statement as part of litigation or other proceedings. Administering an oath, while familiar in many places, isn’t listed as a routine notarial act in Hawaii in the same way, so it isn’t considered a standard notarial duty there.

Thus, administering an oath is the option that isn’t a typical Hawaii notarial act. If you want to double-check the exact scope, you can review the Hawaii Revised Statutes governing notaries for the precise authorized acts.