Estate Planning for Kalawao County, Hawaii Property Owners

For most Kalawao County homeowners, the house is what drags an estate into probate. A transfer-on-death deed or a living trust keeps it out—here is how to set up either one and record it locally.

For a Kalawao County property owner, the biggest probate risk is the home itself. Real estate is what forces most families into the Second Circuit Court. The two tools that keep a Kalawao County home out of probate are a transfer-on-death deed recorded with the Bureau of Conveyances, and a revocable living trust that holds title to the property.

Without a recorded beneficiary designation or a trust, Kalawao County property passes through the Second Circuit Court — even simple Hawaii probates run 6+ months and start with $215 in filing fees.

Record a Transfer-on-Death Deed in Kalawao County

A transfer on death deed names a beneficiary who receives Kalawao County property automatically at the owner's death, without probate. It is recorded with the Bureau of Conveyances during the owner's lifetime and can be revoked at any time.

Before recording, a Hawaii transfer on death deed is signed with notary acknowledgmentHRS 527-1 to 527-17Verified Aug 24, 2026View source. The deed takes effect only if it is recorded before the owner's deathHRS 527-1 to 527-17Verified Aug 24, 2026View source.

Where to Record Property Documents

Deeds and other real property documents for Kalawao County are recorded with the Bureau of Conveyances, led by Registrar of Conveyances Mike H. Imanaka, at 1151 Punchbowl Street, Room 120, Honolulu, HI 96813. Phone: 808-587-0147. Hours: Office: 7:45 AM - 4:30 PM, Mon-Fri; Recording Window (Rooms 120 & 122): 8:01 AM - 3:29 PM, Mon-Fri; Public Research Room (Room 123): 8:15 AM - 3:30 PM, Mon-Fri. Closed State holidays. Hours may change on short notice due to staffing.

Documents submitted by mail go to P.O. Box 2867, Honolulu, HI 96803.

The Bureau of Conveyances charges $41 for 1-50 pages, $106 for 51+ pages. Recording a 2-page transfer on death deed in Kalawao County comes to $41. A transfer on death deed is exempt from transfer tax.

Kalawao County accepts electronic recording through Simplifile / CSC / Indecomm / ePN.

Recording Office Record

Bureau of Conveyances

Kalawao County · Registrar of Conveyances · Mike H. Imanaka

Address

1151 Punchbowl Street, Room 120Honolulu, HI 96813Mailing: P.O. Box 2867, Honolulu, HI 96803

Fax

808-587-0136

Hours

Office: 7:45 AM - 4:30 PM, Mon-Fri; Recording Window (Rooms 120 & 122): 8:01 AM - 3:29 PM, Mon-Fri; Public Research Room (Room 123): 8:15 AM - 3:30 PM, Mon-Fri. Closed State holidays. Hours may change on short notice due to staffing.

E-recording

Available via Simplifile / CSC / Indecomm / ePNE-recording info →
Visit recorder website →

Recording fees

1-50 pages$41
51+ pages$106
Oversize Document Fee (51+ pages)$65
Transfer tax on a TOD deedExempt

Bureau of Conveyances published fee schedule, eff. 2/27/2017 (dlnr.hawaii.gov/boc/recording-fees-new/, fetched 2026-09-04); rulemaking authority HRS 502-25(a); HAR § 13-16-22(a)(1)-(2) (am. and comp. 2/10/2017) states $35 / $100, raisable under HRS 92-28

Verified September 4, 2026 · Source

Estate Planning Attorneys Serving Kalawao County

FirmHonolulu, HI

Cades Schutte LLP

Serves the whole state

Statewide firm headquartered in downtown Honolulu with offices in Kahului, Kona, Lihue, and Waimea. Its Trusts & Estates Group counsels trustees and personal representatives through trust and estate administration, and handles conservatorship and guardianship proceedings and contested trust, estate, conservatorship, and guardianship matters through mediation or litigation.

PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationTrust LitigationConservatorshipand 4 more

Office
1000 Bishop Street, Suite 1200Honolulu, HI 96813

FirmWailuku, HI

Cain Herren McKelvey, ALC

Serves the whole state

Serves Maui County from Wailuku. Handles probate cases for the administration of a loved one's estate, and prepares wills, revocable living trusts, certifications of trust, trust amendments and restatements, deeds into trust, powers of attorney, and healthcare directives. A general-practice firm whose other practice areas include bankruptcy, family law, and criminal defense.

PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbate Administration

Office
2141 West Vineyard StreetWailuku, HI 96793

FirmHonolulu, HI

Carlsmith Ball LLP

Serves the whole state

Serves Oahu, Hawaii Island, and Maui from offices in Honolulu, Hilo, Kailua-Kona, and Wailuku. Handles probate and trust administration, conservatorships and guardianships, and probate and trust litigation including disputed accountings and breach of fiduciary duty claims, alongside wills and trusts. Represents trustees and fiduciaries of large Hawaii dynastic trusts.

PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbate LitigationTrust LitigationProbate Administration

Office
1001 Bishop Street, Suite 2100Honolulu, HI 96813

Solo PracticeHonolulu, HI

David A. Bernstein, A Law Corporation

Serves the whole state

Serves clients statewide from a Honolulu office, with additional offices listed on Kauai, Maui, Hilo, and Kona. The firm guides personal representatives through probate and represents trustees in trust administration, including inventorying assets, paying debts and taxes, preparing accountings and trust tax returns, and distributing to beneficiaries. A free 15-minute phone consultation is offered.

PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbate Administration

Office
345 Queen Street, Suite 600Honolulu, HI 96813
Free consultation

Solo PracticeHonolulu, HI

Law Offices of Eric S.T. Young, ALC

Serves the whole state

Serves clients throughout Hawaii from Harbor Court in downtown Honolulu. Handles trust, probate, and conservatorship administration and litigation, dispute resolution, and estate planning. A solo practice focused on trusts and estates since 1992; the attorney is an ACTEC Fellow and serves on the Judiciary's Uniform Probate Code and Probate Court Practices Committee.

PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationTrust LitigationConservatorshipand 2 more

Office
55 Merchant Street, Suite 3000Honolulu, HI 96813

FirmHonolulu, HI

Goodsill Anderson Quinn & Stifel LLP

Since 1878 · Serves the whole state

Serves clients from a Honolulu office at 999 Bishop Street. Its trusts and estates group represents personal representatives and trustees in probate and trust administration, counsels families and fiduciaries on post-death planning such as disclaimers and tax elections, handles will and trust contests and fiduciary litigation, and represents fiduciaries in estate tax audits.

PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationTrust LitigationGuardianshipand 2 more

Office
999 Bishop Street, Suite 1600Honolulu, HI 96813
See all 13 firms serving Kalawao County→

Firm listings are for informational purposes only. SimplyTrust does not endorse or recommend any specific firm or attorney. Contact firms directly to verify their current practice areas and availability.

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