Can I report CLE credits late in Hawaii?

Yes — Hawaii requires full-time state judges to undertake a separate judicial education obligation in addition to the usual attorney CLE regime.

In Hawaii, full-time state judges must participate in a judicial education program approved by the Committee on Judicial Education; those hours may also count toward the standard CLE requirement for attorneys. (RSCH Rule 22(h))

RSCH Rule 22(h) exempts full-time federal judges, magistrate judges, bankruptcy judges, U.S. Court of Federal Claims judges, and administrative law judges from CLE, but mandates that full-time state judges attend at least 3 hours of approved judicial education annually.

Key Takeaway: Judges in Hawaii must meet a separate judicial education requirement (minimum 3 hours annually) under Rule 22(h), which is distinct from but may overlap with the attorney CLE obligation.

Attorneys on inactive status in Hawaii are exempt from the CLE requirement.

Upon electing active status, they must complete and report 3 hours of approved CLE (including 1 hour of ethics) within three months.

Details:

• Hawaii’s MCLE rules classify inactive members as exempt from CLE obligations.
• Upon status change to active, the attorney must complete 3 CLE credit hours, of which 1 hour must cover ethics or professional responsibility, within three months.
• CLE credit earned within the three months prior to reactivation may count toward this requirement.
• Inactive attorneys must not practice law; reactivation triggers CLE obligations.

Key Takeaway:
In Hawaii, CLE obligations are suspended during inactive status, but returning to active status triggers a requirement to timely complete and report 3 CLE hours (including ethics).

Attorneys in Hawaii self-report CLE by certifying their credit hours on the annual attorney registration form; they do not submit certificates routinely.

Key Details:

• Under RSCH Rule 22, active members must complete at least 3 CLE credit hours per calendar year.
• There is no requirement to file certificates with the Bar unless requested for an audit or status change.
• The certification occurs on the annual registration statement (reporting deadline is January 31 following December 31).
• Attorneys must keep certificates and logs for three reporting periods in case of audit.

Key Takeaway: In Hawaii, CLE reporting is self-certified via the annual registration form, and attorneys retain records rather than submitting each certificate.

There is no formal grace period in Hawaii beyond the December 31 compliance deadline — attorneys must complete and report CLE by year-end. Noncompliance triggers a certified notice and potential suspension under RSCH Rule 22.

Hawaii CLE Requirements & Reporting

• December 31: Deadline to complete all required CLE credits.
• Reporting is done via the attorney registration form, certified at that time.

Enforcement & Noncompliance Procedure

• Within 60 days after the registration deadline, the HSBA sends a certified notice of noncompliance to attorneys who failed to meet CLE requirements.
• Recipients of the notice have 15 days to submit proof, contest it, or resign their license.
• Failure to respond or comply leads to automatic administrative suspension until full compliance and proof are accepted.

Key Takeaway: Hawaii requires CLE compliance by December 31 with no additional grace period; noncompliance leads to a formal notice and possible suspension under Rule 22.

No — Hawaii does not offer a system for directly submitting CLE credits online; instead attorneys self-report CLE compliance via the annual attorney registration form.

Hawaii requires active attorneys to claim their CLE hours on their registration and retain supporting records in case of audit. ([hsba.org](https://hsba.org/HSBA_2020/Events_Programs/MCLE/MCLE_FAQs.aspx))

Details:

• The MCLE requirement is 3 credit hours per year, with 1 ethics/ professional responsibility credit every three years.
• Attorneys certify compliance with the CLE requirement when completing their annual Bar registration.
• CLE providers (for approved programs) may report attendance to the Bar, but this does not replace your registration-based compliance certification.
• You must maintain your own records (such as certificates) for the last three reporting periods in case of a CLE audit.
• The compliance and reporting deadline is December 31 of each year.

Key Takeaway:
Hawaii does not allow a standalone online CLE submission — you fulfill CLE compliance by certifying your CLE hours on the annual registration, and you must maintain supporting documentation for audit.

The CLE reporting deadline in Hawaii is December 31, coinciding with the calendar year end.

Hawaii attorneys must complete their required credits by December 31 and certify their compliance via the annual registration form that follows.

Hawaii CLE Reporting Details

• Completion Deadline: December 31 each year
• Reporting Method & Deadline: Compliance is self-certified on the annual attorney registration, due by December 31 (no separate filing)
• Credit Requirement: 3 CLE hours per year; 1 ethics hour every 3 years
• Carryover: Up to 3 CLE credits may carry over one year (but ethics credits generally may not)
• Recordkeeping & Audit: Attorneys must retain CLE records for three years for audit purposes

Sprout Education, as an accredited provider, designs courses that fit Hawaii’s MCLE rules and assists attorneys in meeting their December 31 compliance deadlines.

Key Takeaway: In Hawaii, attorneys must earn required CLE by December 31 and certify compliance in their registration by December 31.