Hawaii Public Procurement Bonds

Hawaii procurement rules link required bid, performance, and payment bonds to the threshold in HRS §103D-305. For covered construction, bid security is at least 5% and performance and payment bonds are each 100% of contract price. A correct dollar amount alone may not cure a mismatched form or obligee name.

What Is Surety Bonds?

A surety bond guarantees that your business meets a specific obligation to a customer, contracting party or government agency. If a contract, license or permit requires one, get its exact form and amount; a bond is not insurance for your own losses. Read the national Surety bonds guide.

Hawaii Surety Bonds Requirements

RequirementDetails
Construction bid securityConstruction bids exceeding the §103D-305 limits require bid security of at least 5% of base bid plus additive alternates; missing required security is ordinarily nonresponsive. 1,2
Separate construction bondsWhen the threshold applies, performance and payment bonds are each 100% of construction contract price; a reduction requires the procurement officer’s written determination under the rule. 1
Threshold referenceThe 2025 procurement code desk reference states that construction bid security applies when estimated contract price exceeds $25,000; verify the current procurement code and solicitation before relying on that figure. 2,1

What Should You Watch for With Surety Bonds in Hawaii?

  • Match the stated owner and amount

    Hawaii procurement decisions summarized by the state’s 2025 Desk Reference describe bids rejected when a bond stated “5% of bid” instead of the required fixed dollar amount, and require the State of Hawaii to be identified as owner where the rule protects the State. Copy the solicitation’s precise wording. 2,1

  • Include additive alternates

    The five-percent bid-security calculation includes base bid and additive alternates. Recalculate if an addendum changes quantities or alternates, and confirm the bond remains sufficient. 1

  • Goods and services use a different cap

    For goods and services, performance and payment bonds each may not exceed 50% of contract price and require chief procurement officer approval; those terms do not apply to construction bond amounts. 1

Which Surety Bonds Providers Have Hawaii License Records?

These providers publish a national listing for Surety bonds; the license records below name the licensed entities and roles. Some records rely on company-reported information rather than independent regulator verification. A national listing does not confirm the product is available in Hawaii. Check the regulator’s license lookup and confirm state availability for your business when requesting a quote.

  • TechInsurance

    Insurance producer · checked 2026-09-28

    Specialty Program Group LLC

    TechInsurance’s current licensing page names Specialty Program Group LLC / SPG Insurance Solutions and lists state license numbers, but labels Rhode Island “Individual licenses” rather than identifying a license for the named agency. RI is omitted because this disclosure does not establish agency authority there; this is a search limitation, not an assertion that the company is unlicensed. The remaining state entries are company-reported and are not an insurance product availability map. 13

    TechInsurance arranges surety bonds for small businesses.

Who Regulates Insurance in Hawaii?

Hawaiʻi Insurance Division

The Insurance Division oversees insurance companies and producers, examines Hawaiʻi-based insurers, reviews rate and policy filings, and investigates insurance complaints. It is part of the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs. 3,4,5

Surplus-Lines Tax and Stamping Office in Hawaii

Reported tax rate. 4.68% of premium when Hawaiʻi is the home state 6,7

Hawaiʻi applies a 4.68% tax when it is the insured’s home state. Surplus-lines coverage is placed with an unauthorized insurer, so do not assume the Hawaiʻi Insurance Guaranty Association protects the policy; confirm the insurer’s status and policy terms with your broker.

What Should You Ask Before Buying Surety Bonds in Hawaii?

  1. Which solicitation, statute, and project category does the obligee say governs this contract?
  2. What bond form, penal sum, obligee name, effective date, and filing deadline must the surety meet?
  3. What indemnity, collateral, or personal guarantee would the surety require from the principal, and how could a claim affect the business?

Surety Bonds in Hawaii: Frequently Asked Questions

Can the State reduce the construction bonds?

The rule permits written determinations to reduce bond amounts, including a pre-deadline construction reduction to at least 50%; the procurement officer may also reduce bonds during performance or add bond amounts after change orders. 1

Who does each project bond protect?

The rule calls the performance bond security for contract completion and the payment bond for labor and material claimants. They are separate obligations and are not a promise that the contractor’s own losses are insured. 1

Surety Bonds Guides for Other States

Other coverage in HawaiiEvery coverage guide for Hawaii, plus the regulator and surplus-lines details.

Updated .

This guide is informational and does not determine whether a policy is available or meets your needs. Editorial policy. To suggest a correction, contact Spot with a supporting source.

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