Regulations / State
Hawaii asbestos regulations.
Who licenses asbestos work in Hawaii, who takes the notification, and how long before the job you have to file. Plus how the federal rules layer on top.
State licensing & accreditation
Asbestos abatement work in Hawaii is licensed/accredited through the Hawaii Dept. of Health (DOH), Indoor & Radiological Health Branch (IRHB), Asbestos Program under HAR Title 11, Chapters 11-501 to 11-504; HRS Sec. 444-7.5.
Credentials the state issues:
- Worker
- Supervisor/Contractor
- Inspector
- Management Planner
- Project Designer
- Project Monitor
- Asbestos Contractor (entity)
- Laboratory
- Training Provider
Notification
Notifications go to the Hawaii Dept. of Health (DOH), Indoor & Radiological Health Branch under HAR Title 11, Chapter 11-501 (references 40 CFR Part 61 NESHAP).
- Advance notice: Postmarked at least 10 working days before demolition/renovation begins.
- Notification details / form.
How the federal rules layer in
No matter the state, federal OSHA 29 CFR 1926.1101 (asbestos in construction), EPA NESHAP (40 CFR 61, Subpart M), and AHERA worker accreditation still apply. A state program layers its own licensing and notification on top of — not instead of — these. Where Hawaii has no state license, the federal accreditation and NESHAP notification requirements are the floor.
Hawaii-specific notes
- DOH IRHB administers both certification and notification.
- Certification card required for individuals.
- All demolitions require notification even with no asbestos present; non-friable ACM in good condition is exempt.
- Covers ships and waste disposal sites in addition to buildings.
Official sources
Related
- All asbestos regulations by state
- OSHA 29 CFR 1926.1101 — Asbestos in Construction
- EPA NESHAP — 40 CFR 61, Subpart M
- Asbestos abatement software
- Compliance reporting in Nexus
Items we could not fully verify against a primary source: Mapping of each credential to its specific HAR chapter not individually confirmed.
Last reviewed against the published rules: 2026-05-28. This is a summary, not legal advice. Asbestos rules — and the agencies that run them — change; confirm the current requirements with the Hawaii Dept. of Health (DOH), Indoor & Radiological Health Branch and read the actual rule before making a compliance decision.
Hawaii asbestos: common questions
Do I need a license to do asbestos abatement in Hawaii?
Yes — Hawaii regulates who can perform asbestos abatement. Hawaii Dept. of Health (DOH), Indoor & Radiological Health Branch (IRHB), Asbestos Program. Relevant credentials include Worker, Supervisor/Contractor, Inspector, and others.
Who do I notify before asbestos work in Hawaii, and how far in advance?
Notifications go to the Hawaii Dept. of Health (DOH), Indoor & Radiological Health Branch (HAR Title 11, Chapter 11-501 (references 40 CFR Part 61 NESHAP)). Required advance notice: Postmarked at least 10 working days before demolition/renovation begins.
Do the federal OSHA and EPA asbestos rules still apply in Hawaii?
Yes. Federal OSHA 29 CFR 1926.1101, EPA NESHAP (40 CFR 61, Subpart M), and AHERA worker accreditation apply nationwide — Hawaii's rules layer on top of them, not instead of them.
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