Hawaii State Board Of Cosmetology

The Hawaii Board Of Cosmetology is in charge of enforcing laws and regulations through inspections, investigation into complaints submitted by consumers and conducts hearings, imposes penalties and enforces actions when they deem necessary. Through education and the enforcement of the cosmetology laws in HI, the state board ensures the safety, welfare and public health by regulating the salons, schools and individuals who practice cosmetology. The list of the board members who are part of the Hawaii Board of Barbering & Cosmetology are listed below:

State Board Members

They also issue licenses for to individuals who qualify for reciprocity or through the state boards administration of a written and practical examination to schools and salons. To find out how to apply for a new license, renew an existing one or find out how many hours for cosmetology license in Hawaii, check out the Hawaii Cosmetology License page for additional information. The list of categories the state board issues licenses for are below:

• Available License Categories
• Barber
• Barber Shop
• Beauty Operator
• Beauty Shop
• Beauty Instructor
• Beauty School
• Barber & Cosmetology Apprentice

If you need to obtain a cosmetology license, renew an existing one, or want to open up a salon or go to school, then in most cases there are fees involved. We list all available fees for this state below. We recommend to call the Hawaii State Board Of Cosmetology if you cannot find the fee information you are looking for below, or if you need to know how to pay your fees and what type of payments they accept.

Hawaii Cosmetology License Lookup

If you are planning to setup an appointment with a local salon, it is recommended that you first verify the professional or business license. You can do that online for the state of Hawaii by visiting pvl.ehawaii.gov. From there you can search for the person or business and see if there are any disciplinary actions on record. This will allow you to make an informed decision about the person and or business providing your service.

Filing a Complaint

Part of the duties of the Hawaii Board of Barbering & Cosmetology is receiving and investigating consumer complaints involving unlawful acts which may include:

• False advertisement
• Violations of health
• Deceptive statements
• Sanitation regulations
• Unlicensed person
• Malpractice or incompetence

If you feel like you have experienced one of these issues listed above, or have information about a specific incident, then you would need to submit your complaint. If you have issues or questions about the complaint process outlined below, then it is recommended you contact the state board for assistance.

The Regulated Industries Complaints Office (RICO) investigates allegations of professional misconduct by licensees and possible unlicensed activity that may be occurring in the State. To file your complaint, you would need to complete a RICO complaint form. The different types of complaint forms are listed below. You can also call or write and a complaint form will be mailed to you. There is no fee to file a complaint. There is also no time limit, however, it is best to file your complaint as soon as possible. Complaints that involve situations distant in time are more challenging to investigate.

• General RICO Complaint Form
  Use this form to file a complaint about any of the industries RICO regulates
• Contracting Complaint Form
  Use this form to file a complaint about a licensed contractor, electrician, or plumber
• Healthcare Complaint Form
  Use this form to file a complaint about a licensed healthcare provider
• Click here to download Instructions for Filing a RICO Complaint

RICO attorneys do not represent individual consumers. RICO's primary obligation is to take the actions necessary to ensure that licensing violations are appropriately addressed. Therefore, in addition to filing a RICO complaint, they strongly advise all consumers to immediately explore any civil remedies they may have. An investigation or prosecution by RICO does not prevent you from pursuing any private right of action or civil remedies you may be entitled to.

Why should I file a RICO complaint?

In addition to investigating and prosecuting complaints, where appropriate, RICO may work to assist consumers to resolve their disputes with licensees. Additionally, RICO relies on information from consumers to monitor conduct in the industry and to watch for unlicensed activity. Your information helps.

If you have additional questions or issues with filing your complaint, or how the process works, then please contact the RICO Complaints and Enforcement Officer at 586-2666 for assistance. You can mail your completed complaint forms to:

Regulated Industries Complaints Office
Attention: Consumer Resource Center
235 South Beretania Street 9th Floor
Honolulu, Hawaii 96813

Here are some tips on preparing your complaint. Make a list of things you want to say. Try your best to separate your feelings from the facts. Present the events in the order of which they happened, use dates and times if possible. When submitting your complaint, please make sure to provide copies of documents, for example contracts, letters, advertisements, sakes slips, cancelled checks, warranties and any other documentation that can support your claim. Only provide copies, keep the original copies for your own record. Please remember, the complaint should describe the event or practice which misled you. If you can, please also state why the practice was misleading.

If you still have questions or issues about your complaint or about cosmetology, then use the contact information listed below. We provide the Hawaii Board Of Cosmetology phone number, office address and how to access their departments website.

For residents on the neighbor islands may call by dialing the following toll free numbers followed by the last 5 digits of the phone numbers above and the # sign: