Hawaiʻi licenses individual massage therapists and massage establishments through the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs under HRS Chapter 452, requiring 570 hours of training, a state exam, and posted licenses at every Honolulu storefront.
HRS Chapter 452 establishes the Board of Massage Therapy and requires every practitioner to complete at least 570 hours of approved training and pass the Massage Board Exam or the MBLEx. Establishment licenses are separate, naming a designated supervising therapist. Honolulu does not impose a duplicative permit, but DPP enforces zoning controls — massage establishments are limited to commercial and mixed-use zones under the Land Use Ordinance, and adult-oriented massage is prohibited near schools, churches, and parks. HPD enforces anti-prostitution provisions under HRS §712 separately. License renewals occur every two years on June 30.
Practicing or operating without a license is a misdemeanor punishable by fines up to $500 per day under HRS §452-23. Cease-and-desist orders, license revocation, and criminal referrals are available enforcement tools.
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