GOALS

DCCA's goals are to promote a strong and healthy business environment while protecting the community from unfair and deceptive business practices. The areas covered by these goals are set by the Legislature through the Hawaii Revised Statutes (HRS) and further clarified through the DCCA's Hawaii Administrative Rules (HAR).  To cover these areas, DCCA is organized into divisions, offices and branches.  A brief summary of DCCA's organization and services follows.  Greater detail can be found by reading the "Overview/Services" on the individual websites of these divisions and offices.  Since 2000, DCCA has also striven to put more of its services on-line .

If you can not find your subject matter, it may be handled by a different Federal, State or City and County agency.  Please visit our helping hand for contact information for areas commonly thought to be part of DCCA's jurisdiction, but are actually handled by a different agency.

General Services

DCCA is made up of 12 divisions and offices.  The major services of these divisions and offices are: 1) the registration of businesses, securities and franchises; 2) the licensing of financial institutions, professionals, insurance agents and companies, security dealers, brokers and investment advisers; 3) the regulation of cable franchises; 4) the examination of financial institutions, insurance companies; security dealers and investment advisers for health and soundness; 5) the handling of complaints against those entities that DCCA regulates; 6) protecting and advancing the interests of consumers of regulated utility and transportation services; 7) providing consumer education through brochures, videos and live presentations. 

A quick summary can be found in DCCA's Directory of Services Brochure.

Divisions and Offices

The Office of ADMINISTRATIVE HEARINGS (OAH) conducts hearings and issues recommended decisions for cases originating in DCCA.   DCCA cases can originate from BREG, DFI, RICO, PVL or SEB.  The Medical Claims Conciliation Panel (MCCP) is also administered by this office.

The BUSINESS REGISTRATION division (BREG) administers, registers and enforces Hawaii laws on corporations, partnerships. This office will register trade names, trademarks and service marks for your business.  BREG also contains Securities Compliance (SEC) and Securities Enforcement Branch (SEB). SEC registers securities and franchises, and licenses all broker-dealers and their salespeople, investment advisers and their representatives doing business in Hawaii.  SEB investigates complaints regarding potential violations of the Hawaii securities laws and protects investors against fraud and abuse.  The business registration and securities sections of BREG are both managed by the Securities Commissioner.

The CABLE TELEVISION division (CATV) issues franchises to Hawaii cable companies and monitors the quality of service that you get.

The regulation of PUBLIC UTILITIES is handled by the CONSUMER ADVOCACY division (DCA). This office protects consumers’ interest in regulated utility and transportation services in legal proceedings.

The Office of CONSUMER PROTECTION (OCP) investigates consumer complaints in unfair or deceptive trade practices in advertising, refunds, motor vehicle rentals, door-to-door sales and credit practices.  OCP is also responsible for the Landlord Tennant code and provides assistance to both landlords and tenants.

Important parts of the Hawaii BANKING industry are regulated by the division of FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS (DFI). This office regulates state-chartered and state licensed banks; savings banks; foreign bank branches, agencies and representative offices; savings and loan associations; trust companies; depository and nondepository financial services loan companies; credit unions; and escrow depositories.

The INSURANCE division oversees the Hawaii insurance industry. This office issues licenses, examines the fiscal condition of Hawaii-based companies, reviews the rate and policy filings, and investigates insurance related complaints.  The CAPTIVE INSURANCE BRANCH (CIB) is a branch within the Insurance Division that specializes in the licensure, regulation, and administration of Hawaii-based captive insurance companies, as well as, the prudent development of the State's captive insurance industry.

The PROFESSIONAL AND VOCATIONAL LICENSING (PVL) division oversees the regulatory activities of 25 boards and commissions and 21 other licensing programs.  PVL also contains the REAL ESTATE (REB) branch.  REB is responsible for Real Estate and Condominium education, real estate licensing, and condominium project registration.

The REGULATED INDUSTRIES COMPLAINTS OFFICE (RICO) investigates and prosecutes complaints against professionals licensed by PVL and protects the public from unlicensed activities. This office also administers the State Certified Arbitration Program (SCAP) for “lemon” vehicles.  The Consumer Resource Center (CRC) is also part of RICO.  CRC can give you information on a business's complaint history and allow you to file complaints against a business.