CSC · Hawaii
What are Hawaii’s campaign finance reporting requirements?
Candidate and noncandidate committees in Hawaii register with and report to the Campaign Spending Commission under Hawaii Revised Statutes chapter 11. Committees file periodic disclosure reports of contributions and expenditures electronically, and those reports are published for public inspection. Exact report dates depend on the election calendar.
Rules in, categorized books, one filing anyone can independently verify.
Overview
Hawaii regulates campaign finance under Hawaii Revised Statutes (HRS) chapter 11, administered by the Campaign Spending Commission (CSC). Candidate committees, noncandidate committees, and certain other participants must register and file disclosure reports.
Disclosure reports itemize contributions received and expenditures made over a reporting period. They are filed through the Commission’s electronic filing system and published on the CSC website, so the public can see who funded a campaign and how the money was spent.
The specific report deadlines are tied to the election calendar (preliminary, final, and supplemental reporting periods) and to whether an entity is participating in a given election. Because those dates shift each cycle, confirm the current schedule directly with the Commission before filing.
Filings & deadlines
| Filing | Who files it | Deadline |
|---|---|---|
| Organizational report / registration | Candidate and noncandidate committees, on formation | On registration with the Commission |
| Periodic disclosure reports | Registered committees | Per the election-cycle schedule set by the Commission |
Not legal or tax advice. Deadlines and thresholds change — always confirm against the authoritative source before filing.
Statute & sources
Frequently asked questions
Who has to register with the Hawaii Campaign Spending Commission?
Candidate committees and noncandidate committees (and certain other participants) organized to influence Hawaii elections must register with the Commission under HRS chapter 11 before engaging in regulated activity.
Are Hawaii campaign finance reports public?
Yes. Disclosure reports filed with the Campaign Spending Commission are published for public inspection through the Commission’s electronic filing system.
When are Hawaii campaign disclosure reports due?
Report deadlines follow the election-cycle schedule (preliminary, final, and supplemental periods) set by the Commission and vary by cycle. Confirm the current calendar directly with the CSC.