Commissioner for Oaths & Authentication — OHS Knowledge Base
Office of Hawaiian Subjects • Ministry of Hawaiian Subjects & Humanitarian Affairs

Commissioner for Oaths & Authentication

Last updated: November 10, 2025 • Public information & staff guidance
Overview

Introduction

The Commissioner for Oaths & Authentication is a lawful authority within OHS empowered to witness, verify, and authenticate documents, declarations, seals, and signatures for use under Hawaiian Kingdom jurisdiction and in international correspondence.

Operating under the Doctrine of Necessity and Hawaiian Kingdom law, the Commission ensures that affidavits, declarations, certificates, and related instruments retain integrity, evidentiary value, and lawful force for Hawaiian Subjects and partner institutions.

Mandate

Purpose & Lawful Standing

  • Administer **oaths and affirmations** for lawful declarations, petitions, and certificates.
  • Authenticate **official documents** issued by OHS, the Hawaiʻi Kupuna Council, and other verified bodies.
  • Certify **genuineness of signatures, seals, and instruments** under Kingdom law.
  • Preserve **rule of law and documentary integrity** during abnormal conditions.
  • Bridge **validation** between Kingdom documentation and international/foreign legal systems.
All actions are issued under Doctrine of Necessity and Hawaiian Kingdom Law — temporary administrative functions for lawful continuity and protection of rights.
Framework

Lawful Authority

The Commission functions as a custodial office of truth and record. Under the continuing legal personality of the Hawaiian Kingdom and the necessity to maintain civil order and evidentiary reliability, OHS retains authority to carry out notarial and authentication duties without claiming new sovereign powers.

Why It Matters

Why Authentication Matters

  • Ensures **legal weight** and **evidentiary reliability** of documents.
  • Protects against **fraud and forgery**; supports verification by third parties.
  • Facilitates **recognition** of OHS‑issued instruments domestically and abroad.
  • Sustains **legal continuity** of the Kingdom during occupation conditions.
Offerings

Services We Provide

Service Description Typical Use
Oath Administration Administering oaths/affirmations for declarations, affidavits, petitions, or testimony. Witness statements, identity declarations, legal filings.
Document Authentication Certifying signatures, seals, and authorities on OHS/Kupuna Council documents. International filings, certificates, inter‑agency correspondence.
Verification of Hawaiian Subject Status Confirming authenticity of Certificates/IDs and registry entries. Jurisdictional protection, government/international records.
Attestation of True Copies Verifying that copies are faithful to original documents. Legal archives, education/employment equivalency.
Affidavit & Declaration Review Format and compliance review prior to oath/filing. Petitions, court submissions, reports.
Seal & Signature Authentication Applying OHS seal; verifying authorized signatories. Foreign acknowledgment, archives, inter‑agency use.
Witnessing of Execution Witnessing signatures on instruments and declarations. Releases, acknowledgments, agreements.
Public Registry Recording Indexing notarized/authenticated documents in the OHS Notarial Registry. Permanent record‑keeping and verification.
Fees & Donations

Fees & Donations

Under humanitarian principle, OHS does not impose mandatory commercial fees for Commissioner/Notarial services. The Office accepts voluntary administrative donations or filing contributions to support documentation, registry, and archiving.

Clause: “All services are rendered in good faith, under humanitarian and lawful necessity, with voluntary administrative donations accepted to sustain public service continuity.”
Standards

Integrity & Record‑Keeping

  1. Affix the official OHS Notarial Seal and Commissioner signature.
  2. Assign a Registry Reference No. and log in the Notary & Authentication Ledger.
  3. Include a jurat/affirmation statement confirming lawful witnessing.
  4. Archive digital and/or paper records within the OHS Registry with date/time stamp.
FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Do we charge for Notary/Commissioner services?

No mandatory fees. We operate on voluntary administrative donations to sustain public service functions.

Will OHS documents be recognized outside the Kingdom?

Authentication and clear provenance enhance acceptance. For foreign or institutional use, include the OHS seal, commissioner attestation, registry number, and contact details for verification.

Can we authenticate non‑OHS documents?

Yes, where the purpose is humanitarian or necessary to protect rights and the signer’s identity is verified to OHS standards.

© Office of Hawaiian Subjects • Ministry of Hawaiian Subjects & Humanitarian Affairs • In Council with the Hawaiʻi Kupuna Council