Hawaii Bar Exam Information

The Hawaii Bar exam takes place on Feb 21st and 22nd, 2023. The two-day exam will take place at the Hawaii Convention Center in downtown Honolulu, and has an admission fee of $500. The filing deadline is Nov 1, and no late filings are allowed.

When is the 2023 Hawaii Bar Exam?

The 2023 Hawaii Bar exam occurs twice each year: a winter session during February and a summer session during July. The exam normally takes place on the last Tuesday and Wednesday of the respective month.

Where is the Hawaii Bar Exam Located?

The Hawaii Bar Exam will take place at the Hawaii Convention Center, which is located at 1801 Kalakaua Ave, Honolulu, Hawaii 96815.

Parking will be available for a fee of $12 at the Hawaii Convention Center from one hour before until one hour after the exam on both days of the exam. The Honolulu International Airport is 8 miles away, and the Convention Center is just 1 mile from Waikiki Beach.

How much does the Hawaii Bar Exam cost?

The Hawaii Bar Exam costs $500. No late filings are permitted.

Applicants will be required to pay a fee to the National Conference of Bar Examiners for the HAWAII Character and Fitness Application.

ExamSoft will assess and apply laptop user fees.

What subjects are tested on the Hawaii Bar Exam?

The Hawaii Bar Exam will test the following subjects:

MBE Subjects:

• Constitutional Law
• Contracts/Sales
• Criminal Law/Procedure
• Evidence
• Federal Civil Procedure
• Real Property
• Torts

MEE Essay Subjects:

• Business Associations (Agency and Partnership, Corporations and Limited Liability Companies)
• Civil Procedure
• Conflict of Laws
• Constitutional Law
• Contracts (including Article 2 and Revised Article 1 of the UCC)
• Criminal Law and Procedure
• Evidence
• Family Law
• Real Property
• Torts
• Trusts and Estates (Decedents’ Estates, Trusts and Future Interests)
• Uniform Commercial Code (Secured Transactions)

What is the format of the Hawaii Bar Exam like?

The Hawaii Bar Exam follows a two-day format.

Day 1:

• Six 30-minute MEE (Multistate Essay Exam) questions
• Two 90-minute MPT (Multistate Performance Test) questions
• One Legal Ethics examination
• One 30-minute multiple-choice exam (15 questions)

Day 2:

• Morning: 100 multiple-choice questions for the Multistate Bar Exam (MBE)
• Afternoon: 100 multiple-choice questions for the Multistate Bar Exam (MBE)

What is the minimum MPRE score needed to take the Hawaii Bar exam?

Applicants require a scaled MPRE score of 85 two years before or one year after the Hawaii Bar Exam for admission.

How is the Hawaii Bar Exam Graded?

Day 1 and Day 2 scores are both weighted at 50% each, and a score of 134 out of 200 is required to pass.

The written score includes a multiple-choice component that’s weighted at 5.5% and is designed to assess your understanding of the Rules of Professional Conduct in Hawaii.

When are the Hawaii Bar scores released?

• February exam results are usually released in early May
• July exam results are usually released in early October

Because the July exam is now set to take place in September, its scores will likely be delayed. Visit the Hawaii State Judiciary website for updated information.

Can I transfer my MBE scores from another jurisdiction?

No. The Hawaii State Judiciary doesn’t accept MBE scores from other jurisdictions.

What is the Hawaii Reciprocity Agreement like?

Hawaii does not offer reciprocity with any states. Admission on motion is not generally accepted, although it may be allowed on certain grounds.

How can I contact the Hawaii State Bar?

Useful Links

• Hawaii State Judiciary: general information about the judiciary
• Hawaii State Judiciary Bar Exam: up-to-date information on the exam, including the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Hawaii State Bar Association: general information about the association
• National Conference of Bar Examiners: runs the HAWAII Character and Fitness Application