What to Do When Someone Dies in Hawaii: A 72-Hour Action Checklist
Step-by-step guide for the first 72 hours after a death in Hawaii — from pronouncement and permits to death certificates and mortuary decisions.
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All articles about Hawaii Funeral Laws & Consumer Rights Guide.
How Much Does a Funeral Cost in Hawaii? Average Prices and What to Expect
Average funeral costs in Hawaii: traditional burial runs $9,439, direct cremation averages $1,632. What's included, what drives the price up, and how to budget.
How to File a Funeral Home Complaint in Hawaii: DCCA RICO Process
Step-by-step guide to filing a funeral home or cemetery complaint in Hawaii through the DCCA Regulated Industries Complaints Office (RICO) and the FTC.
Best Hawaii Funeral Guide for Out-of-State Family Members
Managing a Hawaii funeral from the mainland means navigating inter-island transport, the 30-hour rule, and five state agencies remotely. Here is what actually helps.
Hawaii Medical Aid in Dying: The Our Care, Our Choice Act Explained
How Hawaii's Our Care Our Choice Act works, what Act 43 changed, eligibility requirements, and the death certificate coding for MAID deaths.
Hawaii Funeral Guide vs. Hiring a Funeral Attorney: Which Do You Actually Need?
Comparing a Hawaii funeral consumer rights guide against hiring a local attorney at $200-$500/hour. When each option makes sense and when you need both.
Who Can Authorize Cremation in Hawaii? Rules and Waiting Periods
Hawaii cremation authorization rules: who can legally sign, the 24-hour waiting period, casket requirements, and what happens when family members disagree.
Best Hawaii Funeral Planning Resource for Families on a Budget
How to navigate Hawaii funeral laws, avoid mortuary upsells, and claim up to $1,600 in Med-QUEST assistance without spending thousands on legal fees.
Alternatives to Relying on Your Hawaii Funeral Home for Guidance
Funeral homes have a conflict of interest. Here are five independent sources for Hawaii funeral law information, ranked by cost, accuracy, and speed.
Hawaii Funeral Director License Requirements: What Consumers Should Know
How funeral directors are licensed in Hawaii, what the DCCA Board of Embalmers and Funeral Directors oversees, and how to verify a funeral home's credentials.
Is Embalming Required in Hawaii? The 30-Hour Rule Explained
Hawaii embalming laws explained: when it's legally required, when refrigeration suffices, and how to decline unnecessary embalming under the FTC Funeral Rule.
Hawaii Burial on Private Property: Is It Legal and What Are the Rules?
Private property burial in Hawaii: state law, county zoning requirements, setback rules, permits needed, and practical considerations for rural island properties.
Hawaii Burial Vault Requirements: What State Law Actually Requires
Do you need a burial vault in Hawaii? State law does not mandate vaults — learn what cemeteries can require, what alternatives exist, and how to avoid paying for one you don't need.
Hawaii Right of Disposition: Who Controls Funeral Arrangements Under HRS 531B
Who legally controls funeral arrangements in Hawaii under HRS 531B-4 — including designated agents, the five-day rule, family disputes, and how to override the default hierarchy.
Hawaii Military Funeral Benefits and Veteran Burial Allowances
Hawaii veteran burial benefits: Punchbowl National Cemetery eligibility, VA burial allowances, military funeral honors, and state benefits for surviving families.
Hawaii Prepaid Funeral Plans: Laws, Risks, and Consumer Protections
How Hawaii regulates pre-need funeral contracts, trust account requirements, refund rights, and what to check before signing a prepaid funeral agreement.
Hawaii Home Funeral Laws: Is It Legal to Care for the Deceased at Home?
Home funerals are fully legal in Hawaii without a funeral director. Learn the state requirements, DOH permits, and 30-hour rule for family-directed disposition.
5 Hawaii Funeral Law Mistakes That Cost Families Time and Money
The five most costly Hawaii funeral law mistakes — from the 60-day Med-QUEST deadline to the un-notarized wish trap — and exactly how to avoid each one.
Hawaii Funeral Financial Assistance: Med-QUEST Death Payment and Other Programs
How to apply for Hawaii funeral financial assistance including the Med-QUEST death payment (up to $1,600), DHS Form 1163, and the 60-day deadline.
What to Do When Family Members Disagree About Funeral Arrangements in Hawaii
Hawaii law has a strict legal hierarchy for who controls funeral decisions. Here is how HRS 531B-4 works, how to resolve disputes, and how to prevent them.
Hawaii Funeral Insurance and Final Expense Coverage: What to Know
Hawaii final expense insurance and funeral insurance options: how they work, what they cover, how they differ from prepaid funeral plans, and what to watch for.
Hawaii Burial Transit Permit: Requirements, Cost, and 72-Hour Deadline
How to get a Hawaii burial transit permit within the 72-hour deadline. Covers DOH requirements, the $5 fee, who can apply, and what happens if you miss the window.
Hawaii Body Donation Program: Whole Body Donation and Anatomical Gifts
How to donate your body to science in Hawaii — whole body donation programs, the anatomical gift registry, authorization requirements, and what happens to remains after use.
Hawaii Ash Scattering Laws: Ocean, Parks, Beaches, and Aerial Rules
Complete guide to Hawaii ash scattering rules — EPA 3-mile ocean rule, DLNR permits, Haleakala and Hawaii Volcanoes National Park requirements, and beach scattering laws.
Transporting Human Remains in Hawaii: Inter-Island and Mainland Rules
Hawaii rules for transporting human remains — inter-island logistics, airline cargo requirements, shipping body to mainland, burial transit permit, and costs.
Water Cremation in Hawaii: Alkaline Hydrolysis Laws and Options
Hawaii legalized water cremation (alkaline hydrolysis) in 2022. Learn how the process works, who can authorize it, and what it costs compared to flame cremation.
Green Burial in Hawaii: Natural Options, Rules, and What Is Currently Legal
Hawaii green burial options including natural cemeteries, biodegradable containers, and vault requirements. What is legal, what is not, and how to find eco-burial providers.
Hawaii Funeral Laws and Consumer Rights: What Families Need to Know
Complete overview of Hawaii funeral laws including FTC Funeral Rule rights, General Price Lists, and state consumer protections against mortuary upselling.
Hawaii Disinterment Laws: How to Legally Move or Exhume Buried Remains
Hawaii disinterment process: permits required, who can authorize exhumation, DOH requirements, reasons courts allow disinterment, and typical costs.
Hawaii Cremation Cost: Direct Cremation, Full Service, and What Drives the Price
Average Hawaii cremation costs from direct cremation at $1,632 to full-service packages. Learn what's included, what's optional, and how to compare providers.
Hawaii Advance Directive and POLST Form: What Each Document Does
Learn the difference between a Hawaii Advance Health Care Directive and a POLST form, who signs each, and when they go into effect.