By Sean Warnet — USMC veteran & Hawaiʻi C-5 License CT-37515 · Published June 2026 · Updated September 4, 2026
Hiring a contractor on Oʻahu starts with a question you can answer in a few minutes: is the person licensed for the work being offered? The number alone is not enough. You should verify the business name, status, classification, and responsible licensed individual in Hawaiʻi's official records before you sign.
Verify the license before you do anything else
Hawaiʻi contractor licenses are administered through the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs (DCCA), Professional and Vocational Licensing Division. Use the state's BusinessCheck search to review the license record, and use the Regulated Industries Complaints Office resources when researching complaint history.
- Search by the exact company name and license number; confirm the status and expiration date shown in the current state record.
- Read the classification description and make sure it fits the proposed work. Different classifications authorize different kinds of contracting.
- Confirm the business on the contract matches the licensed entity and that the responsible managing employee is listed in the state record.
- Ask the contractor to identify, in writing, which separately licensed professional is responsible for any plumbing, electrical, structural, or other regulated work outside its classification.
What CT-37515 authorizes
Island Contractors LLC holds Hawaiʻi C-5 license CT-37515: Cabinet, Millwork, and Carpentry Remodeling and Repairs Contractor. The state classification includes cabinet and millwork installation, carpentry remodeling and repairs, and nonbearing partitions. It excludes changes or additions to foundations and load-bearing members such as beams, rafters, and joists. State records reviewed September 3, 2026 showed the license active and in good standing, with an expiration date of September 30, 2026; always confirm the current record before hiring.
Verify Island Contractors through Hawaiʻi BusinessCheck
Why unlicensed work costs you more, not less
A low bid can become expensive when the person is not properly licensed for the promised work or required permits were skipped. Before accepting any bid, confirm the classification, ask whether a permit is required, and make the contract name the licensed party responsible for every regulated part of the project. Honolulu DPP and Hawaiʻi DCCA are the authorities for project-specific permit and license questions.
The red flags to walk away from
Most unlicensed operators tip their hand early. Any one of these is a reason to slow down; two or more is a reason to walk.
- Cash only, or a steep discount for paying cash — a reason to ask for clearer records and payment terms.
- No written contract, or a vague one-page estimate instead of a real scope, timeline, and payment schedule.
- No license number on the bid or contract, or a number that does not match the business in the state record.
- A large upfront deposit without a clear written payment schedule.
- 'We don't need a permit for that' when DPP or the applicable trade rules require one.
What a properly licensed contractor puts in writing
A useful proposal gives you the licensed business name and number, proof of insurance, a specific scope, materials and allowances, schedule, payment terms, change-order process, warranty terms, and permit responsibility. For Island Contractors, that means stating its C-5 scope accurately and identifying any plumbing, electrical, structural, or other portion that belongs to a separately licensed professional. Clear responsibility is more valuable than a vague promise that one license covers everything.
Check the license and classification on every bid you get — including ours. When you're ready for an insured, C-5 remodeling consultation, our on-site visit starts at $250 and is credited back to your project on contract. Call us at (808) 900-7540.
