If you and your family are thinking about adopting a child in Hawaii, it’s important to be aware of Hawaii’s adoption requirements. It’s common for families to worry about meeting the qualifications to adopt a child in Hawaii, but please keep in mind that the state does not require that someone be rich or powerful to become an adoptive parent. Rather, as long as you can provide a safe, loving and stable home for a child, you will most likely be able to adopt. To learn more about the requirements of adoption in Hawaii, see the following frequently asked questions.

If you're ready to start the adoption process, reach out to us through our free online form.

Do you have to be married to adopt in Hawaii?

No, there are no marriage requirements for adoption in Hawaii.

Hawaii state laws allow any of the following to adopt:

• An unmarried adult

• The spouse of a child’s legal parent

• A husband and wife jointly

It’s important to keep in mind, though, that different adoption professionals have different requirements. Because American Adoptions is a national adoption agency, we have our own set of qualifications for adoption that meet each state’s adoption requirements. At this time, we work primarily with couples who have been married for at least two years. Sometimes, however, exceptions may be made, so we encourage you to contact us if you haven’t been married for that long but still wish to adopt.

How old do you have to be to adopt in Hawaii?

The state of Hawaii has no age requirements for adoption. American Adoptions, however, typically works with adoptive families who are between the ages of 22 and 50. If you do not meet these age requirements, you can learn more about our exception process by calling 1-800-ADOPTION.

Can a felon adopt a child in Hawaii?

This may seem like a fairly black-and-white question, but the answer is actually a little more complicated than that. If either you or your spouse has been convicted of a felony, the nature of the crime will play a large part in determining whether or not you are eligible to adopt a child. If the crime involved any sort of violence, assault or abuse, it is unlikely that you will meet Hawaii’s requirements for adopting a child — particularly if a minor was involved in the crime.  If, however, the crime was not violent and did not endanger a child, you may be able to explain what happened and what you’ve learned since to your social worker in order to still meet the Hawaii adoption requirements.

Are there any emotional requirements to adopt a child in Hawaii?

After you and your spouse have verified that you do meet the legal requirements to adopt a child in Hawaii, it’s important that you make sure you meet the emotional qualifications as well. If you think you are ready to adopt, you should ask yourselves the following questions:

• Are both of us equally excited and prepared to adopt a child?

• Have we both moved on entirely from infertility and properly grieved that loss?

• Do we both understand that there are going to be emotional lows as well as emotional highs in the adoption process?

• Have we told those around us about our adoption plan? If not, how do we plan to inform our family members and closest friends?

If you are confident in all of your answers to the above questions, then congratulations! You may be ready to begin the Hawaii adoption process.

What are the requirements to adopt a child from the Hawaii foster care system?

Since American Adoptions is a private domestic adoption agency, we are not affiliated with Hawaii’s foster care system and therefore unable to help families to adopt from foster care. However, this is still a cause we’re very passionate about, and we encourage you to reach out to a foster care agency if you think you may be interested in foster parenting or adopting an older child from foster care.

Since the foster care system and the private adoption system are different, there are different Hawaii adoption requirements for the foster care system. If this is something you’re interested in, you must, at a minimum:

• Have sufficient income to cover your financial needs

• Be able to provide a safe, loving and supportive environment for a child

• Pass the required background checks and clearances

• Complete preservice training and undergo an adoption home study

• Have sufficient space in  your home for an additional child

To learn more about the requirements for adopting a child in Hawaii with our agency or to begin the process, please contact American Adoptions at 1-800-ADOPTION. 

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