DBE Certification and Re-evaluation in Hawaii

What it's for

The Hawaii Department of Transportation (HDOT) Office of Civil Rights certifies Disadvantaged Business Enterprises (DBEs) in Hawaii. HDOT runs the DBE program for its federal highway (FHWA), airport (FAA) and transit (FTA) funds. HDOT also certifies Airport Concession DBEs (ACDBEs), and its page says ACDBE firms are subject to the same re-evaluation. DBE certification lets a firm count toward DBE goals on contracts paid for with U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) money.

Where this state stands

• DOT's UCP status page (updated Oct 2, 2026) shows Hawaii's re-evaluation is not yet complete.
• HDOT says "All firms previously certified using race- or sex-based presumptions of social and economic disadvantage must be reevaluated."
• HDOT published this schedule:
• "April 17, 2026 – Deadline to submit Declaration of Intent." Firms that missed it "will be temporarily deactivated from the DBE/ACDBE program."
• May 17, 2026 – end of the 30-day deactivation response period.
• May 31, 2026 – submission of re-evaluation applications.
• These dates have passed. HDOT has not published an updated schedule since the federal final rule. Call HDOT to confirm where your firm stands.
• Under the federal final rule (published Sep 25, 2026), UCPs must finish re-evaluations by Dec 24, 2026 (DOT may grant "a one-time extension of up to 90 days"). Firms that have not responded get a written notice of nonresponse and have until Mar 24, 2027 (or 90 days after a UCP's extended deadline) to send the narrative and PNW statement. After that they are "automatically disqualified" (49 CFR 26.111). DOT's final-rule FAQ (Q17, Q22) says the same.
• How firms are contacted: HDOT's page says firms are notified directly; re-evaluation documents go through the HDOT Vendor Management System at hdot.gob2g.com.
• Narrative format: HDOT says firms "must submit a personal narrative detailing their social and economic disadvantage based on their own experiences and circumstances." HDOT has said "Personal Narrative guidelines will be provided/made available at a later date." No page limit or template is published.
• The narrative must be the owner's own statement. The final rule says it is "not a technical or legally complex document to be written by consultants or legal experts."

Have this ready

• Personal narrative (PN) describing the owner's own social and economic disadvantage.
• Updated Personal Net Worth (PNW) statement on the USDOT form (linked from HDOT's page).
• For new applicants: the Uniform Certification Application and supporting documents (HDOT does not publish a separate document checklist on its page; the portal lists what is required).
• For firms certified in another state: HDOT's Interstate DBE/ACDBE Certification Application and a Declaration of Eligibility (fillable PDF on HDOT's application page).

Steps

Already certified (re-evaluation):

1. Check your email and your account at the HDOT Vendor Management System for notices from HDOT.
2. If you missed the April or May 2026 dates, call HDOT Office of Civil Rights right away: (808) 831-7915 or (808) 831-7914.
3. Write your personal narrative yourself, about your own experiences.
4. Complete an updated PNW statement on the USDOT form.
5. Upload both through the HDOT portal and keep a copy.
6. Answer any follow-up requests from HDOT. The UCP decides eligibility.

New applicants:

1. Go to HDOT's new DBE application page.
2. Create an account and apply in the HDOT Vendor Management System.
3. Include the personal narrative and PNW statement.
4. HDOT must decide within 90 days after it has all required information.

After you're certified

• Federal rules require a new Declaration of Eligibility every year on the anniversary of your certification. HDOT's page does not describe its own annual update process.
• Report material changes to your firm within 30 days (49 CFR 26.83).
• Interstate certification: HDOT accepts an Interstate DBE/ACDBE Certification Application with a Declaration of Eligibility from firms certified in their home state.

Watch out for

• Firms that did not submit a Declaration of Intent by April 17, 2026 were temporarily deactivated, per HDOT. Contact HDOT if this applies to you.
• HDOT's page mentions upcoming training/workshops but gives no dates.
• Personal narrative guidelines were "to be provided" later. Check the HDOT page for updates.
• Help from HDOT is free. Fee for applying: not published.
• This is a process guide, not legal advice. The UCP decides who qualifies.

What changed nationally, plus DOT's narrative and net worth checklists →

Sources

• www.transportation.gov/sites/dot.gov/files/2026-09/DBE_Final%20Rule_FAQs%2009-28-2026_0.pdf
• www.transportation.gov/UCPstatus
• hidot.hawaii.gov/administration/ocr/dbe/
• hidot.hawaii.gov/administration/ocr/dbe/dbe-application/
• hidot.hawaii.gov/administration/files/2025/12/DBE-IFR-FAQs-Updated-12-1-2025-1.pdf
• www.federalregister.gov/d/2026-19688
• www.ecfr.gov/current/title-49/subtitle-A/part-26/subpart-D/section-26.83
• www.ecfr.gov/current/title-49/subtitle-A/part-26/subpart-F/section-26.111

FindMyBids isn't affiliated with USDOT or any certifying agency, and this isn't legal advice. Your state's UCP decides who qualifies. FindMyBids never writes personal narratives and never asks for your net worth figures.