Step 29: Key Day and Recordation

Watch us walk you through Step 29 — Key Day and recordation — in our 30-part Hawaii Home Buying Guide.

More in this series: Full 30-Step Playlist All Steps

What Happens on Key Day — and What to Do in the First Week

Key Day — Recordation Day — is the day your deed is officially recorded at the Bureau of Conveyances and legal ownership transfers into your name. Your Realtor will notify you once recording is confirmed and coordinate the logistics of key, remote, and fob delivery as arranged with the seller or their agent.

Recording dates can shift based on lender funding timelines and Bureau of Conveyances processing schedules. For condo purchases especially, move-in logistics — elevator reservations, loading dock scheduling, building management coordination — should be planned with built-in flexibility around the expected recording date rather than locked in rigidly in advance.

Your First Week as a Hawaii Homeowner

The moment the deed records, several things deserve prompt attention:

  1. 1Rekey or replace all locks — You have no way of knowing how many copies of the existing keys are in circulation from previous owners, tenants, contractors, or property managers. Rekeying or replacing locks on your first day costs very little and eliminates an unknowable security variable entirely.
  2. 2Transfer utilities into your name — Contact Hawaiian Electric (HECO), the Board of Water Supply, and any other providers to transfer service effective on the recording date. Don't leave utilities in the seller's name — it creates billing complications and potential service interruption risk.
  3. 3File for the homeowner's property tax exemption — If this will be your primary residence, apply for the owner-occupant homestead exemption with the City and County of Honolulu. The deadline is typically September 30 of the tax year. This exemption can significantly reduce your annual property tax and must be actively applied for — it isn't automatic.
  4. 4Update your mailing address — USPS, your bank, employer, DMV, voter registration, and any subscription services. Your Realtor will provide a move-in checklist covering these items and more.
  5. 5Review any warranties or manuals left by the seller — These are typically organized in a binder or folder. File them somewhere accessible — you'll want them when a system or appliance needs service.