Can a Notary Public in Hawaii handle documents that require witnessing in addition to notarization?

A Notary Public in Hawaii can indeed handle documents that require witnessing in addition to notarization. This is because, in addition to performing notarial acts, a notary serves as an impartial witness to the signing of documents. When a notary acknowledges a signature, they must verify that the signers understand the nature of the document they are signing. This includes ensuring that all parties involved are aware of the purpose and implications of the document.

This process of verifying understanding aligns with the responsibility of the notary to promote transparency and prevent fraud, especially in legal transactions where the stakes can be high. The notary acts as a safeguard by ensuring that parties are making informed decisions, which is integral to the notarization process.

The other answer choices reflect misunderstandings about the role of a notary. Some options incorrectly suggest limitations on the notary’s ability to engage with various types of documents or imply prohibitions that are not applicable in Hawaii's statutory framework. Thus, the selected answer correctly identifies the notary's responsibility to facilitate understanding while performing notarizations and witnessing signatures.