Hawaii Dental Association (HDA)

Your guide to organized dentistry in Hawaii: membership, the annual meeting, local component societies, the state dental board, and CE/license-renewal requirements.

Visit HDA AI for Hawaii Practices
Founded
1903
Headquarters
Honolulu
Membership
997 members, representing over 92% of all dentists practicing in Hawaii across general dentistry and the eight ADA-recognized specialties
Executive Director
Kim Nguyen, MSW (Executive Director)
President
Dr. Rachel DiPasquale (2024–2025 term)
Component Societies
4
CE Required
32 hours · Biennial (every two years); Hawaii dental licenses renew by December 31 of the renewal year (a fixed statewide cycle regardless of original licensure date)

About the Hawaii Dental Association

The Hawaii Dental Association (HDA), established in 1903, is the American Dental Association's constituent (state) society for the State of Hawaii. It is a voluntary-membership, nonprofit professional organization (501(c)(6)) "dedicated to serving the profession of dentistry and the public of the State of Hawaii," with stated aims of preserving professional integrity, strengthening the doctor–patient relationship, and promoting ethical standards of conduct. Members pay annual dues; HDA's roughly 997 members make up over 92% of practicing dentists in the state — an unusually high market penetration compared with most state associations.

Like every ADA state society, HDA sits in the middle of the tripartite structure: a Hawaii dentist's single membership ties them to a county-level component society, to HDA at the state level, and to the national ADA. Governance follows a House of Delegates model with a Speaker of the House (Dr. Curt Shimizu, 2024–2025) and an officer slate — President, President-elect, Vice President, Treasurer, and Secretary — supported by a professional staff under the Executive Director.

HDA's published 2024–2025 officer team: President Dr. Rachel DiPasquale, President-elect Dr. Norman Chun, Vice President Dr. Camden Tokunaga, Treasurer Dr. Derek Ichimura, Secretary Dr. Carla Fukumoto, Speaker of the House Dr. Curt Shimizu. Staff includes Executive Director Kim Nguyen (MSW), plus an Administrative Services Manager (Antonia "Toni" Perez), Education & Outreach Manager (Rachelle Teruya), and Events & Projects Manager (Margarita Toaiva).

The association's core member services include continuing education (anchored by its annual convention), legislative and regulatory advocacy at the Hawaii State Legislature, public-information resources, and ADA Member Advantage benefits. A related but separate entity, the Hawaii Dental Service (HDS) and its foundation, is the dominant dental benefits carrier in the islands and supports workforce and access initiatives; it is distinct from HDA the membership association.

Annual Meeting: HDA Convention (Hawaii Dental Association Convention)

January, in Honolulu; the HDA site lists a "Save the Date" for the 2027 Convention, January 13–15, at the 'Alohilani Resort Waikiki Beach, Honolulu

The convention bundles multi-track continuing education, exhibits, and HDA business/social events; its Waikiki location also attracts out-of-state attendees combining CE with travel.

Component & Local Dental Societies

Joining the HDA typically also enrolls a dentist in their local component society.Hawaii has 4 component societies:

Honolulu County Dental Society

City and County of Honolulu (island of Oʻahu); the largest component by far, covering the Honolulu metro

Hawaii County Dental Society

Hawaiʻi County (the Big Island): Hilo, Kona, etc.

Maui County Dental Society

Maui County: islands of Maui, Molokaʻi, Lānaʻi

Kauai County Dental Society

Kauaʻi County (island of Kauaʻi)

Licensing Board

Hawaii Board of Dentistry (a.k.a. Board of Dental Examiners), within the Professional & Vocational Licensing Division, Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs (DCCA)

The board licenses and regulates dentists — distinct from the HDA, which is a voluntary membership and advocacy body.

cca.hawaii.gov/pvl/boards/dentist

CE & License Renewal

  • Hours: 32 hours
  • Cycle: Biennial (every two years); Hawaii dental licenses renew by December 31 of the renewal year (a fixed statewide cycle regardless of original licensure date)
  • Mandatory topics: 6 hours of ethics training required each 2-year renewal period; 1 hour of Basic Life Support (BLS) (AHA or American Red Cross), countable within the 32 hours, every two years; dentists administering general anesthesia or moderate sedation must hold ACLS (and PALS if treating pediatric patients/minors 13+); CE must come from Board-approved providers; records kept 3 years

Always verify current requirements with the Hawaii Board of Dentistry (a.k.a. Board of Dental Examiners), within the Professional & Vocational Licensing Division, Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs (DCCA) before renewal.

Hawaii Dental Market Snapshot

  • ~1,050–1,100 practicing dentists statewide (derived from HDA's 997 members ≈ 92% of practitioners).
  • Major metros: Honolulu (Oʻahu) dominates; secondary markets in Hilo and Kona (Big Island), Kahului/Wailuku (Maui), and Līhuʻe (Kauaʻi). Inter-island geography means practices serve island-bound populations.
  • Market still skews to independent practices, with Hawaii Dental Service (HDS) as the dominant insurer shaping the benefits landscape.
  • Hawaii is the most linguistically diverse U.S. state for a front office — ~24.7% of households speak a non-English language at home; top home languages include Tagalog (~16.9%), Ilocano (~16.6%), Japanese (~11.2%), and Chinese/Mandarin/Cantonese (~10.0%), plus Hawaiian, Samoan, Korean, and Hawaiian Pidgin.

AI Front Desk for Hawaii Practices

Hawaii dental practices serve one of the most multilingual patient populations in the country — Tagalog, Ilocano, Japanese, Chinese, and Hawaiian Pidgin are everyday front-desk realities. An AI dental receptionist that greets and schedules patients in their preferred language, never misses an inter-island or after-hours call, and confirms appointments automatically directly addresses the access and communication gaps Hawaii Dental Association members face. With HDA covering 92%+ of the state's dentists across four county societies, the ecosystem is tight-knit and ideal for word-of-mouth adoption.

Book a Demo AI Dental Receptionist in Hawaii

Hawaii Dental Association FAQ

How many CE hours do Hawaii dentists need to renew a license?

Hawaii dentists must complete 32 hours, biennial (every two years); hawaii dental licenses renew by december 31 of the renewal year (a fixed statewide cycle regardless of original licensure date). Mandatory topics include 6 hours of ethics training required each 2-year renewal period; 1 hour of Basic Life Support (BLS) (AHA or American Red Cross), countable within the 32 hours, every two years; dentists administering general anesthesia or moderate sedation must hold ACLS (and PALS if treating pediatric patients/minors 13+); CE must come from Board-approved providers; records kept 3 years. Always confirm current rules with the Hawaii Board of Dentistry (a.k.a. Board of Dental Examiners), within the Professional & Vocational Licensing Division, Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs (DCCA).

What is the difference between the HDA and the Hawaii Board of Dentistry (a.k.a. Board of Dental Examiners), within the Professional & Vocational Licensing Division, Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs (DCCA)?

The Hawaii Dental Association is a voluntary membership and advocacy organization for dentists. The Hawaii Board of Dentistry (a.k.a. Board of Dental Examiners), within the Professional & Vocational Licensing Division, Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs (DCCA) is the government body that licenses dentists and enforces regulations. Membership in the association is optional; licensure through the board is mandatory to practice.

Sources

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