Hawaii advertising rules for med spas

Advertising rules in Hawaii

The advertising provisions that reach a Hawaii medical practice in the sections cited here are the licensing grounds and the unfair-practices statute. The medical practice act makes false, fraudulent, or deceptive advertising a ground for revoking, limiting, suspending, or denying a license, and names excessive claims of expertise in a specialty, assuring a permanent cure for an incurable disease, and any untruthful and improbable statement in advertising a practice; the uniform licensing statute lists the same ground, and the cosmetology act makes a false representation or promise through advertising a ground against a beauty operator or shop. A physician assistant may not advertise without the supervising physician’s name or in a manner implying independent practice. Outside the licensing system, unfair or deceptive acts or practices in trade or commerce are unlawful, construed in light of Federal Trade Commission law, with a civil fine of $500 to $10,000 per violation collected by the attorney general or the director of the office of consumer protection, who may also sue to enjoin a violation. None of these provisions mentions before-and-after photographs, testimonials, or discounts.

• (3) Engaging in false, fraudulent, or deceptive advertising, including but not limited to: (A) Making excessive claims of expertise in one or more medical specialty fields; (B) Assuring a permanent cure for an incurable disease; or (C) Making any untruthful and improbable statement in advertising one's medical or surgical practice or business;

  Haw. Rev. Stat. § 453-8(a)(3) · verified Sep 8, 2026

• (2) Engaging in false, fraudulent, or deceptive advertising, or making untruthful or improbable statements;

  Haw. Rev. Stat. § 436B-19(2) · verified Sep 8, 2026

• Physician assistants may not advertise in any manner without the name or names of the supervising physician or physicians, as the case may be, or in any manner which implies that the physician assistant is an independent

  Haw. Admin. R. § 16-85-49.1(c) · verified Sep 8, 2026

• Unfair methods of competition and unfair or deceptive acts or practices in the conduct of any trade or commerce are unlawful. (b) In construing this section, the courts and the office of consumer protection shall give due consideration to the rules, regulations, and decisions of the Federal Trade Commission and the federal courts interpreting section 5(a)(1) of the Federal Trade Commission Act (15 U.S.C. 45(a)(1)), as from time to time amended.

  Haw. Rev. Stat. § 480-2(a)-(b) · verified Sep 8, 2026

• Any person, firm, company, association, or corporation violating any of the provisions of section 480-2 shall be fined a sum of not less than $500 nor more than $10,000 for each violation, which sum shall be collected in a civil action brought by the attorney general or the director of the office of consumer protection on behalf of the State. The penalties provided in this section are cumulative to the remedies or penalties available under all other laws of this State. Each day that a violation of section 480-2 occurs shall be a separate violation.

  Haw. Rev. Stat. § 480-3.1 · verified Sep 8, 2026

• The attorney general may bring proceedings to enjoin any violation of this chapter; provided that the director of the office of consumer protection may also bring proceedings to enjoin any violation of section 480-2.

  Haw. Rev. Stat. § 480-15 · verified Sep 8, 2026

• (5) Making any false representation or promise through advertising or otherwise;

  Haw. Rev. Stat. § 439A-16(a)(5) · verified Sep 8, 2026

Recent Hawaii changes

• HI SB3195: Relating To Drugs For Weight Loss.Jan 28, 2026