Replies

I am going to C&P the full text so everybody here can see the whole thing. Notice that a) and b) refer to the “official seal”, which is specifically defined as 2 1/4 inch in diameter. c) refers just to the seal (not the OFFICIAL SEAL) reproduced in other sizes. b) tells how the OFFICIAL SEAL (2 1/4” diameter) - in embossed form - is used to verify documents.

The “verification” that you linked to has c) at the top of it, which is also on BC’s, etc. That verifies nothing. For verification of documents, the OFFICIAL EMBOSSED seal is to be used, and the statute that governs that says it SHALL BE EMBOSSED NEAR THE SIGNATURE OF THE DIRECTOR OF HEALTH TO VERIFY.... (and then a list of documents that can be verified in that way).

Old birth certificates had the signature of both the health director and the state registrar, with the official DOH seal (2 1/4” diameter) embossed between the 2 signatures. They don’t do that any more. They have only the registrar’s signature, certifying statement, and embossed seal (smaller than 2 1/4”, made of dashes rather than solid lines, and with a different design). That is the registrar’s seal, the seal that certifies the registrar’s signature and certifying statement. They can’t use the OFFICIAL DOH SEAL because the DOH Director’s signature is not there. Just like it’s not there on these “verifications”.

Again, a) and b) refer to the OFFICIAL SEAL (1 1/4” in diameter), and designate how the official seal is to be embossed near the director’s signature to verify documents. c) has nothing to do with verifying anything, because it is not the OFFICIAL (1 1/4”) seal but visual reproductions of the design, used in non-official size.

Notice that the Director is given discretion as to which documents he/she will verify with the OFFICIAL SEAL, but NOT discretion to decide HOW to verify. That is prescribed by the statute, and it is the embossed official seal close to his/her signature. Period.

Here is the full text:

§11-1-2 Seal of the department of health.
a) The official seal of the department of health
shall be circular in shape, two and one-fourth inches
in diameter. At the curve on the top portion there
shall be the words “DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH” and at the
curve on the bottom portion there shall be the words
“STATE OF HAWAII.” At the curve on each side portion
shall be a star. In the center of the seal shall be
the Caduceus, a winged rod entwined with two serpents,
which has long been recognized as a universal symbol
of medicine. The Caduceus shall be encircled by an
indentation, which shall separate it from the words
“DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH” and “STATE OF HAWAII.” For
illustrative purposes, a black and white drawing of
the official seal is attached at the end of this
section as Exhibit “A,” titled “Seal of the Department
of Health,” and dated November 1, 1988, and made a
part of this section.
(b) The official seal of the department of
health shall be embossed near the signature of the
director of health to verify commissions of
appointment of deputy directors and notaries public,
certificates, and other formal official documents on
which the official seal has been customarily used or
is appropriate to be used, as the director of health
may determine on a case-by-case basis.
(c) The seal of the department of health may
also be reproduced, in either an enlarged or a reduced
size, on official stationery, reports, certificates,
equipment, supplies, uniform insignia, and other
objects and items to be used or produced by the
department of health, but the reproduction and use of
the seal shall always be subject to the exclusive
control of the director of health.
[Eff 2/14/2005 ] (Auth: HRS §§321-9, 91-2) (Imp:
HRS §§321-9, 91-2)