Page 1 of 139
Hawaii Security Guard - Principal Exam COMPLETE QUESTIONS
AND DETAILED SOLUTIONS LATEST UPDATE THIS YEAR-JUST
RELEASED
Summarized Exam Topics Covered (Point Form – Accurate for Principal Exam)
• Definitions and legal responsibilities of a Principal Guard under HRS §463-1
• Minimum age (21) and experience (4 years) requirements for Principal licensure
• Surety bond requirements ($5,000) and consequences of bond lapse
• DCCA/PVL role and Board of Private Detectives and Guards composition/jurisdiction
• License renewal cycles (June 30 even-numbered years) and address change notification (10
days)
• Uniform and badge restrictions (no resemblance to law enforcement, no state seal)
• Use of force law under HRS Chapter 703 (deadly force only for imminent death/serious injury)
• Citizen's arrest authority (HRS §803-3) vs. police powers
• Vicarious liability and respondeat superior for employee actions
• Training requirements: 8 hours initial, 4 hours annual CE
• Grounds for license revocation (felony involving moral turpitude, false statements)
• Fire safety (PASS, fire classes), emergency procedures, and OSHA HRS §396 compliance
• Defense in depth, perimeter security, risk assessment (annual/change-based)
• Evidence preservation (secure-document-collect), chain of custody, incident reporting
• Trespass, detention standards (probable cause, merchant's privilege), false imprisonment
• Conflict of interest, ethical standards, dual licensure (guard + detective)
• Color codes of awareness, security surveys, report writing standards
• Disqualifying criminal offenses, good moral character requirement
• Regulated Industries Complaints Office (RICO) enforcement role
, Page 2 of 139
1. Under HRS Chapter 463, which individual is legally defined as a "principal guard"?
A) The most senior guard working a night shift
B) The licensed owner or operator fully responsible for the direct management and control of a guard
agency
C) Any security guard who carries a firearm
D) A law enforcement officer assigned to train private guards
Answer: B
*Rationale: HRS §463-1 explicitly defines a "principal guard" as the designated primary licensee fully
responsible for the direct management and control of the agency. The principal holds legal and financial
accountability for all agency operations and employees .*
2. What is the minimum age required to apply for a Principal Guard license in Hawaii?
A) 18 years old
B) 19 years old
C) 21 years old
D) 25 years old
Answer: C
, Page 3 of 139
*Rationale: While a general guard employee can be 18, the Principal—who carries legal and financial
responsibility for the agency—must be at least 21 years old per HRS §463-7 .*
3. How many years of verifiable security-related experience are required to qualify for a Principal Guard
license?
A) 1 year
B) 2 years
C) 4 years (48 months)
D) No experience required if a college degree is held
Answer: C
*Rationale: HRS §463-8 requires applicants for a guard agency license to have at least four years of
verifiable experience in security or a related field, including law enforcement or military police
experience .*
4. What is the penal sum of the surety bond required for a Principal Guard license in Hawaii?
A) 1,000 B) 2,500
C) 5,000 D) 10,000
Answer: C
, Page 4 of 139
*Rationale: HRS §463-12 and HAR §16-97-54 mandate a $5,000 surety bond filed with the Board to
protect the public against any financial loss or damages caused by the agency's operations .*
5. Which state agency is responsible for regulating private security licensing in Hawaii?
A) Hawaii Department of Public Safety
B) Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs (DCCA) – Professional and Vocational Licensing (PVL)
Division
C) Honolulu Police Department (HPD)
D) Hawaii Labor Relations Board
Answer: B
Rationale: The DCCA's PVL division regulates security guards and private detectives under HRS §436B and
HAR Title 16, Chapter 97. The Board of Private Detectives and Guards operates under this division .
6. What happens to an agency's license if the required surety bond lapses or is cancelled?
A) The agency receives a warning
B) Automatic suspension or revocation of the agency license
C) The agency can continue operating with a reduced bond
D) Nothing happens as long as no claims are filed
Hawaii Security Guard - Principal Exam COMPLETE QUESTIONS
AND DETAILED SOLUTIONS LATEST UPDATE THIS YEAR-JUST
RELEASED
Summarized Exam Topics Covered (Point Form – Accurate for Principal Exam)
• Definitions and legal responsibilities of a Principal Guard under HRS §463-1
• Minimum age (21) and experience (4 years) requirements for Principal licensure
• Surety bond requirements ($5,000) and consequences of bond lapse
• DCCA/PVL role and Board of Private Detectives and Guards composition/jurisdiction
• License renewal cycles (June 30 even-numbered years) and address change notification (10
days)
• Uniform and badge restrictions (no resemblance to law enforcement, no state seal)
• Use of force law under HRS Chapter 703 (deadly force only for imminent death/serious injury)
• Citizen's arrest authority (HRS §803-3) vs. police powers
• Vicarious liability and respondeat superior for employee actions
• Training requirements: 8 hours initial, 4 hours annual CE
• Grounds for license revocation (felony involving moral turpitude, false statements)
• Fire safety (PASS, fire classes), emergency procedures, and OSHA HRS §396 compliance
• Defense in depth, perimeter security, risk assessment (annual/change-based)
• Evidence preservation (secure-document-collect), chain of custody, incident reporting
• Trespass, detention standards (probable cause, merchant's privilege), false imprisonment
• Conflict of interest, ethical standards, dual licensure (guard + detective)
• Color codes of awareness, security surveys, report writing standards
• Disqualifying criminal offenses, good moral character requirement
• Regulated Industries Complaints Office (RICO) enforcement role
, Page 2 of 139
1. Under HRS Chapter 463, which individual is legally defined as a "principal guard"?
A) The most senior guard working a night shift
B) The licensed owner or operator fully responsible for the direct management and control of a guard
agency
C) Any security guard who carries a firearm
D) A law enforcement officer assigned to train private guards
Answer: B
*Rationale: HRS §463-1 explicitly defines a "principal guard" as the designated primary licensee fully
responsible for the direct management and control of the agency. The principal holds legal and financial
accountability for all agency operations and employees .*
2. What is the minimum age required to apply for a Principal Guard license in Hawaii?
A) 18 years old
B) 19 years old
C) 21 years old
D) 25 years old
Answer: C
, Page 3 of 139
*Rationale: While a general guard employee can be 18, the Principal—who carries legal and financial
responsibility for the agency—must be at least 21 years old per HRS §463-7 .*
3. How many years of verifiable security-related experience are required to qualify for a Principal Guard
license?
A) 1 year
B) 2 years
C) 4 years (48 months)
D) No experience required if a college degree is held
Answer: C
*Rationale: HRS §463-8 requires applicants for a guard agency license to have at least four years of
verifiable experience in security or a related field, including law enforcement or military police
experience .*
4. What is the penal sum of the surety bond required for a Principal Guard license in Hawaii?
A) 1,000 B) 2,500
C) 5,000 D) 10,000
Answer: C
, Page 4 of 139
*Rationale: HRS §463-12 and HAR §16-97-54 mandate a $5,000 surety bond filed with the Board to
protect the public against any financial loss or damages caused by the agency's operations .*
5. Which state agency is responsible for regulating private security licensing in Hawaii?
A) Hawaii Department of Public Safety
B) Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs (DCCA) – Professional and Vocational Licensing (PVL)
Division
C) Honolulu Police Department (HPD)
D) Hawaii Labor Relations Board
Answer: B
Rationale: The DCCA's PVL division regulates security guards and private detectives under HRS §436B and
HAR Title 16, Chapter 97. The Board of Private Detectives and Guards operates under this division .
6. What happens to an agency's license if the required surety bond lapses or is cancelled?
A) The agency receives a warning
B) Automatic suspension or revocation of the agency license
C) The agency can continue operating with a reduced bond
D) Nothing happens as long as no claims are filed
