What a loan can cost in Hawaii
Examples at an illustrative rate, never above Hawaii's cap for the amount. They are not quotes.
Representative example
- Amount borrowed
- $500
- Annual percentage rate (APR)
- 29.99%
- Repayment
- 12 monthly payments
- Payment
- $48.74
- Finance charge
- $84.88
- Total of payments
- $584.88
Example: a $500 installment loan at 29.99% APR repaid in 12 monthly payments of $48.74 costs $584.88 in total, including a finance charge of $84.88. Illustration only; your lender will disclose your actual APR, payment schedule and total cost before you accept a loan.
Representative example
- Amount borrowed
- $1,000
- Annual percentage rate (APR)
- 29.99%
- Repayment
- 12 monthly payments
- Payment
- $97.48
- Finance charge
- $169.76
- Total of payments
- $1,169.76
Example: a $1,000 installment loan at 29.99% APR repaid in 12 monthly payments of $97.48 costs $1,169.76 in total, including a finance charge of $169.76. Illustration only; your lender will disclose your actual APR, payment schedule and total cost before you accept a loan.
Resources in Hawaii
Free and low-cost help in Hawaii, each with its official link and the date we checked it.
Lending regulator and complaints
Hawaii Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs (DCCA), Division of Financial Institutions (DFI) licenses lenders in Hawaii.
Check a lender's license File a complaint
cca.hawaii.gov Checked September 23, 2026
Attorney general consumer protection
Takes complaints about scams and unfair debt collection.
cca.hawaii.gov Checked September 23, 2026
211
Help with rent, utilities, food and other urgent bills.
auw211.org Checked September 23, 2026
Legal aid
Free civil legal help if your income is low; income limits vary.
legalaidhawaii.org Checked September 23, 2026
Nonprofit credit counseling
Help with a budget or a debt management plan.
nfcc.org Checked September 23, 2026
Benefits portal
Check whether you qualify for food, cash or other benefits in Hawaii.
humanservices.hawaii.gov Checked September 23, 2026
Federal complaints
Complaints about any lender, to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.
Submit a complaint to the CFPB
consumerfinance.gov Checked September 23, 2026 Available in Spanish
Cheaper options to try first
Worth checking whatever your credit: these can cost less than a high-rate loan.
- Credit union payday alternative loans (PALs). Federal credit unions may offer small loans of up to $2,000 with terms of up to 12 months and an APR no higher than 28%, under NCUA rules (12 CFR 701.21). You usually need to be a member.
- Ask your creditor for a payment plan. Utilities, hospitals and many lenders offer hardship or extended payment plans if you ask before you miss a payment.
- Credit-builder loans: a small loan held in savings while you pay it off, which can help build a payment history.
- Secured credit cards: a card backed by a deposit you make, which can help build credit when you pay on time.
The rules lenders follow in Hawaii
Each rule links to its source. How we research state rules.
Allowed in Hawaii: installment and personal loans. Not allowed: title loans and payday loans.
| Product | Status | APR cap | Amount | Term | License | Law |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Installment and personal loans[1][2][3][4] | Allowed | 36% APR | Up to $1,500 | Up to 1 year | Installment Lender license | HRS ch. 480J, especially s. 480J-4 |
| Title loans[5][6] | Not allowed | Not allowed | Not set by statute | Not set by statute | No license type exists for title-secured consumer loans in Hawaii | HRS ch. 412. |
| Payday loans[2] | Not allowed | Not allowed | Not set by statute | Not set by statute | No license category exists for deferred deposit/payday lending post-repeal | Former HRS ch. 480F, repealed by Act 56, Session Laws of Hawaii 2021, effective January 1, 2022 |
| Verified against the statute and regulator on September 23, 2026. Laws change; confirm with the regulator before you borrow. | ||||||
Bars place each APR cap on a 0 to 400% scale; the pin marks the cap. A striped bar means the statute sets no numeric cap.
Rate, fee and license rules in Hawaii
Installment and personal loans
- Rate cap
- Hawaii Installment Loan Act, HRS ch. 480J, s. 480J-4: an installment lender may contract for and receive interest at a rate not exceeding 36% per year on the unpaid principal balance. Loans are precomputed (a month = 1/12 year, a day = 1/365 year).
- Fees
- HRS 480J-4 prohibits loan origination fees and limits the default charge to $30 after a payment is ten days past due.
- License
- Installment Lender license (Hawaii Division of Financial Institutions, DCCA), required under HRS ch. 480J since January 1, 2022; a loan made without the required license is void, with no principal, interest, fees, or charges collectible.
Title loans
- Rate cap
- Not applicable.
- Fees
- Not applicable; no licensed product exists.
- License
- No license type exists for title-secured consumer loans in Hawaii.
Payday loans
- Rate cap
- Not applicable. Hawaii's deferred deposit (payday loan) statute was repealed effective January 1, 2022 by Act 56 (2021) and replaced by the licensed Installment Loan Act (HRS ch. 480J). Traditional single-payment payday/deferred-deposit lending is no longer a legal, licensable product in Hawaii.
- Fees
- Not applicable; product category repealed.
- License
- No license category exists for deferred deposit/payday lending post-repeal; small-dollar lending must be done under the Installment Lender license (ch. 480J).
Rent and jobs in Hawaii
Typical rent and the jobless rate, to weigh before a loan payment.
Guides for Hawaii borrowers
Check your options in Hawaii
Hawaii questions
Does Hawaii law allow payday loans?
Hawaii law does not allow payday loans. Source: Former HRS ch. 480F, repealed by Act 56, Session Laws of Hawaii 2021, effective January 1, 2022.
What is the most a lender can charge in Hawaii?
By loan type in Hawaii: Installment and personal loans: 36% APR. Title loans: Not allowed. Payday loans: Not allowed.
Where can I file a complaint about a lender in Hawaii?
You can file a complaint with Hawaii Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs (DCCA), Division of Financial Institutions (DFI), and you can also submit one to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Both links are under Resources in Hawaii on this page.
How do I check a lender's license in Hawaii?
Hawaii Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs (DCCA), Division of Financial Institutions (DFI) licenses lenders in Hawaii. Use the license link under Resources in Hawaii on this page to check a lender before you share your information.
Is there free help paying bills in Hawaii?
Yes. Resources in Hawaii on this page lists free help, including 211, legal aid, nonprofit credit counseling and benefits portal.
Sources
- codes.findlaw.com/hi/division-2-business/hi-rev-st-sect-480j-4. Retrieved September 23, 2026.
- cca.hawaii.gov. Hawaii Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs (DCCA), Division of Financial Institutions (DFI). Retrieved September 23, 2026.
- capitol.hawaii.gov. HRS ch. 480J, especially s. 480J-4. Retrieved September 23, 2026.
- cca.hawaii.gov. Hawaii Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs (DCCA), Division of Financial Institutions (DFI). Retrieved September 23, 2026.
- Justia. HRS ch. 412. Retrieved September 23, 2026.
- cca.hawaii.gov. Hawaii Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs (DCCA), Division of Financial Institutions (DFI). Retrieved September 23, 2026.
- National Low Income Housing Coalition. Out of Reach 2026: Hawaii. Retrieved September 23, 2026.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Local Area Unemployment Statistics (LAUS), All States, Seasonally Adjusted. Retrieved September 23, 2026.
Important disclosures
APRs vary by lender and state in Hawaii. Each lender sets its own rates and terms and must show you the APR before you sign.
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- Questions about a lender licensed in Hawaii? Contact the Hawaii Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs (DCCA), Division of Financial Institutions (DFI) or file a state complaint.
- You can submit a complaint about any lender to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau at consumerfinance.gov/complaint.