Search Hawaii Unclaimed Money
Hawaii may be holding unclaimed money in your name right now. The State of Hawaii Unclaimed Property Program collects abandoned bank accounts, uncashed checks, insurance refunds, utility deposits, stock dividends, and safe deposit box contents from holders across every county. The state keeps this property in trust until the rightful owner comes forward to claim it. Searching the Hawaii unclaimed money database costs nothing, and so does filing a claim. If a business, bank, or government agency lost touch with you at an old address, your funds are likely sitting in the state system waiting to be found.
Hawaii Unclaimed Money Overview
How to Search for Unclaimed Money in Hawaii
The main search tool for Hawaii unclaimed money is the official portal run by the Department of Budget and Finance. You type in your last name and first name, or a business name, and the system returns any matches from the statewide database. There is no cost to run a search. You can try as many times as you need. Name variations matter here. An old bank account or forgotten paycheck may be listed under a maiden name, a middle name, or a slightly different spelling. Try each version of your name if your first search turns up nothing.
The Hawaii Department of Budget and Finance unclaimed property page is the official starting point for anyone searching for abandoned funds. It links to the online search portal, the owner claim process, holder reporting information, and direct contact details for the program office.
The state program page at budget.hawaii.gov is where searches begin, claim forms are filed, and residents can learn what types of unclaimed money the program holds on their behalf.
NIC Hawaii and the Department of Budget and Finance redesigned the online search in 2021. The announcement at Tyler Hawaii describes the upgrade from the original 2008 system. The new version works on mobile devices, meets accessibility standards, and makes it easier to navigate results. You can search for yourself or for a family member using the same portal.
The 2021 redesign brought the Hawaii unclaimed money search into line with modern accessibility and usability standards, making it easier for residents on all islands to find and claim property.
If you prefer not to search online, you can call the Unclaimed Property Program office directly at (808) 586-1589. Staff can run a name search for you over the phone. Toll-free numbers are available for neighbor islands: Kauai 274-3141, Maui 984-2400, Hawaii Island 974-4000 with extension 61589.
What Counts as Unclaimed Money in Hawaii
Hawaii unclaimed money covers personal property only. Real estate is not included. Property enters the state system when a holder, such as a bank, insurer, or employer, has lost contact with the owner for long enough that the law requires them to turn the funds over to the state.
The most common types of Hawaii unclaimed money include dormant savings and checking accounts, certificates of deposit, uncashed payroll checks, uncashed dividend checks, insurance and medical refunds, utility deposits and refunds, shares of stock, money orders, and contents from abandoned safe deposit boxes. In most cases, property has sat inactive for at least five years before a holder is required to transfer it. Wages owed to an employee become reportable after just one year of no contact. Life insurance proceeds that have matured reach dormancy after three years. Safe deposit box contents and traveler's checks follow their own schedules under Hawaii law.
The Dormant Account FAQ page at the Hawaii Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs explains the difference between an account that has gone inactive at a financial institution and one that has already been turned over to the state program. If your account went dormant recently, start by contacting the financial institution. If the required period has passed, the funds may already be in the state system.
The DCCA dormant account FAQ page helps residents understand when a bank account crosses the line from dormant to escheated unclaimed property held by the state.
Filing a Claim for Hawaii Unclaimed Money
Once you find a match in the state database, the next step is filing a claim. There is no fee. The owner information page at the Department of Budget and Finance lists everything you need to submit for each claim type.
The owner information page breaks down the documentation required for original owner claims, deceased owner claims filed by heirs, and business claims, giving claimants a clear checklist before they start.
There are three claim types. The first is for the original reported owner, which is the most common. The second is for heirs of a deceased owner who left unclaimed money behind. The third is for businesses claiming property held in the company's name. Each type requires different supporting documents. For all claims, you need a current state or federal photo ID plus proof that you are the person named on the record. Claims worth more than $50 or involving mutual fund shares or safe deposit box contents must be notarized before submission. If the claim involves securities, you also need to include a completed IRS Form W-9.
Heirs filing for a deceased owner must include an Affidavit for Collection of Personal Property of the Decedent under Sections 560:3-1201 and 560:3-1202, Hawaii Revised Statutes. This confirms the legal right to claim on behalf of the estate. Submit completed claims by mail to: State of Hawaii, Unclaimed Property Program, P.O. Box 150, Honolulu, HI 96810. The program will contact you if anything is missing from your submission.
Note: Claims for unclaimed funds under $100 must be filed before July 1, 2026 if the funds were received by the state on or before June 30, 2016. After that date, those small-dollar amounts will be permanently transferred to the state general fund under Act 184.
Dormancy Periods for Hawaii Unclaimed Property
Every type of unclaimed property has a specific dormancy period. That is the amount of time a holder must wait, with no owner contact, before the law requires them to report and send the property to the state. These periods come from Section 523A-3 of the Hawaii Revised Statutes Chapter 523A.
Wages, salary, and utility deposits go dormant fastest at one year. Life insurance proceeds that have matured or come due reach dormancy at three years. Bank accounts and savings accounts require five years of inactivity. Official bank checks and money orders also have a five-year period. Certificates of deposit and stocks in business associations have a seven-year dormancy. Traveler's checks have the longest period of all at fifteen years. These timelines apply to holders statewide, regardless of which county the account or policy was opened in.
Justia Law hosts the full text of Chapter 523A of the Hawaii Revised Statutes, giving holders and property owners a complete reference for dormancy periods and all other provisions of Hawaii's unclaimed property law.
Who Reports Unclaimed Money to Hawaii
Holders are the businesses, banks, utilities, insurers, and other organizations that hold property on behalf of others. When property goes dormant and the holder cannot reach the owner, the law requires them to report it to the state. Before filing the report, holders must send written notice to the owner's last known address informing them the property will be transferred to the state. If there is no response, the holder remits the property to the state program by the November 1 annual deadline. All reports must be submitted electronically using the national NAUPA Standard Electronic File Format. Hawaii does not accept paper reports.
The holder information page at budget.hawaii.gov has the reporting guidelines, cover sheet affidavit, electronic format requirements, and reimbursement forms that businesses need to comply with Hawaii unclaimed property law.
The NAUPA Hawaii reporting page lists current dormancy periods, report deadlines, and contact information for the state administrator. NAUPA is the national association that coordinates unclaimed property standards across all states. John Kanemaru serves as Administrator of the Hawaii Unclaimed Property Division. The office phone is (808) 586-1589 and the mailing address is P.O. Box 150, Honolulu, Hawaii 96810.
NAUPA provides standardized reporting data for Hawaii holders, confirming that all property types share a November 1 annual reporting and payment deadline with no separate life insurance exception.
Hawaii Unclaimed Money Laws
The legal foundation for all Hawaii unclaimed money is Chapter 523A of the Hawaii Revised Statutes. Hawaii adopted the Uniform Unclaimed Property Act in 2008. The law governs how property becomes presumed abandoned, how holders must report it, how owners can claim it back, and what penalties apply to holders who fail to comply. Section 523A-15 covers the claims process. Section 523A-24 sets interest and penalties for late reporting. Section 523A-25 limits locator or finder fees to no more than ten percent of the value recovered. Section 523A-26 establishes the unclaimed property trust fund held in the state treasury.
The Hawaii State Legislature website hosts the current official text of Chapter 523A, making it easy to look up any specific provision related to unclaimed money definitions, dormancy rules, or claim procedures.
The Hawaii Office of Information Practices supports public access to government records more broadly. While the Unclaimed Property Program has its own direct claims process, the OIP handles questions about accessing state-held information under Hawaii's public records law.
The Office of Information Practices at oip.hawaii.gov provides guidance for residents who have questions about accessing state financial records or government-held information.
Contact the Hawaii Unclaimed Property Office
The contact page for the Hawaii Unclaimed Property Program has the full office details. The physical office is at No. 1 Capitol District Building, 250 S. Hotel Street, Room 304, Honolulu, HI 96813. The mailing address for claims and written inquiries is P.O. Box 150, Honolulu, HI 96810. Phone: (808) 586-1589. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 7:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Hawaii Standard Time, except state holidays. All written inquiries must include your name, current mailing address, and phone number.
The contact page at budget.hawaii.gov confirms the program's office hours, mailing address, phone number, and toll-free neighbor island extensions for Kauai, Maui, and Hawaii Island residents.
Browse Hawaii Unclaimed Money by County
Hawaii has five counties. Each one has residents whose unclaimed money may be held by the state or by the county itself. Pick a county below to find local contacts, resources, and details specific to unclaimed property in that area.
Unclaimed Money in Major Hawaii Cities
Residents of these cities can search the state unclaimed money database and, in Honolulu County, a separate city escheated funds program. Pick a city to find resources specific to your area.