Find Unclaimed Money in Hawaii County

Hawaii County, also known as the Big Island, is covered by the statewide Hawaii Unclaimed Property Program managed by the Department of Budget and Finance. If you have lived or worked in Hilo, Kona, or anywhere else on the island, you may have unclaimed money sitting in the state system. The search is free and open to anyone. Former residents who moved away may also have funds that were turned over after accounts went dormant. Check the state portal to see what is there.

Hawaii County Unclaimed Money Search

The official search portal for Hawaii County unclaimed money is at unclaimedproperty.ehawaii.gov. Type your name into the search box and look through the results. The system searches across all property reported to the state, including funds tied to Big Island addresses. You can also search by a business name if you are looking for corporate accounts. There is no cost to search, and you do not need to create an account.

The state also publishes county-specific notice listings. The Hawaii County notice is available at budget.hawaii.gov as a PDF. This document lists unclaimed property published pursuant to Chapter 523A of the Hawaii Revised Statutes. Notices are published to help owners identify funds before they are absorbed into the state trust fund. Once you find your name, you move to the claim process at budget.hawaii.gov/finance/unclaimedproperty/owner-information.

Big Island residents can reach the state unclaimed property office toll-free. Call 974-4000 and use extension 61589 to speak with program staff directly. The main office in Honolulu operates Monday through Friday, 7:45 AM to 4:30 PM Hawaii Standard Time, except state holidays. Staff can help you identify accounts and guide you through the claim process.

The Hawaii County Department of Finance manages county financial functions including real property tax, treasury, and purchasing operations on the Big Island.

While the county finance department does not run a separate unclaimed money program, it handles tax and financial records that may be relevant when tracing older financial accounts tied to Big Island property.

Types of Unclaimed Money in Hawaii County

The most common types of unclaimed money in Hawaii County come from banks and financial institutions. A checking or savings account that has had no deposits, withdrawals, or owner contact for five years gets reported to the state as unclaimed property. Certificates of deposit follow a seven-year rule. If you left a bank account open after moving away from Hilo or Kona, and you stopped using it, the funds may already be in the state database.

Utility deposits are turned over after just one year of inactivity. If you paid a deposit when you set up electric, water, or gas service on the Big Island and never got it back when you moved, it may be in the state system. The same is true for wages and payroll checks that went uncashed. Employers must report these after one year. Insurance companies are required to report unclaimed proceeds after three years when a life insurance policy matures or a claim is not collected. These time limits are set out in HRS Chapter 523A and apply to all holders operating in Hawaii County.

Securities like stocks and dividends have a seven-year dormancy period. If you held shares in a company and stopped receiving dividend payments, or if you left stock certificates in an old account, those shares may have been reported to the state program. The state holds them until you claim them. You need an IRS Form W-9 to complete a claim for securities.

Safe deposit box contents are also covered. Banks must turn over unclaimed box contents after the required dormancy period. Physical items may be sold or held by the state. The search database will show if any safe deposit box contents are held in your name.

Claiming Unclaimed Money from Hawaii County

Filing a claim for unclaimed money as an Hawaii County resident is free. The state program does not charge any fee to search, file, or receive funds. If a finder or locator company contacts you and offers to recover your money for a percentage, know that their fee is capped at 10% of the recovered amount under Section 523A-25 of the Hawaii Revised Statutes. You can always bypass them and file on your own at no cost through the official channel.

To file as the original owner, go to the owner information page at budget.hawaii.gov/finance/unclaimedproperty/owner-information. You will need to show proof of identity, typically a government-issued photo ID. You may also need to show proof of a past address that matches the claim, such as an old utility bill or lease. Claims over $50 must be notarized. Bring your documents to a notary before mailing or submitting your claim. The state program accepts claims by mail to P.O. Box 150, Honolulu, HI 96810, or in person at 250 S. Hotel Street, Room 304, Honolulu.

If you are claiming on behalf of a deceased family member, you need extra paperwork. An Affidavit for Collection of Personal Property of Decedent under HRS 560:3-1201 and 560:3-1202 may be required. You also need documentation showing your relationship to the deceased and proof of your right to the funds. Business claims require proof of your authority to act on behalf of the company.

Hawaii County Department of Finance

Hawaii County's Department of Finance handles the county's own financial operations, not the state unclaimed money program. The department is located at 25 Aupuni Street, Suite 2103, Hilo, HI 96720. Contact them by phone at (808) 961-8234, by fax at (808) 961-8569, or by email at finance@hawaiicounty.gov. Their work covers accounts, budget, property management, purchasing, real property tax, risk management, treasury, and vehicle registration. They do not manage a separate unclaimed property database. All Big Island residents use the state program for unclaimed money searches and claims.

The Real Property Tax Division is a part of the county finance department. The East Hawaii Office is at 101 Pauahi Street, Suite 4, Hilo, HI 96720, phone (808) 961-8201. The West Hawaii Office is at 74-5044 Ane Keohokalole Highway, Kailua-Kona, HI 96740, phone (808) 323-4880. If you have questions about property taxes that may tie into financial records you are researching, these offices can help with those questions specifically. For unclaimed money held by the state, reach the state program directly at (808) 586-1589.

Hawaii State Unclaimed Property Program

The state program that covers Hawaii County is run by the Department of Budget and Finance under Chapter 523A, Hawaii Revised Statutes. The program collects unclaimed property from all holders statewide, including banks, insurers, employers, and utilities operating on the Big Island. Holders must report by November 1 each year. All reporting must be done electronically using the NAUPA Standard Electronic File Format. The NAUPA organization provides Hawaii-specific guidance at unclaimed.org/reporting/hawaii.

Once the state receives reported funds, it holds them in trust. There is no deadline to file a claim. Owners and heirs can claim property at any time, no matter how long ago the funds were turned over. The state deposits unclaimed funds into a trust fund established under Section 523A-26. One important note: Act 184 affects funds under $100 received by the state on or before June 30, 2016. Those funds will permanently escheat to the state on July 1, 2026. If you have a small claim that was reported years ago, now is the time to check and file before that deadline.

The full program details for Hawaii County residents are on the main page at budget.hawaii.gov/finance/unclaimedproperty. Dormant account FAQs are also available through the Hawaii Division of Financial Institutions at cca.hawaii.gov/dfi/dormant-account-faqs.

The Hawaii Unclaimed Property Program main page is the primary resource for Big Island residents searching for unclaimed money and filing claims through the state.

Big Island residents use this statewide portal to search for funds, download claim forms, and find contact information for the Department of Budget and Finance.

Cities in Hawaii County

Hilo is the county seat and the main population center on the Big Island with its own detailed unclaimed money page.

Other communities on the Big Island include Kailua-Kona, Waimea, Pahoa, Captain Cook, and Volcano. Residents of all these areas use the state unclaimed property program at the same portal. No separate city-level databases exist for communities on Hawaii Island outside of Hilo.

Nearby Counties

Hawaii's other counties use the same state unclaimed property system. Each has a page with local contact details and search tips.