Hawaii
Hawaii Unclaimed Property: How to Search & Claim Your Money (2026)
Hawaii is the only U.S. state that doesn't feed its unclaimed property records into the national MissingMoney.com search tool, so residents have to search the state's own database directly. That search is worth doing soon: under a 2014 law, small unclaimed balances under $100 that were deposited with the state before mid-2016 are on a hard 10-year clock and will permanently disappear into Hawaii's general fund starting July 1, 2026 if nobody claims them first.
Information last verified on 2026-07-15. This article has not yet been reviewed by a licensed lawyer.
How Hawaii's unclaimed property program works
Hawaii's Unclaimed Property Program, run by the Department of Budget and Finance under Hawaii Revised Statutes Chapter 523A, uses the same custodial escheat model used nationwide. When a bank, employer, insurer, or other business, a "holder," loses contact with the rightful owner of money it's holding, a dormant savings account, an uncashed paycheck, unredeemed stock, or the contents of an abandoned safe deposit box, state law requires the holder to stop trying after a set dormancy period and turn the property over to the state rather than keep it.
The state then holds that property in a custodial capacity, as a public service, and returns it to rightful owners at no charge. Hawaii doesn't become the owner of what it's holding; it becomes the custodian, and, with one significant exception covered below, you or your heirs can file a claim to get the property back at any time.
Hawaii is the exception: search the state's own site, not MissingMoney.com
Every other state either participates directly in MissingMoney.com or has its records searchable through it. Hawaii doesn't. If you search MissingMoney.com and don't see a Hawaii result, that doesn't mean the state isn't holding something for you; it means you need to search Hawaii's own portal separately, at unclaimedproperty.ehawaii.gov, or contact the Department of Budget and Finance's Unclaimed Property Program directly.
This matters most for anyone who has ever lived in Hawaii but currently lives elsewhere: a multi-state search on MissingMoney.com will cover every other state you've lived in, but Hawaii has to be checked on its own, separately, every time.
How to file a claim in Hawaii
Filing a claim with Hawaii's Unclaimed Property Program is free. After you find a match in the state's database, you'll need to file a claim showing your identity and your connection to the property, typically a copy of a government-issued photo ID, your Social Security number, and documentation tying you to the account or check in question, such as an old statement or an address history.
Hawaii doesn't publish a fixed number of processing days the way some states do. The program says claims are handled in the order they're received, and it specifically warns that incomplete documentation slows things down, so it's worth double-checking that you've included everything requested before submitting.
How long does Hawaii hold unclaimed property?
Hawaii's dormancy periods, meaning how long an account or payment has to sit inactive before a holder must report it to the state, are set out in HRS Chapter 523A: generally five years for bank and deposit accounts, stock and other equity interests, debt instruments, retail business credits, and safe deposit box contents; one year for unpaid wages; and fifteen years for traveler's checks.
Once property reaches the state, Hawaii generally holds it indefinitely and lets the owner or their heirs claim it at any time, the same custodial approach most states use. There is one major exception, though, and it's specific to Hawaii.
The 10-year deadline for small balances: what to know before July 1, 2026
Under Act 184, Session Laws of Hawaii 2014, small unclaimed balances work differently. Any amount under $100 that was deposited into Hawaii's unclaimed property trust fund on or before June 30, 2016 has to be claimed within 10 years of that deposit date. If it isn't, the law lets it permanently escheat to the state, transferring to Hawaii's general fund rather than staying claimable forever.
Because the cutoff for deposit dates is June 30, 2016, the 10-year window on the oldest of these balances closes on July 1, 2026. After that date, funds that qualify and remain unclaimed are gone for good; there's no later grace period to recover them. This is unusual. Most states, including Hawaii for everything else it holds, keep unclaimed property claimable in perpetuity regardless of the amount. Hawaii's under-$100 rule is a narrow, specific exception that mainly affects very old, very small deposits, but if you or a family member ever lived in Hawaii and might have a small forgotten balance from before mid-2016, it's worth searching now rather than after the deadline passes.
Watch out: If you or a family member lived in Hawaii before 2016, search unclaimedproperty.ehawaii.gov now. Balances under $100 deposited with the state on or before June 30, 2016 must be claimed within 10 years, and the earliest of those deadlines fall on July 1, 2026. After that date, an unclaimed balance covered by this rule is permanently gone.
Watch out for unclaimed money scams
Paid "unclaimed money finder" services aren't illegal, and some are legitimate businesses that search records and file claims for a cut of what they recover. But they're never necessary in Hawaii, since the state's own search and claim process is free and doesn't take much longer to do yourself.
The bigger risk is outright phishing. The Federal Trade Commission has warned about unsolicited calls, texts, and emails that impersonate government agencies and claim you have unclaimed funds waiting, sometimes framed as unclaimed life insurance proceeds. Red flags include being asked for personal or banking information out of nowhere, being pressured to pay an upfront fee to "release" the funds, or being told a claim is about to expire. Hawaii's Unclaimed Property Program does not call or text demanding payment to hand over money that's already legally yours. Search unclaimedproperty.ehawaii.gov directly, and report suspected scams to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
Frequently asked questions
Related articles
- Unclaimed Money & Property by State
- Hawaii Landlord-Tenant Laws
- Hawaii Divorce Laws
- Hawaii Power of Attorney Laws
Disclaimer
This article provides general information about Hawaii's unclaimed property program, including the Act 184 deadline for small balances, and is not legal, financial, or tax advice. Unclaimed property rules and claim procedures can change, and individual situations vary, especially for claims involving deceased owners, businesses, or property held outside Hawaii. Consult the Hawaii Department of Budget and Finance directly, or an attorney licensed in Hawaii, for guidance on a specific claim.
Last updated: 2026-07-15.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why doesn't Hawaii show up on MissingMoney.com?
Hawaii is the only U.S. state that doesn't feed its records into MissingMoney.com. It runs its own dedicated search portal instead, so you need to search Hawaii's site separately from any multi-state search.
What happens to unclaimed money under $100 in Hawaii?
Under Act 184 (2014), amounts under $100 that were deposited with the state on or before June 30, 2016 must be claimed within 10 years of the deposit date. The earliest of these deadlines fall on July 1, 2026, after which qualifying unclaimed balances permanently escheat to Hawaii's general fund.
Is there a deadline to claim larger amounts or more recent deposits in Hawaii?
No. Outside the narrow under-$100, pre-June 2016 rule, Hawaii holds unclaimed property indefinitely, the same custodial approach most states use, and there's no general deadline to file a claim.
Is Hawaii's unclaimed property search free?
Yes. Searching and filing a claim through Hawaii's Unclaimed Property Program is always free, and the program returns property to rightful owners at no charge.
How do I search for unclaimed property in Hawaii?
Search Hawaii's own dedicated portal at unclaimedproperty.ehawaii.gov, run by the Department of Budget and Finance. Do not rely on MissingMoney.com for Hawaii, since Hawaii is the one state that doesn't participate in it.
What documents do I need to file a claim in Hawaii?
Typically a government-issued photo ID, your Social Security number, and documentation connecting you to the property, such as an old account statement or an address history. Estate claims generally need additional proof, like a death certificate.
How long does it take to get paid after filing a claim in Hawaii?
Hawaii doesn't publish a fixed number of processing days. The program says claims are handled in the order they're received, and incomplete documentation is the most common cause of delay.
Can heirs claim a deceased relative's unclaimed property in Hawaii?
Generally yes, with documentation proving your relationship to the deceased owner or your authority to act on the estate's behalf, such as a death certificate or probate paperwork.
Sources and References
- State of Hawaii Department of Budget and Finance, Unclaimed Property Program(budget.hawaii.gov).gov
- Hawaii Department of Budget and Finance, Annual Notice (Act 184 10-year rule for balances under $100)(budget.hawaii.gov).gov
- Hawaii Department of Budget and Finance, Unclaimed Property Frequently Asked Questions(budget.hawaii.gov).gov
- Hawaii Unclaimed Property Search portal, eHawaii.gov(ehawaii.gov).gov
- Hawaii Revised Statutes Chapter 523A, Unclaimed Property(capitol.hawaii.gov).gov
- Federal Trade Commission consumer alert on unclaimed life insurance money scams(consumer.ftc.gov).gov