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Small Claims Court Limits in Hawaii

In Hawaii, the small claims division hears money claims up to $5,000, the filing fee is $35, and lawyers may appear except in residential security deposit cases.

Last checked . General information, not legal advice.

Hawaii at a glance

Maximum claim
$5,000
Tenant security deposit claims have no dollar limit in small claims.
Filing fee
$35
Lawyers allowed
Yes, except security deposit cases
Neither side may be represented by a lawyer in residential security deposit disputes.

Sources

Last checked

The rules in Hawaii

What is the small claims court limit in Hawaii?

Maximum claim in Hawaii: $5,000. Tenant security deposit claims have no dollar limit in small claims.

How much does it cost to file a small claims case in Hawaii?

Filing fee in Hawaii: $35.

Can you bring a lawyer to small claims court in Hawaii?

Yes, except security deposit cases. Lawyers allowed in Hawaii: yes, except security deposit cases. Neither side may be represented by a lawyer in residential security deposit disputes.

Where do the Hawaii small claims court limits come from?

The rules above come from Haw. Rev. Stat. 633-27. Each source is linked on this page. We last checked them in October 2026.

What this means in practice

Before filing, send the other side a written demand that states what is owed, why, and a deadline to pay. A clear demand letter sometimes settles the dispute without court, and some courts ask whether you tried to resolve the matter first.

Bring organized evidence to the hearing: contracts, receipts, invoices, photos, text messages and any written promise to pay. Prepare a short timeline of what happened. Judges in small claims court decide cases quickly, so a clear, document backed explanation helps.

Winning a judgment does not mean you are paid automatically. If the other side does not pay voluntarily, you may need to use collection tools such as wage garnishment, a bank levy or a lien, and each of those has its own forms, fees and rules.

General information, not legal advice. Laws change, and cities can add their own rules, so check the current statute before you rely on it.