Wage Garnishment Limits in Hawaii

Hawaii limits wage garnishment to 5% of the first $100 of monthly wages, 10% of the next $100 and 20% of everything above $200, after amounts required by law to be withheld.

Last checked October 2026. General information, not legal advice.

Garnishment limit for consumer debt: 5% of first $100, 10% of next $100, 20% of rest (monthly); Applied to wages after amounts required by law to be withheld, or a weekly equivalent.
Garnishment allowed for consumer debt: Yes
Stricter than federal limit: Yes
Head of household exemption: No

Sources

Haw. Rev. Stat. 652-1 (Hawaii State Legislature)

Last checked October 2026

The rules in Hawaii

How much of your wages can be garnished for consumer debt in Hawaii?

Garnishment limit for consumer debt in Hawaii: 5% of first $100, 10% of next $100, 20% of rest (monthly). Applied to wages after amounts required by law to be withheld, or a weekly equivalent.

Can wages be garnished for ordinary consumer debt in Hawaii?

Yes. Garnishment allowed for consumer debt in Hawaii: yes.

Does Hawaii protect more wages from garnishment than federal law?

Yes. Stricter than federal limit in Hawaii: yes.

Does Hawaii give extra garnishment protection to a head of household?

No. Head of household exemption in Hawaii: no.

Where do the Hawaii wage garnishment limits come from?

The rules above come from Haw. Rev. Stat. 652-1. Each source is linked on this page. We last checked them in October 2026.

What this means in practice

Disposable earnings are what remains after deductions the law requires, such as income tax, Social Security and required withholding. Voluntary deductions like health insurance or retirement contributions are usually not subtracted, so the protected amount is often less than take home pay suggests.

The limits in this guide apply to ordinary consumer debt. Child support, alimony, federal and state taxes, and federal student loans follow separate rules that often allow a larger share of pay to be taken, even in states with strict limits for other debts.

Exemptions are often not applied automatically. A worker may need to file a claim of exemption with the court within a short deadline after receiving notice of the garnishment. Reading the notice promptly, and talking with the creditor about a payment plan or settlement, can keep more of each paycheck.

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