HI state reference
Hawaii lending rules
Hawaii has 1 Census places covered on Personalloaned, with a combined estimated population of 341,778. Personal-loan terms in Hawaii are set by licensed lenders under state law; the sourced rules below apply to every borrower in the state.
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- Usury cap 12% per year simple interest (consumer credit transactions by written contract)
- Payday lending Prohibited (deferred deposit/payday replaced by licensed small-dollar installment loans under Act 56 of 2021)
- State regulator Hawaii Division of Financial Institutions (DFI), Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs
Sourced rules
Key rules for borrowers in Hawaii
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | 12% per year simple interest (consumer credit transactions by written contract) Source says: "to stipulate by written contract, for any rate of simple interest not exceeding one per cent per month or twelve per cent a year". |
Hawaii State Legislature (Hawaii Revised Statutes) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Payday lending status | Prohibited (deferred deposit/payday replaced by licensed small-dollar installment loans under Act 56 of 2021) Source says: "No. The new law prohibits payday loans the Legislature believed resulted in consumers stuck in a high cost loan". |
Hawaii Division of Financial Institutions, Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs as of 2026-09-16 |
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | Installment lender license required (formerly payday lenders) Source says: "Act 56 (2021) is effective January 1, 2022, creating a new statutory license for installment lenders (formerly known as payday lenders)". |
Hawaii Division of Financial Institutions, Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs as of 2026-09-16 |
| State lending regulator | Hawaii Division of Financial Institutions (DFI), Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs Source says: "DFI ensures the safety and soundness of state-chartered and state-licensed financial institutions". |
Hawaii Division of Financial Institutions, Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs as of 2026-09-16 |
| Small-dollar installment loan rate cap | 36% per year maximum interest on the unpaid principal balance (small-dollar installment loans) Source says: "Thirty-six per cent (36%) per year on the portion of the unpaid principal balance of the loan". |
Hawaii Division of Financial Institutions, Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs as of 2026-09-16 |
Cities in Hawaii
We cover 1 Census places in Hawaii. The count and the combined population figures are summed from the US Census Bureau's Vintage 2023 subcounty population estimates (retrieved 2026-09-17).
Common questions