Hawaii maximum interest rate is the answer to “maximum interest rate allowed by law in Hawaii”. This guide gives the Hawaii figures in a dated table, explains in plain words what they mean, walks through the steps, and points to the official forms and free help.
The Hawaii maximum interest rate figures on this page were verified against a dated 50-state compilation and Hawaii sources as of October 2026; the statute named here is where to check them yourself.
Hawaii maximum interest rate at a Glance
| Legal rate when no rate is agreed | 10% per year when not in writing |
| Maximum rate in a written contract | 12% per year in a written contract |
| Statute | HRS 478-2, 478-4 |
In This Hawaii maximum interest rate Guide:
What the Hawaii Maximum Interest Rate Means
Usury means charging more interest than Hawaii law allows. Hawaii has two different rates. The legal rate fills in when a debt has no agreed rate, such as an unpaid bill or a court judgment. The contract cap is the most a lender may charge when the rate is agreed in writing. Most consumer loans, home business loans and credit card agreements fall under Chapter 478.
The Hawaii maximum interest rate Figures
| Rule | Bonus Bank Daily verified figure |
|---|---|
| Legal rate when no rate is agreed | 10% per year when not in writingcompilation / agency — verified Oct 2026 |
| Maximum rate in a written contract | 12% per year in a written contractcompilation / agency — verified Oct 2026 |
| Statute | HRS 478-2, 478-4compilation / agency — verified Oct 2026 |
The Hawaii maximum interest rate figures on this page were verified against a dated 50-state compilation and Hawaii sources as of October 2026; the statute named here is where to check them yourself.
Who the Hawaii Maximum Interest Rate Applies To
The general cap covers ordinary consumer credit and home business loans from lenders that have no special license. Banks and similar institutions regulated under HRS Chapter 412 have a higher limit of 2% a month or 24% a year. Financial services loan companies and credit unions (Chapter 412, Articles 9 and 10) are exempt, as are retail installment sales (Chapter 476) and licensed small-dollar installment loans under Chapter 480J.
Under HRS 478-8, debts secured by a first mortgage on real property after May 30, 1980 are also exempt, and so are certain federally insured or guaranteed loans.
Credit Cards and the Hawaii Maximum Interest Rate
Hawaii sets its credit card rules in a separate section, HRS 478-11.5. Most cards come from national banks or banks chartered in other states. Federal law lets those banks charge the rate allowed in their home state, even to Hawaii residents. That is why a card rate above the Hawaii cap is usually legal.
What Happens When a Lender Breaks the Hawaii Maximum Interest Rate
Under HRS 478-5, a usurious contract is not void. However, if a court finds that an illegal rate was charged, the lender in most cases recovers only the principal and the borrower recovers court costs. Interest already paid is subtracted from the principal.
Under HRS 478-6, knowingly receiving usurious interest is a crime, punishable by a fine of up to $250 (unless another law allows more), up to one year in jail, or both.
How to Check a Loan Against the Hawaii Maximum Interest Rate
1) Find the annual percentage rate (APR) on the Truth in Lending disclosure or the contract. 2) If only a monthly rate is shown, multiply it by 12. 3) Find out what kind of lender made the loan (bank, credit union, licensed installment lender or private lender), because many are exempt or have their own limits. 4) Compare the APR with the cap for that kind of lender.
Confirm the result with the statute, the DFI or an attorney.
Where to Report a Loan Above the Hawaii Maximum Interest Rate
The Hawaii Division of Financial Institutions (DFI), part of the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, licenses lenders and takes complaints about them. Complaints about banks, card issuers and lenders can also go to the federal Consumer Financial Protection Bureau at consumerfinance.gov/complaint.
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Common Mistakes With Hawaii maximum interest rate
The most common mistake is missing a deadline: court and creditor deadlines run whether or not you have read the papers, and a missed one usually cannot be undone. The second is relying on an old article or a friend’s experience in another state — the rules on this page differ from state to state and change often, which is why every figure here is dated.
The third is not keeping copies: every letter, form, receipt and bank statement may matter later, so keep them together and note the date you received each one.
Free Help With Hawaii maximum interest rate in Hawaii
You do not have to handle this alone or pay to get answers. The Hawaii court self-help center explains the forms and the steps, and court clerks can tell you where and how to file, although they cannot give legal advice.
Legal aid organizations represent many people at no cost when income is limited, and the Hawaii bar’s lawyer referral service can connect you with a lawyer for a low-cost first consultation. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau accepts complaints about lenders, banks and debt collectors nationwide.
How We Verify the Hawaii maximum interest rate Figures
Every figure in the table above comes from our 50-state data file, built by reading the Hawaii statute or an official compilation of it, and each one carries the month we last checked it. Our writers do not change those figures; they explain them. When the law changes, the figure is updated and the date moves.
If something on this page no longer matches the statute, the statute controls — and we want to hear about it.
Hawaii’s DFI says on its usury page that it does not administer or interpret Chapter 478, so questions about how the cap applies to a particular loan generally go to an attorney or the court. Small-dollar installment loans under Chapter 480J must come from a DFI-licensed lender and have their own rate and fee limits.
Next rung: the Hawaii payday loan page covers the short-term loans that have their own caps.
Hawaii — the bottom line
- Hawaii maximum interest rate rules set two numbers — the legal rate and the written-contract cap — both in the table above.
- Many lenders sit outside the Hawaii maximum interest rate cap by license or charter, so check which rule covers your loan.
- If a loan breaks the Hawaii maximum interest rate rules, keep the agreement and report it to the state regulator.
Hawaii Maximum Interest Rate FAQ
What is the maximum interest rate allowed by law in Hawaii?
Without an agreement: 10% per year when not in writing. In a written contract: 12% per year in a written contract.
Official Hawaii Sources & Resources
- Statute and the Conference of State Bank Supervisors 50-state usury survey (verified by each state regulator) — maximum legal interest rate: https://www.csbs.org/50-state-survey-consumer-finance-laws
- Statute and the Conference of State Bank Supervisors 50-state usury survey (verified by each state regulator) — maximum legal interest rate: https://facts.csbs.org/consumer-finance-law/dev
- Hawaii statute / opinion: https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/hrscurrent/Vol11_Ch0476-0490/HRS0478/HRS_0478-0005.htm
- Hawaii Division of Financial Institutions (DCCA) – Usury & Consumer Loans: https://cca.hawaii.gov/dfi/?p=379
- Consumer Financial Protection Bureau: consumerfinance.gov
This Hawaii maximum interest rate guide was last verified against official Hawaii sources in October 2026. Rules change — confirm the current rule with the statute or a licensed attorney.
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Disclaimer: This guide is general information, not legal or financial advice. Bonus Bank Daily is an independent educational resource — not a law firm, not a bank, not a debt collector and not a government agency. Judgment, levy, interest-rate and debt rules change — every figure here carries the date we verified it.
Confirm the current rule with the statute, the court clerk or a licensed attorney in your state before you act.