Hawaii unemployment benefits pay 1/21 of your high-quarter wages. — up to $868 per week for up to 26 (uniform) weeks, for the period January 1, 2026 (DOL table); next scheduled reset January 2027.
This guide gives the exact Hawaii unemployment benefits figures with the date we verified them, shows how your own weekly amount is calculated with a worked example, and explains when the first payment arrives and how it is taxed.
Figures are from the United States Department of Labor’s state-law tables effective January 1, 2026, read October 2026; confirm the current amount with Hawaii Department of Labor and Industrial Relations before you rely on it.
Hawaii Unemployment Benefits at a Glance
| Maximum weekly benefit | $868 (January 1, 2026 (DOL table); next scheduled reset January 2027) |
| Minimum weekly benefit | $5 |
| How the amount is set | 1/21 of your high-quarter wages. |
| Duration | up to 26 (uniform) weeks |
| Waiting week | Yes — first eligible week unpaid |
| Base period | The first four of the last five completed calendar quarters before the week you file. |
| Statute | Haw. Rev. Stat. ch. 383 |
In This Hawaii Unemployment Benefits Guide:
How Much Are Hawaii Unemployment Benefits?
1/21 of your high-quarter wages. The minimum weekly payment is $5 and the maximum is $868. Those are the numbers that matter: most claimants land between them, and nobody is paid above the cap no matter how much they earned.
Want an estimate for your own wages in Hawaii?
Hawaii Unemployment Benefits at a Glance
Figures are from the United States Department of Labor’s state-law tables effective January 1, 2026, read October 2026; confirm the current amount with Hawaii Department of Labor and Industrial Relations before you rely on it. The statute column is where to check it yourself.
| Maximum weekly benefit | $868 |
| Effective period | January 1, 2026 (DOL table); next scheduled reset January 2027 |
| Minimum weekly benefit | $5 |
| Formula | 1/21 of your high-quarter wages. |
| Duration (weeks) | 26 (uniform) |
| Waiting week | Yes |
| Base period | The first four of the last five completed calendar quarters before the week you file. |
| Alternate base period | Yes |
| To qualify | Base-period wages of 26 times the weekly benefit amount, in two quarters. |
| Partial-week earnings | $150 |
| Agency | Hawaii Department of Labor and Industrial Relations |
| File online | https://labor.hawaii.gov/ui/ |
| Statute | Haw. Rev. Stat. ch. 383 |
How Hawaii Unemployment Benefits Are Calculated
Hawaii takes the wages from the one base-period quarter in which you earned the most and divides that amount by 21 (HRS §383-22(b)). If the result is not a whole dollar, it is rounded up to the next dollar. It is then capped at the state maximum in effect when the claim is filed. Hawaii does not add an allowance for dependents.
Base-period wages of 26 times the weekly benefit amount, in two quarters.
Hawaii Unemployment Benefits: A Worked Example
Suppose a worker’s highest-paid base-period quarter had 10500 in wages. Dividing 10500 by 21 gives 500 a week. If that quarter had 10510 instead, 10510 divided by 21 is about 500.48, which rounds up to 501. This is only an illustration and not anyone’s actual award. Confirm your own figure with the state agency.
The estimate is illustrative; Hawaii Department of Labor and Industrial Relations computes the official amount from your wage records.
How Long Hawaii Unemployment Benefits Last
Regular Hawaii unemployment benefits run up to 26 (uniform) weeks in a benefit year. No current dol.gov Extended Benefits trigger notice showing Hawaii “on” was found, so regular state benefits only. Confirm with the state agency. The first eligible week is a waiting week: you file for it but it is not paid.
Working Part-Time While Claiming Hawaii Unemployment Benefits
If you work part time while claiming, you report your total gross earnings for the week you earned them, including tips and paid time off. Hawaii ignores a set weekly amount of earnings and subtracts the rest from your weekly benefit, so you may still receive a reduced payment (HRS §383-23). $150 Report every dollar on the weekly claim — unreported earnings are the most common route to an overpayment.
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Severance, vacation pay and pensions may delay or reduce benefits depending on how the employer allocates them — report them and let the agency apply the rule.
When and How Hawaii Unemployment Benefits Are Paid
The Hawaii UI Division says direct deposit should start within 3 weeks of filing the claim. If it has not, contact the UI Call Center. Once a weekly claim is processed and you meet all eligibility requirements, payment is generally available 3 business days after it posts to your account. Payments are not sent on weekends or on state, federal or banking holidays.
The first payable week depends on filing your weekly claims on time and on any eligibility issue being resolved. Claimants certify online for each completed Sunday-to-Saturday week, or for each two-week period if they are assigned biweekly filing. The claim must be filed within 7 days after the certification period ends, or benefits for that period may be denied as late.
Hawaii’s rules may accept a late filing for good cause, such as misinformation from the department. If you miss a deadline, file as soon as possible and contact the UI office.
Taxes on Hawaii Unemployment Benefits
Unemployment benefits are taxable income for both federal and Hawaii income tax. When you file, you can choose to have 10 percent federal and 5 percent state tax withheld from each payment. The state says you may change that choice only once per claim year. Hawaii mails Form 1099-G by January 31 for the prior year’s benefits, and you can also view it at uiclaims.hawaii.gov under “Claim Inquiry.”
Hawaii uses only the single highest-paid quarter, divided by 21, and always rounds up to the next whole dollar. Hawaii pays by direct deposit, and the state asks claimants to call the UI Call Center (808-762-5752 or 833-901-2272) if deposits have not started within 3 weeks of filing.
Next step: the amount only matters if you qualify. Our Hawaii eligibility guide covers the fired-vs-quit rules and the work-search count, and the application guide walks through filing.
Hawaii — the bottom line
- The Hawaii unemployment benefits amount is a share of your base-period wages up to a dated cap — check the period on the figure before you trust it.
- Hawaii unemployment benefits are paid weekly for a set number of weeks; a missed weekly claim is a lost week.
- Part-time earnings reduce Hawaii unemployment benefits but rarely erase them — report everything and keep claiming.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is unemployment in Hawaii?
The weekly amount is 1/21 of your high-quarter wages. The current maximum is $868 for the period January 1, 2026 (DOL table); next scheduled reset January 2027.
How long does unemployment last in Hawaii?
Regular benefits run up to 26 (uniform) weeks in a benefit year, depending on your base-period wages. Extended benefits only switch on when the state unemployment rate crosses a trigger.
Does Hawaii have a waiting week?
Yes — the first eligible week is not paid, but you must still file for it.
Are Hawaii unemployment benefits taxable?
Unemployment benefits are taxable income for both federal and Hawaii income tax. When you file, you can choose to have 10 percent federal and 5 percent state tax withheld from each payment. The state says you may change that choice only once per claim year. Hawaii mails Form 1099-G by January 31 for the prior year’s benefits, and you can also view it at uiclaims.hawaii.gov under “Claim Inquiry.”
Official Hawaii Sources & Resources
- Hawaii Department of Labor and Industrial Relations: https://labor.hawaii.gov/ui/
- Hawaii unemployment statute: Haw. Rev. Stat. ch. 383
- U.S. Department of Labor — Unemployment Insurance: dol.gov
- DOL Significant Provisions of State UI Laws (Jan 2026): https://oui.doleta.gov/unemploy/content/sigpros/2020-2029/January2026.pdf
- DOL Comparison of State UI Laws — Appeals: https://oui.doleta.gov/unemploy/pdf/uilawcompar/2023/appeals.pdf
- DOL Comparison of State UI Laws — Monetary Entitlement: https://oui.doleta.gov/unemploy/pdf/uilawcompar/2021/monetary.pdf
- CareerOneStop (DOL) — state benefit finder: careeronestop.org
- IRS — Form 1099-G: irs.gov
This Hawaii unemployment benefits guide was last verified against official Hawaii sources in October 2026. Rules change — confirm the current figure with the state agency or a licensed attorney.
More Hawaii Unemployment Guides
- Hawaii Unemployment Eligibility: Who Qualifies
- How to Apply for Unemployment in Hawaii
- Hawaii Unemployment Appeal: Deadline and Hearing
- Unemployment Guides for All 50 States
Disclaimer: This guide is general information, not legal or financial advice. My Unemployment Rights is an independent educational resource, not a government agency and not a law firm. Unemployment benefit amounts, deadlines and rules change — every figure here carries the date we verified it. Confirm the current figure and any deadline with your state unemployment agency before you act.