HI Garnishment Law

Hawaii Wage Garnishment Calculator

Hawaii follows federal wage garnishment limits under the Consumer Credit Protection Act, with some additional state-specific procedures. Hawaii law provides that the first $100 per month of wages is exempt from garnishment for consumer debts. The state also has specific requirements for how garnishment orders must be served on employers and the timeline for compliance.

Hawaii Wage Garnishment Calculator

Enter your income details to estimate the maximum that can legally be taken from your paycheck under Hawaii and federal rules.

Key Hawaii garnishment facts

State abbreviationHI
Consumer debt limit25% of disposable earnings, subject to the 30x minimum wage test
Child support limit50% if supporting another family, 60% otherwise, plus 5% for arrears
Federal student loans15% administrative garnishment cap
State minimum wage$14.00
Minimum wage source used in calculatorFederal minimum wage baseline
Head of household protectionNo additional protection listed
Statute referenceHawaii Revised Statutes §652

Additional notes

Hawaii follows federal CCPA limits but has specific procedures for garnishment. The first $100 per month of an individual's wages is exempt from garnishment.

Tax levy note: Hawaii Department of Taxation can levy wages for state tax debts.

Key protections and reminders

  • • Federal CCPA limits apply for consumer debt
  • • First $100/month of wages is exempt
  • • Specific employer compliance timelines
  • • Court judgment required for consumer debt garnishment

Run the numbers: three Hawaii paychecks

These weekly examples assume roughly 25% of gross pay goes to legally required deductions; the calculator above lets you use your own numbers and pay schedule.

Gross weekly payEst. disposableMax consumer-debt garnishment
$800.00$600.00$150.00
$1,200.00$900.00$225.00
$2,000.00$1,500.00$375.00

For the full legal picture — process, exemptions, and how to respond — read the companion guide: Hawaii Wage Garnishment Laws Explained.

Calculator questions, answered

What are “disposable earnings”?

Your pay after legally required deductions — federal and state taxes, Social Security, and Medicare. Voluntary deductions like health insurance or 401(k) contributions usually do NOT reduce disposable earnings for garnishment purposes. The calculator estimates deductions at 25% of gross; your paystub has the real figure.

How much of my paycheck is completely safe in Hawaii?

Weekly disposable earnings at or below $217.50 (30× the federal minimum wage) cannot be touched for consumer debts, and the percentage cap limits what can be taken above that line.

How accurate is this calculator?

It applies the current Hawaii and federal formulas to the numbers you enter, but it estimates your deductions and cannot know case-specific court orders. Treat the result as a close estimate, and the court order as the final word. Hawaii Department of Taxation can levy wages for state tax debts.

What if I have more than one garnishment?

Federal law caps the combined total, and priority matters: child support first, then tax levies, then other debts. A second creditor generally has to wait if the first already takes the legal maximum.