Courts · Small Claims
Small Claims Court Limit in Hawaii
The most you can sue for in Hawaii small claims — with the filing-fee range and whether a lawyer is allowed, cited to the statute.
The limit, the fee & who can appear in Hawaii
The claim ceiling, how the filing fee is set, and whether lawyers are allowed at the hearing.
| Maximum claim | $5,000 |
| How the limit works | One statewide limit |
| Filing fee | $35Uniform statewide uniform statewide first-filing fee set by the Judiciary |
| Lawyers at the hearing | Allowed |
| Statute / court rule | Haw. Rev. Stat. §633-27 |
The $5,000 cap applies to money claims. There is one big exception: a tenant's claim for the return of a residential security deposit has NO dollar limit and is heard in the small claims division regardless of amount. Security-deposit disputes actually belong in small claims by default in Hawaii.
Where to file in Hawaii
A reference page, not a filing walkthrough — here's the official resource for procedure.
This page is a reference for the dollar limit, fee, and whether a lawyer is allowed — not a step-by-step filing guide. For the forms, where to file, and how service works, use Hawaii's official court self-help resource.
→ Hawaii State Judiciary (small claims)What Hawaii filers get wrong
Hawaii's small-claims division caps money claims at $5,000 under HRS §633-27, and cases are heard in the small claims division of the district court on each island. We confirmed the $5,000 figure verbatim on the official Judiciary self-help page and in the statute text. Hawaii has one exception that trips people up: a tenant's claim to get a residential security deposit back has no dollar limit at all. Those cases are heard in small claims regardless of how large the deposit is, and the small claims division is the default forum for them. The first-filing fee is a flat $35, uniform across the islands, and you file in person at your island's district court. Lawyers are allowed but most people appear on their own.
Common questions
What is the small claims limit in Hawaii?
Hawaii small claims divisions hear money claims up to $5,000 under HRS §633-27. The one exception is a residential security-deposit claim, which has no dollar limit.
Is there really no limit on security-deposit claims in Hawaii?
Correct. HRS §633-27 lets a tenant sue for the return of a residential security deposit in the small claims division regardless of the amount. Small claims is the default forum for those disputes, even if the deposit is above $5,000.
How much does it cost to file a small claims case in Hawaii?
The first-filing fee is a flat $35, set by the Judiciary and the same on every island. You file in person at your island's district court legal documents branch, and cases are usually scheduled within about 30 days.
Can I bring a lawyer to small claims court in Hawaii?
Yes. Lawyers are permitted for either side in Hawaii small claims, though most people represent themselves because the process is designed to be informal.
Where are small claims cases heard in Hawaii?
In the small claims division of the district court for the island and circuit where the defendant lives or where the dispute arose. The $5,000 limit is the same statewide.
Not legal advicePlainStatute provides plain-language summaries of public law for general information only. This is not legal advice. Statutes change; always confirm current requirements with the official source linked above before acting.