Post-judgment interest by state · Hawaii
Hawaii · after judgment
Post-judgment interest in Hawaii
An unpaid Hawaii money judgment earns 10% a year unless the judgment or a contract says otherwise. On a $5,000.00 judgment that is $500.00 in the first year, about $1.37 a day.
How the rate is set
Fixed in the statute at 10% a year, "and no more". It changes only when the legislature acts.
- Statute or rule
- Haw. Rev. Stat. §478-3
- Statute re-checked
- 2026-10-23
- Changes
- only when the legislature amends the statute
When a different rate applies
- The State is immune from this interest in suits under HRS §661-1 unless it has waived immunity.
Work out your own judgment
Hawaii is prefilled at 10%. Enter the amount and the date the judgment was entered. The calculator uses simple interest; that is how this rate accrues.
How Hawaii's rate is set, and where it comes from
Uses simple interest at the rate you enter — pre-filled with each state's standard statutory rate, editable since some states publish a new rate quarterly or annually. Some states apply a different rate to specific debt types (noted above where it applies) or when a contract specifies its own rate. Informational only, not legal advice; confirm the current rate and any exceptions with your court clerk before relying on this figure.
The formula, worked
Last reviewed: October 2026
Interest = principal × rate × days ÷ 365. For $5,000.00 at 10%: $5,000.00 × 0.10000 × 365 ÷ 365 = $500.00 after one year, and $1.37 for each further day.
What this page does not know
- The rate written on your judgment. If the court stated a rate, that one applies, whatever the default is today.
- Partial payments. Interest accrues only on what is still unpaid.
Informational only, not legal advice. Every figure is cited to the statute or the office that publishes it; confirm the current rate with the court clerk before relying on it.
Frequently asked questions
What is the post-judgment interest rate in Hawaii right now?
10% a year for an ordinary money judgment, fixed in the statute, under Haw. Rev. Stat. §478-3.
How is the Hawaii rate set?
Fixed in the statute at 10% a year, "and no more". It changes only when the legislature acts.
Is it simple or compound interest?
Simple interest: it is calculated on the original judgment amount only and never on earlier interest.
Can my Hawaii judgment carry a different rate?
Yes. The State is immune from this interest in suits under HRS §661-1 unless it has waived immunity. The judgment itself may also state a rate, and that controls.
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