Hawaii Child Support Laws

Child Support Laws in the state of Hawaii

Last verified: February 2026

Hawaii uses the Income Shares Model through the Hawaii Child Support Guidelines Worksheet (CSGW), effective April 1, 2024. Both parents, whether married or unmarried, share the obligation to support their children. Hawaii courts, the Child Support Enforcement Agency (CSEA), and the Office of Child Support Hearings (OCSH) all use these guidelines for support determinations.

Table of Contents

Quick Summary: Hawaii Child Support

  • Model Used: Income Shares Model (Child Support Guidelines Worksheet)
  • Current Guidelines: 2024 Hawaii Child Support Guidelines (effective April 1, 2024)
  • Minimum Support: $70 per child per month
  • Health Insurance: 10% of combined net income
  • Support Ends: Age 18 (may extend to 23 for full-time college students)
  • Statute of Limitations: 10 years after judgment or child’s 33rd birthday

Core Principles of Hawaii Child Support

The Hawaii Child Support Guidelines are based on four fundamental principles:

  1. Children’s basic needs come first: Each child’s basic needs must be met before either parent retains additional income.
  2. Healthcare and childcare are essential: Health insurance and childcare costs are considered basic requirements.
  3. Children share in parental prosperity: When basic needs are met and additional income remains, children are entitled to a share of that income.
  4. Parents deserve self-support: Each parent is entitled to retain sufficient income to meet their own basic needs and maintain employment.

Best Interests Standard: Hawaii is not a “mother state” or “father state.” Courts use the “best interests of the child” standard, meaning both parents have equal rights to custody and time with the child, and custody decisions are based on the child’s welfare rather than parental gender.

How is Child Support Calculated in Hawaii?

Hawaii’s Child Support Guidelines Worksheet considers multiple factors:

  • Monthly gross income from all sources for both parents
  • Monthly net income (calculated using the Table of Incomes)
  • Health insurance costs
  • Childcare expenses
  • Support for children from other relationships
  • Medical and educational needs
  • Time-sharing arrangements

Key Figures

  • Minimum child support: $70 per child per month
  • Health insurance allocation: 10% of combined net income

Available Resources

For assistance completing these worksheets, visit the Self-Service Center on your island.

Important Limitation

Hawaii law only allows private agreements that set a higher support amount than the guidelines. Support cannot be lowered by private agreement unless exceptional circumstances exist and the court approves.

Exceptional Circumstances

Hawaii courts may deviate from the guidelines when “exceptional circumstances” exist. Recognized exceptions include:

  • Child support exceeding 70% of the obligor’s net income
  • Support obligations for additional children
  • Extraordinary needs of the child (disability, special education)
  • Extraordinary needs of a parent
  • Inability to earn income due to incarceration, disability, or involuntary unemployment
  • Private education expenses
  • Substantial time-sharing arrangements

What Is NOT Considered Exceptional

Hawaii specifically excludes these factors from exceptional circumstances:

  • Remarriage of either parent
  • Private agreements for lower amounts made outside court
  • Standard visitation expenses
  • Heavy personal debt

How to Modify Child Support in Hawaii

Either parent may petition to modify child support when circumstances change. Valid grounds include:

  • Substantial change in either parent’s income
  • Change in the child’s needs or expenses
  • Change in the number of children receiving support
  • Significant change in time-sharing arrangements

To request modification:

  1. Contact the Courts, CSEA, or OCSH (all have authority to modify orders).
  2. Provide documentation proving the changed circumstances.
  3. Demonstrate how the change affects the child’s needs or the parents’ ability to pay.

Burden of proof: The parent seeking modification must prove that the change benefits the child or that circumstances have materially changed.

What Happens if You Do Not Pay Child Support in Hawaii?

Hawaii uses the automated KEIKI system to track and enforce child support obligations. Federal and state laws provide numerous enforcement remedies.

Enforcement Actions

  • Income withholding: Wages garnished directly from employer
  • State tax refund interception: Under HRS 231-51 to 231-55, refunds seized if $25+ owed
  • Federal tax refund interception: Coordinated through IRS, FMS, CSEA, and federal OCSE
  • Passport denial: If $2,500+ owed, the Secretary of State may revoke, restrict, or limit your passport
  • Credit bureau reporting: Under HRS 576D-6, information reported to credit bureaus affecting credit score and loan eligibility
  • Liens: Attached to all real property owned or later acquired (home, car, assets)
  • License suspension: Professional, vocational, business, recreational, and driver’s licenses. Licenses only reinstated when arrears are resolved.
  • Contempt of court: Can result in fines or incarceration

Parental Abduction Prevention

Hawaii has special provisions to prevent parental or family abductions. Courts may include in custody orders:

  • Restrictions on removing the child from the state
  • Joint custody requirements
  • Prohibitions on removing the child from the country without written court-approved agreement

When Does Child Support End in Hawaii?

Hawaii child support ends when the child:

  • Turns 18 (basic termination age), OR
  • Turns 23 if enrolled full-time in an accredited college or university, OR
  • Becomes emancipated, OR
  • Marries

Support may continue indefinitely if the child is mentally or physically disabled and cannot support themselves.

Statute of Limitations

Hawaii’s statute of limitations for child support enforcement is 10 years after the judgment or the child’s 33rd birthday, whichever is later. There is no interest charged on retroactive support, missed payments, or judgments. Paternity must be established within three years of the child reaching age 18.

Termination of Parental Rights

While a separate legal matter, Hawaii courts can terminate parental rights if a parent:

  • Abandons the child for 30+ days without means of identification
  • Voluntarily surrenders custody for two years
  • Fails to communicate with the child for one year
  • Fails to provide support and care for one year
  • Is found mentally or physically incapable of caring for the child
  • Is found unfit under the guidelines
  • Commits sexual abuse against the child

Emancipation in Hawaii

A minor over 16 may petition for emancipation in Hawaii by:

  • Obtaining parental approval
  • Demonstrating financial self-sufficiency
  • Proving ability to manage their own affairs
  • OR getting married

Emancipation ends parents’ financial and legal obligations to the child.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How do I apply for child support in Hawaii?

Contact the Child Support Enforcement Agency (CSEA) at their website, the Hawaii Courts at courts.state.hi.us, or the Office of Child Support Hearings (OCSH) at their contact page. All three agencies have authority to establish and enforce child support orders.

2. Is Hawaii a “mother state” for custody?

No. Hawaii does not favor either parent based on gender. Courts use the “best interests of the child” standard, giving both parents equal rights to custody and parenting time. Decisions are based on the child’s welfare, parental fitness, and practical considerations.

3. Does remarriage affect my child support in Hawaii?

No. Hawaii specifically excludes remarriage as a factor for modifying child support. A new spouse’s income is not considered in the support calculation, and remarriage alone does not justify deviation from the guidelines.

4. Can child support extend beyond age 18 in Hawaii?

Yes. Support may extend to age 23 if the child is enrolled full-time in an accredited college or university. Support may also continue indefinitely for children with mental or physical disabilities. “Unusual circumstances” may also extend obligations.

5. What is the minimum child support in Hawaii?

The minimum child support amount is $70 per child per month under the current guidelines. Courts cannot order less than this amount except in truly exceptional circumstances approved by the court.

Hawaii’s child support guidelines involve detailed worksheets and multiple factors. For questions about your specific situation, consult with a Hawaii family law attorney. You can get a free case consultation from a lawyer here.

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