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Small claims by state · checked

Court: Small Claims Division of the District Court. Claims up to $5,000. Each fact below links to the official source we read. Anything we could not confirm says “Check with your court”.

Limit

$5,000

The monetary limit is $5,000 (no limit for a tenant’s claim to get back a residential security deposit).

Source: Small Claims Questions and Answers · checked 26 Oct 2026

Filing fee

$35

$35 filing fee.

Source: Small Claims Questions and Answers · checked 26 Oct 2026

Lawyers

Lawyers allowed

A party can be represented by an attorney, but attorney’s fees generally cannot be awarded. Attorneys cannot appear in security-deposit disputes.

Source: Small Claims Questions and Answers · checked 26 Oct 2026

Serving a corporation

Check with your court Not verified

We could not confirm this from an official source. Ask the court clerk before you file.

Demand before suing

Demand not required

A demand letter might be a good idea depending on the case, but it is normally not necessary to prove earlier attempts to collect.

Source: Small Claims Questions and Answers · checked 26 Oct 2026

Official self-help

Court self-help page

www.courts.state.hi.us/self-help/small_claims_info

Official page · checked 26 Oct 2026

Suing Meta from Hawaii

Meta’s terms point disputes to California courts or arbitration and cap its liability, so a Hawaii small-claims case is leverage, not a sure thing. Read the small-claims checklist before you pay a fee, then draft your demand letter in the free kit: pick Hawaii and it checks your loss amount against the limit.

Fees and limits change, and local courts can add costs. Confirm with the court clerk before you file.

LockoutCase is a self-help tool, not a law firm, and not a substitute for the advice of an attorney.

Draft the demand letter

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Hawaii small claims, answered

What is the small-claims limit in Hawaii?
The monetary limit is $5,000 (no limit for a tenant’s claim to get back a residential security deposit).
How much does it cost to file a small claim in Hawaii?
$35 filing fee. Local courts can add costs.
Can I bring a lawyer to small claims in Hawaii?
A party can be represented by an attorney, but attorney’s fees generally cannot be awarded. Attorneys cannot appear in security-deposit disputes.
Where do these facts come from?
Each fact on this page links to the official court, statute or government source we read. We last checked Hawaii on 26 Oct 2026. Anything we could not confirm says “Check with your court”.
Is this legal advice?
No. LockoutCase is a self-help tool, not a law firm, and not a substitute for the advice of an attorney. It shows general information from official sources; confirm with the court clerk before you file.