Hawaii unemployment benefits
In Hawaii, unemployment benefits last up to 26 weeks and pay up to $868 a week (as of July 1, 2026). There is an unpaid waiting week, and you file with the Hawaii Department of Labor and Industrial Relations, Unemployment Insurance Division.
By Justin KullaLast updated
Last verified October 6, 2026 against official sources.
Hawaii benefits at a glance
| Maximum weekly benefit | $868source, July 1, 2026 |
|---|---|
| Minimum weekly benefit | $5source, July 1, 2026 |
| Maximum weeks of benefits | 26 weeks (26 weeks for all eligible claimants (uniform duration))source, July 1, 2026 |
| Weeks depend on the state unemployment rate | Nosource, July 1, 2026 |
| Unpaid waiting week | Yessource, October 6, 2026 |
| Severance pay | Hawaii DLIR's claimant handbook says a severance package, pay instead of notice, or continued pay with full benefits after leaving a job could reduce or delay benefits.source, October 6, 2026 |
| Pay in lieu of notice | Hawaii DLIR's claimant handbook says pay instead of notice could reduce or delay benefits.source, October 6, 2026 |
| Work-search requirement | Claimants must complete at least 3 work search activities per week.source, January 1, 2023 |
| Extended benefits | Not available nowsource, October 4, 2026 |
| How to file | the Hawaii Department of Labor and Industrial Relations, Unemployment Insurance Divisionsource, October 6, 2026 |
Weekly amounts exclude dependents’ allowances. Severance, pay in lieu of notice and work-search entries dated January 1, 2023 come from the Department of Labor’s latest Comparison of State UI Laws, which reflects state law on that date; confirm them with the Hawaii Department of Labor and Industrial Relations, Unemployment Insurance Division.
Severance and unemployment in Hawaii
Severance pay: Hawaii DLIR's claimant handbook says a severance package, pay instead of notice, or continued pay with full benefits after leaving a job could reduce or delay benefits.
Pay in lieu of notice (including WARN Act pay): Hawaii DLIR's claimant handbook says pay instead of notice could reduce or delay benefits.
File as soon as you are out of work even if you received severance. The agency decides how payments affect your claim, and most states pay only from the week you file.
Local workforce boards in Hawaii
Public workforce boards run American Job Centers, which offer free help with job search, training and benefits.
If you’re a laid-off professional
Sources: U.S. Department of Labor, Significant Provisions of State Unemployment Insurance Laws and Comparison of State Unemployment Insurance Laws, the DOL Extended Benefits trigger notice, and the Hawaii Department of Labor and Industrial Relations, Unemployment Insurance Division. Where official sources disagree or a figure could not be confirmed, this page says to check with the agency rather than estimate. Rules change; the agency’s decision on your claim is what counts. See our editorial standards.