Hawaii’s Unclaimed Property Office: What It Does and What It Might Be Holding for You

The Hawaii Unclaimed Property Office is the state office that holds money and certain financial assets that have been lost, forgotten, or left behind by their owners. These assets are held on behalf of the rightful owners until they are claimed.

HowToGetAssistance.org is not a government agency or application site, but this guide can help you understand what the office does, what types of property it holds, and how you can move forward through official state channels.

What Is Hawaii’s Unclaimed Property Office?

In plain English, Hawaii’s unclaimed property program is a safekeeping system. When businesses or organizations in Hawaii cannot locate the owner of money or other financial assets for a certain period of time, they are usually required to send those assets to the State of Hawaii’s Unclaimed Property Office.

Common “holders” that send money to the state include:

• Banks and credit unions
• Insurance companies
• Employers and payroll providers
• Utility companies
• Retailers and online merchants
• Investment firms, brokers, and mutual fund companies
• Government agencies

The state does not take ownership of the money in the usual sense. Instead, it acts as a custodian, keeping a record of who it belongs to and making it available for the owner (or their heirs) to claim.

What Types of Property the Office Typically Holds

The Hawaii Unclaimed Property Office usually handles financial assets, not physical items like cars or furniture. While the exact list can change over time, typical unclaimed property categories include:

Common Types of Unclaimed Property in Hawaii

• Dormant bank accounts

  • Checking or savings accounts with no activity for several years
  • Money market or time deposit accounts after maturity

• Uncashed checks and payments

  • Payroll checks never cashed
  • Vendor or refund checks
  • Dividend checks from stocks or mutual funds

• Insurance-related funds

  • Life insurance policy benefits where the beneficiary was never found
  • Refunds or premium overpayments

• Retirement and investment assets

  • Certain types of IRAs or retirement accounts after inactivity and attempts to locate the owner
  • Brokerage accounts (stocks, bonds, mutual funds) that have become dormant
  • Some types of distributions or liquidation proceeds

• Utility and service credits

  • Utility deposits (electric, gas, water, internet) not returned to customers
  • Credit balances on closed utility or service accounts

• Gift cards, store credits, and refunds

  • Some unused or partially used gift cards under certain conditions
  • Customer overpayments and store credits that were never used

• Business-related funds

  • Uncashed checks to vendors or former employees
  • Overpayments on accounts

What the Office Usually Does Not Hold

In Hawaii, unclaimed property programs typically do not hold:

• Real estate or land
• Vehicles or boats
• Most physical personal property (except in special circumstances, such as the proceeds from auctioned safe-deposit box contents)
• Social Security benefits or federal tax refunds (those are federal issues, handled by federal agencies)

If you are looking for those types of property, you may need to contact:

• Your county property tax office (for land or homes)
• The Hawaii DMV or county motor vehicle office (for vehicles)
• Federal agencies like the IRS or the Social Security Administration (for federal refunds or benefits)

Who Might Have Unclaimed Property in Hawaii?

Many people are surprised to learn that they, or a family member, might have unclaimed property. In general, you may want to check Hawaii’s unclaimed property records if:

• You have ever lived in Hawaii, even years ago
• You did business with a Hawaii bank, utility, or employer
• You moved without updating your mailing address or email
• You changed your name (for example, after marriage or divorce)
• A relative passed away who lived, worked, or held accounts in Hawaii
• You ran a business registered in Hawaii

Some common scenarios that create unclaimed property:

• You forgot about a small bank account or safe deposit box you opened years ago.
• You moved out of state and missed a final paycheck or utility refund check.
• An insurance company could not locate you as a beneficiary of a policy.
• A check was sent to an old address and was never forwarded or cashed.
• A business changed owners or closed, and records were lost or outdated.

There is usually no cost charged by the state to search or file a claim for your own property through official channels.

What the Hawaii Unclaimed Property Office Actually Does

The Hawaii Unclaimed Property Office has a few core responsibilities:

1. Receiving and Recording Unclaimed Property

Businesses and other “holders” are generally required to:

• Identify accounts or payments that have been inactive for a legally defined time period (often called a “dormancy period”).
• Try to contact the owner using the last known address or contact information.
• If they cannot locate the owner, transfer the property and basic identifying information to the state.

The office then:

• Records the owner’s name, last known address, and other identifying details
• Tracks the type and amount of each property account
• Keeps this information until someone files a valid claim

2. Safekeeping the Funds

The office:

• Holds the money, or in some cases, the proceeds from liquidated assets (such as sold stocks or auctioned safe-deposit contents)
• Keeps a record so that funds can be matched to the right person or heir
• May invest pooled funds, but the primary goal is custody and eventual return, not profit

3. Providing a Public Search Tool

Most state unclaimed property programs — including Hawaii — typically offer:

• An online name search tool through the state’s official website
• Search options by individual name or business name
• Basic information on any potential matches (like approximate amount category and property type)

You cannot use HowToGetAssistance.org to search the database. To check for unclaimed property in Hawaii, you need to use Hawaii’s official unclaimed property website or phone line.

4. Reviewing and Processing Claims

When someone believes they are the rightful owner (or heir) of listed property, the office:

• Reviews submitted claims and documents
• Verifies identity and ownership
• Approves or denies the claim, or asks for more information
• Issues payment or other appropriate return of funds if the claim is approved

What You Usually Need to Claim Unclaimed Property in Hawaii

Exact requirements can vary by type of property, whether you’re the original owner or an heir, and how much money is at stake. However, common documentation includes:

For Claims by the Original Owner

You will often need:

• Proof of identity, such as:
  • State-issued ID or driver’s license
  • Passport
• Proof of current address, such as:
  • Utility bill
  • Lease agreement
  • Official letter or statement
• Proof of past address (if the unclaimed property is tied to a former address)
  • Old statements, W-2s, pay stubs, or tax returns
• Taxpayer Identification Number, such as:
  • Social Security Number (SSN)
  • Employer Identification Number (EIN) for businesses

For Claims by Heirs or Beneficiaries

If the original owner is deceased, the state usually requires documents such as:

• Death certificate of the original owner
• Proof of relationship, such as:
  • Birth certificate (child of the owner)
  • Marriage certificate (spouse of the owner)
• Estate documents, for larger or more complex claims, such as:
  • Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration
  • Court order appointing a personal representative
• Identification and contact information for the claimant (the person filing)

Quick Reference Table: Common Claim Types and Documents

*Requirements can change and may vary by claim size and property type. Always follow the instructions on the official Hawaii unclaimed property site or forms.

How to Start a Claim Through Official Channels

Exact steps may change over time, but the general process in Hawaii usually looks something like this:

1. Search for Unclaimed Property

You typically:

1. Go to the official State of Hawaii unclaimed property website run by the Department of Budget and Finance (or similar state agency).
2. Use the name search function:
   • Search by your first and last name
   • Try variations (maiden name, previous married name, initials)
   • If applicable, search for relatives’ names or business names
3. Review any results to see if they match your past addresses, employers, or other details.

You can also usually call the official Hawaii unclaimed property office phone number if you cannot access the internet or need help with the search.

2. Select Property to Claim

If you find a match:

• Mark or select which items you want to claim.
• Indicate whether you are the owner, heir, or representative.
• The system often generates either an online claim form or a printable form.

3. Complete the Claim Form

You typically need to:

• Fill in your current contact information
• Confirm your relationship to the property (owner, heir, business representative)
• Provide your Taxpayer Identification Number (such as SSN or EIN) if requested
• Sign and date the form (sometimes notarization is required, especially for larger claims or estate claims)

4. Gather and Submit Supporting Documents

Follow the instructions on the official form about how to provide documents:

• Upload online, if the portal allows
• Mail copies to the office’s listed address
• Fax documents, if that option is provided
• In some cases, you may be asked to visit in person or obtain notarized signatures

Keep copies of what you send, including the claim form and any documents.

5. Wait for Review and Possible Follow-Up

After submission:

• The Hawaii Unclaimed Property Office reviews the claim.
• They may contact you to verify information or request additional documents.
• Processing times vary based on claim volume, claim complexity, and staffing.

If approved, the state typically:

• Issues a check for the amount due to you, or
• Provides another form of payment or transfer method described in their procedures.

You cannot check claim status through HowToGetAssistance.org. For updates, you must use the official Hawaii channels, such as the state website or office phone line.

Common Reasons Claims Are Delayed or Denied

Understanding what can go wrong can help you avoid problems. Some frequent issues include:

• Incomplete forms

  • Missing signatures or unanswered questions
  • Leaving out requested identification numbers

• Insufficient proof of identity or address

  • Documents that don’t clearly show your current or former address
  • Expired IDs or poor-quality copies

• Name changes not documented

  • Not providing marriage certificates, divorce decrees, or court orders when your name differs from the one on the property

• Unclear relationship to the owner

  • For heir claims, not providing a death certificate or proof of relationship
  • Estate documents missing or not matching state requirements

• Conflicting information

  • Differences in spelling, dates of birth, or Social Security numbers
  • Inconsistent business names or EINs

If your claim is delayed or denied, the office might:

• Send you a letter or email explaining what’s missing or why it was rejected
• Give you a chance to submit additional information or corrected documents

In many cases, carefully following the written instructions from the official Hawaii office can resolve the issue.

How Reviews, Corrections, or Appeals Usually Work

If you disagree with a decision on your claim, your options can depend on:

• The amount of money involved
• The reason your claim was denied
• Hawaii’s current laws and administrative rules

Common steps may include:

1. Review the denial notice carefully

   • Identify what documents or information were considered insufficient.

2. Contact the unclaimed property office

   • Use the official phone number or mailing address listed by the State of Hawaii.
   • Ask whether you can submit additional documentation to fix the issue.

3. Resubmit or supplement your claim

   • Provide any missing records, corrected forms, or clarified information.

4. Formal appeal or review (if available)

   • Some states have formal administrative appeal options or review processes, especially for larger claims or complex estate cases.
   • The denial notice or official website often outlines whether such a process exists and how to begin it.

Because rules can change, the most accurate guidance will always come from the official Hawaii unclaimed property office.

If You Don’t Find Unclaimed Property in Hawaii

If your search shows no results, it does not necessarily mean there is nothing owed to you, but it does mean:

• The State of Hawaii does not currently show unclaimed property in your name that has been reported to them.

You can still consider:

• Searching under former names, nicknames, or maiden names
• Trying different spellings or reversed first/last names
• Checking for business names if you owned or managed a company
• Looking up relatives’ names, especially deceased family members

You may also want to search for unclaimed property in:

• Other states where you have lived, worked, or done business
• States where you held bank accounts, insurance policies, or investments
• Federal sources (for example, for IRS refunds) through official federal websites

How to Make Sure You’re Using an Official Hawaii Channel

Because unclaimed property can involve personal information and money, it’s important to avoid scams. Here are ways to protect yourself and verify you’re using an official Hawaii resource:

Signs You’re on an Official State Site or Talking to an Official Office

• The website domain typically ends in “.gov”, indicating a government site.
• The site or documents clearly identify the State of Hawaii and a recognized department (such as the Department of Budget and Finance).
• Contact information includes state office addresses and state phone numbers.
• The service to search or file claims is free. You may pay for notarization or copies, but not to claim your own money.

Red Flags That Suggest a Possible Scam

• Someone contacts you and asks for upfront payment or a “processing fee” before you receive money.
• You are pressured to act immediately or risk “losing” your claim.
• The communication comes from an unfamiliar email address, personal phone number, or suspicious website.
• The person refuses to verify their identity, or the business name does not clearly match official Hawaii agencies.

There are legitimate “finder” or “locator” services that, for a fee, help people search for forgotten property. However:

• They are not required to claim your property.
• You can usually do the search and claim yourself directly through the official Hawaii office at no cost (other than possible notary or document fees).
• Before signing any contract or paying a fee, consider contacting the Hawaii unclaimed property office directly to learn your options.

Practical Tips to Make the Process Smoother

• Gather ID documents first: Make sure you have a current driver’s license, state ID, or passport ready.
• Collect old records: If you’ve moved often, old tax returns, pay stubs, or bank statements can help link you to former addresses.
• Check for your whole family: Look up your name, your spouse’s name, and any deceased relatives who might have lived or worked in Hawaii.
• Keep copies of everything: Save copies of claim forms and all documents you send or upload.
• Be patient but follow up: If it’s been a while and you haven’t heard back, use the official Hawaii office phone number or mailing address to request an update.

The Hawaii Unclaimed Property Office exists to hold money and financial assets that belong to people and businesses, and to return those funds to the rightful owners once they come forward. By understanding what the office does, what property it holds, and how official claims typically work, you can take the next steps directly through Hawaii’s official unclaimed property channels if you believe you might be owed money.