Unemployment Insurance (Hawaii)
Last updated August 2026
If you lost your job through no fault of your own, Hawaii Unemployment Insurance pays weekly benefits while you look for work. It is run by the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations (DLIR). File your claim online at uiclaims.hawaii.gov, where the site walks you through setting up an account, filing the first claim, and filing weekly certifications.
The maximum weekly benefit is set each year, and it rose again for 2026. The most you can get is $868 a week in 2026, up from $835 in 2025. Your own amount is based on your recent work and wages in Hawaii, so it may be lower than the maximum.
Your amount comes from your work history. You need enough recent work and wages in Hawaii, and you must have lost the job through no fault of your own. If you quit or were fired for cause, the rules are stricter, so file and let the state decide.
The weekly routine keeps benefits coming. After the first claim, you must file a claim certification each week or every two weeks. You must also register for work at HireNet Hawaii and stay able, available, and actively looking for work.
Keep good records. DLIR offers how-to videos and a Claimant Handbook for the certification steps. Report your work and any earnings honestly each week, because the records can be checked.
For help, the UI Call Center is (808) 762-5752 or toll-free (833) 901-2272. There are also claims offices on Oahu and the neighbor islands. Because a claim can take time to process, stack support: SNAP catches many households, Med-QUEST keeps the family insured, and 2-1-1 knows which local funds can bridge rent between jobs.
Phone 1-833-901-2272
Help available in English and Spanish.
Updated August 2026 Program details can change — confirm with the program directly.
Who qualifies
- Enough recent work and wages in Hawaii, and you lost the job through no fault of your own
- You must register for work at HireNet Hawaii and file a weekly or biweekly claim certification, staying able, available, and actively looking for work, to keep benefits coming
You may qualify. The program makes the final decision.
How to apply
- 1
File your first claim online at uiclaims.hawaii.gov and set up your account.
- 2
Register for work at HireNet Hawaii as required.
- 3
File a claim certification each week or every two weeks to keep benefits coming.
- 4
Stay able, available, and actively looking for work, and report any earnings.
- 5
For help, call the UI Call Center at (808) 762-5752 or (833) 901-2272.
What the application looks like
Common questions
How much does Hawaii unemployment pay?
Up to $868 a week in 2026, up from $835 in 2025. Your own amount depends on your recent Hawaii wages, so it may be lower.
Who can get benefits?
People with enough recent work and wages in Hawaii who lost their job through no fault of their own, and who stay able, available, and looking for work.
What do I have to do each week?
File a claim certification each week or every two weeks, stay registered at HireNet Hawaii, keep looking for work, and report any earnings.
How do I file or get help?
File online at uiclaims.hawaii.gov. For help, call the UI Call Center at (808) 762-5752 or toll-free (833) 901-2272.
Not sure this is the right program for your situation?
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