Hawaii Unemployment Calculator
Figure basis: Official U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Unemployment InsuranceThis calculator estimates your Hawaii unemployment insurance (UI) weekly benefit for 2026. Enter your usual gross weekly pay to see an estimated weekly benefit, alongside the official Hawaii minimum ($5) and maximum ($868) weekly benefit amounts and the 26 weeks of benefits payable. The weekly amount is an estimate: it uses about 50% wage replacement (which matches the common "one twenty-sixth of high-quarter wages" rule) and is capped at the state minimum and maximum. Your state agency sets the exact figure from your base-period wage history, and eligibility rules apply. The minimum, maximum, and number of weeks are the official 2026 figures, sourced from U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Unemployment Insurance.
In Hawaii, the weekly unemployment benefit ranges from $5 to $868, payable for 26 weeks (up to $22,568 in total). On $1,000 a week, the estimated benefit is about $500.00 per week.
How Hawaii unemployment benefits work
Hawaii pays a weekly benefit amount (WBA) based on your earnings during the base period (usually the first four of the last five completed calendar quarters). The WBA is subject to a state minimum of $5 and a maximum of $868, and is payable for 26 weeks.
estimated weekly benefit = min(max(weekly wage x 50%, $5), $868)
estimated maximum total = estimated weekly benefit x 26 weeks
The 50% figure is an approximation of the common state formula; your state agency sets the exact WBA from your wage records.
Hawaii unemployment figures (2026)
| Figure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum weekly benefit | $5 | U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Unemployment Insurance |
| Maximum weekly benefit | $868 | U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Unemployment Insurance |
| Weeks payable | 26 weeks | U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Unemployment Insurance |
Hawaii's wide $5 to $868 spread
Hawaii has one of the widest benefit ranges in the country. The minimum weekly benefit is just $5, the lowest floor of any US jurisdiction, while the maximum reaches $868, near the top nationally. The ceiling is so high because Hawaii reindexes it every year to a share of the state average weekly wage, so it tends to rise as local pay rises. Anyone budgeting from an older figure will usually understate the current maximum.
Duration is the simple part: Hawaii pays a uniform 26 weeks for every qualifying claim, with no sliding scale tied to the unemployment rate. That gives a full claim at the $868 maximum a potential value of up to $22,568 before any federal extension, among the highest state totals in the nation.
The weekly estimate here takes roughly half of your usual gross weekly pay and caps it at $868, so only high earners above about $1,736 a week reach the ceiling. Because Hawaii sets your exact weekly amount from your base-period wages, and because the maximum is recalculated annually, treat the top figure as the value for this benefit year specifically. The Hawaii Department of Labor and Industrial Relations publishes the current minimum and maximum each year, and your award letter states the precise weekly amount you qualify for.
Hawaii unemployment: frequently asked questions
What is the maximum unemployment benefit in Hawaii for 2026?
The maximum weekly benefit amount in Hawaii is $868 for 2026. The minimum is $5. Over the maximum 26 weeks, that is up to $22,568 in total benefits.
How many weeks of unemployment can I get in Hawaii?
Hawaii pays benefits for a uniform 26 weeks.
How much unemployment will I get in Hawaii?
Your weekly benefit is roughly half your usual gross weekly pay, subject to the Hawaii minimum of $5 and maximum of $868. For example, on $1,000 a week the estimate is about $500.00. This is an estimate; Hawaii sets your exact amount from your base-period wage history.
Is this the exact unemployment amount I will receive?
No. The minimum, maximum, and weeks shown are the official 2026 figures, but the weekly amount here is an estimate (about 50% wage replacement, which matches the common "one twenty-sixth of high-quarter wages" rule). Your state agency computes the exact figure from your reported wages, and eligibility rules apply.
Official sources
- Hawaii unemployment weekly benefit and duration (tax year 2026): U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Unemployment Insurance, as at Jul 15, 2026.
Reviewed by the CalculatorHub team, edited by James Graham, 15 July 2026. See our methodology. General information, not legal or financial advice; file your claim with your state agency.