Hawaii prejudgment interest rate
United States Hawaii prejudgment interest is discretionary — here is the rate courts apply.
→ All Hawaii judgment & prejudgment interest rates
Fixed by statute Discretionary
2026 Hawaii prejudgment interest at a glance
- Current rate
- 10% per year
- Effective date
- July 9, 2026
- Controlling authority
- HRS 636-16
- Rate basis
- Fixed by statute
- Source checked
- July 9, 2026
- Recorded history
- 1 data point
In Hawaii, prejudgment interest is discretionary: a court may award it, and when it does the rate is 10% per year under HRS 636-16. Prejudgment interest is DISCRETIONARY, not automatic.
When Hawaii prejudgment interest applies
Prejudgment interest is DISCRETIONARY, not automatic. HRS 636-16 authorizes the judge to award interest and to designate the commencement date "to conform with the circumstances of each case." It is available in BOTH tort and breach-of-contract cases (unlike many states, Hawaii does not limit prejudgment interest to liquidated/ascertainable contract claims).
When it starts accruing
Discretionary commencement date set by the judge per HRS 636-16. Earliest permissible date: in tort, the date the injury first occurred; in breach of contract, the date the breach first occurred. The court may select a later date to fit the circumstances (e.g., to avoid rewarding a party for delay).
Simple or compound
Simple. Compound interest is not recoverable in Hawaii (HRS 478-7), and prejudgment interest is not compounded; post-judgment interest is not allowed to accrue on the prejudgment-interest component.
→ Compare with the Hawaii post-judgment interest rate (interest after judgment)
Prejudgment interest under HRS 636-16 — 10% (simple interest). This is PREjudgment interest (accruing before entry of judgment) and is separate from Hawaii’s post-judgment rate; availability is limited by claim type (see the page). Verify against the statute text. Not legal advice.
Current recorded observation
| Effective date | Rate | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| July 9, 2026 | 10% | Statute |
Source & provenance
Observation recorded July 9, 2026 (00:00 UTC) from the cited source (Hawaii State Legislature (official)):
https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/hrscurrent/Vol13_Ch0601-0676/HRS0636/HRS_0636-0016.htm
Cite this page
StatuteRates. “Hawaii Prejudgment Interest Rate.” StatuteRates.com. Accessed today. https://statuterates.com/rates/hawaii-prejudgment-rate/ Rate recorded under HRS 636-16, effective July 9, 2026.