Home equity
Homestead
$30,000 / $20,000
Haw. Rev. Stat. § 651-92
Verified Jun 28, 2026 · Next review by Jun 28, 2027
Hawaii · Bankruptcy exemptions
Hawaii Bankruptcy Exemptions
$30,000 / $20,000
Four rules checked against governing sourcesSources checked through Jun 28, 2026Inspect the coverage gate
Answer first, sources attached
The four rules to check first
These are current source-linked reference points, not a conclusion about which exemptions apply to a particular filing.
Transportation
Motor vehicle
$2,575 motor vehicle exemption.
Haw. Rev. Stat. § 651-121(1).
Verified Jul 3, 2026 · Next review by Jul 3, 2027
Other property
Wildcard and personal property
No general Hawaii state catch-all wildcard identified in Haw. Rev. Stat. § 651-121; federal §522(d)(5) wildcard remains available if the debtor elects federal exemptions.
Haw. Rev. Stat. § 651-121; 11 U.S.C. § 522(b)(2), (d)(5).
Verified Jul 3, 2026 · Next review by Jul 3, 2027
System choice
State or federal exemption system
Hawaii permits eligible debtors to elect federal Sec. 522(d) exemptions; no state opt-out applies.
11 U.S.C. Sec. 522(b)(2); Hawaii has not enacted a Sec. 522(d) opt-out.
Verified Jul 3, 2026 · Next review by Jul 3, 2027
What changes the answer
The number is only the starting point
- Petition date and domicileTiming can change the applicable state system and the operative amount.
- Equity, liens, and ownershipThe protected interest is not simply the property’s market value.
- Joint filing and doublingWhether spouses can combine an exemption depends on the rule and facts.
- Federal limits and case lawFederal provisions, including 11 U.S.C. § 522(p), and controlling decisions can limit the result.
For bankruptcy attorneys
Put the rule into the matter, not another note
DocketBuddy carries source-linked exemption data into the client record, organizes the facts that affect the analysis, and leaves the legal decision with the attorney.
This page reports source-linked state rules and review dates. It does not select an exemption system, determine eligibility, calculate protected equity, or apply law to an individual situation. Verify the cited authority and current law before relying on a figure.