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Hawaii Gift Card Law

Last updated on February 09, 2011

Green Badge = Good Consumer Protection

Grade A or B

 Green Badge = Needs Improvement

Grade C or D

 Green Badge = Poor Consumer Protection

Grade F
D

What we like:

  • Post-sale fees not allowed
  • Maximum purchase fee allowed is $5.00 per card or 10% of the cards value
  • Hawaii has legally defined the notion of a gift card
  • Hawaii has legally specified whether or not gift cards escheat to the state
  • For Exempt cards, the date of issuance and the expiration date must be clearly identified on the gift card, otherwise there is no expiration.

What could be better:

  • Gift cards may expire 5 years from purchase date
  • Merchants are not required to give cash back
  • Value will escheat to the state after 5 years of inactivity
  • Hawaii does not maintain a consumer-centric web page dedicated to gift card laws
NOTICE: ScripSmart attempts to make all information accurate. ScripSmart is only a guideline and does not provide definitive statements of the law. If you have questions about the law's application to a particular case, direct them to a specialist. If you believe this information is incorrect, please let us know.

The following types of gift cards are excluded form Hawaii Gift Card Law:

Cards donated to a charity, Free loyalty/promotional cards

Good to know for Hawaii residents:

Paper only gift certificates may expire after two years.

If you did not pay for a gift card, it may expire at any time, given such expiration appears on the gift card or accompanying receipt.

Hawaii Attorney General Information

Attorney General: David M. Louie (D)
Contact Form
Phone: 1-808-586-1500
http://www.hawaii.gov/ag/

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