The amount and variety of unclaimed property in the state of Hawaii is larger than one would think. Sometimes it happens when people move and forget to reclaim their utility deposits or over-payments; other times, people may die and leave some money squirreled away in separate checking or savings accounts. Laws regarding unclaimed property in HI also mean that business owners have legal obligations if they come into possession of unclaimed property.

The list of unclaimed property in HI includes, but is not limited to, stocks, checking/savings accounts, death benefits, vendor checks, over-payments, certificates of deposits, paid-in-full life insurance, uncashed checks, unpaid wages, money orders, credit balances, refunds, dividends, commissions, insurance payments, gift certificates and customer deposits.

1. Know the laws regarding Hawaii unclaimed property and how they affect you as a business owner.

2. Search abandoned property in Hawaii to see if you have forgotten some assets.

3. Find unclaimed properties in HI auctions.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Know your obligations regarding HI unclaimed property

As a business owner, you're typically required to report and remit unclaimed property in Hawaii. If someone forgets to pick up a deposit or a check, make sure you know what your legal obligations are.

I recommend: Hawaii's Department of Budget and Finance Unclaimed Property site details unclaimed property holder requirements. The Business Owner's Toolkit also has information about your obligations regarding unclaimed property in Hawaii.

Search Hawaii unclaimed property to ensure that your business hasn't left some assets behind

It may be a long shot, but why not perform a Hawaii unclaimed property search to make sure your business doesn't have some assets floating around out there somewhere? This makes even more sense if your business has been around for a long time or it has a long string of former owners. You might be pleasantly surprised to find that one of the former owners neglected to retrieve some HI unclaimed property or even some unclaimed land in Delaware that still belongs to your business.

I recommend: Search for unclaimed property at Hawaii's Department of Budget and Finance Unclaimed Property site. If you have a claim, or have more questions, visit the FAQ page. Sign up with CashUnclaimed.com to search for property or assets that belong to you or your business that the state of Hawaii considers abandoned.

Find abandoned property in HI at auctions

State and local governments, as well as police agencies, sometimes dispose of unclaimed properties in Hawaii through auctions. If you like auctions, it can be a good way to save your business some money.

I recommend: The city and county of Honolulu's Division of Purchasing holds periodic auctions to dispose of unclaimed Hawaii property. JUSTAUCTIONS.ORG features unclaimed properties, as well as foreclosures and seized property.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Be wary if approached by someone who wants money in exchange for information on unclaimed properties in the state of Hawaii; you can get the same information on your own for free.