Child Support Calculations in Hawaii

Hawaii uses a unique Melson-style guideline under HRS §576D-7—not the Income Shares or Percentage-of-Income models used by most states. Whether you're navigating an uncontested or contested divorce, understanding the self-support reserve, Primary Child Support Need (PCSN), and Standard of Living Adjustment (SOLA) is essential.

The Melson-Style Model Explained

Hawaii's approach protects each parent's basic self-support first, covers each child's minimum needs, and then adds a proportional share of parents' remaining income (SOLA) so children share in their parents' standard of living. The 2024 Hawaii Child Support Guidelines took effect April 1, 2024.

• Self-Support Reserve (SSR): $1,693/month—subtracted from each parent's income before calculating support
• Primary Child Support Need (PCSN): Base $455/child plus actual childcare and health insurance costs
• Standard of Living Adjustment (SOLA): 10% per child (max 30%) of remaining income after PCSN
• Minimum Order: $91 per child per month

Calculating Gross and Net Income

Hawaii broadly defines gross income to include:

• Employment income: Wages, salaries, tips, overtime, bonuses, commissions
• Self-employment: Net business income after ordinary/necessary expenses
• Benefits: Pensions, Social Security (not SSI), VA benefits, unemployment, workers' compensation, disability
• Investment income: Interest, dividends, capital gains, rents (net of expenses)
• Military pay: Including BAH, BAS, COLA, SRB allowances
• In-kind benefits: Items reducing personal living expenses (company car, housing)

Exclusions from Income

• Public assistance: TANF, SSI, SNAP/food stamps, Section 8 housing
• Educational benefits: Pell Grants, Job Training benefits
• Other: WIC, adoption assistance, spousal support paid

Net Income (Standardized)

Hawaii uses a Table of Incomes (Appendix B) that converts gross income to "net income" by subtracting standardized taxes and the $1,693 Self-Support Reserve. This is NOT your actual paycheck net—it's a model value used statewide for fairness.

Step-by-Step Calculation Process

Hawaii's worksheet proceeds through these stages:

1. Line 1: Enter each parent's gross monthly income
2. Line 2: Look up standardized net income from Table of Incomes
3. Line 3: Calculate each parent's percentage share of combined net income
4. Lines 4-7: Calculate Primary Child Support Need (PCSN): $455 × number of children + childcare + medical
5. Lines 8-12: Calculate SOLA (10-30% of remaining income after PCSN)
6. Line 13: Total Child Support = PCSN + SOLA
7. Lines 14-17: Apportion by income shares, apply credits for add-ons paid

Primary Child Support Need (PCSN)

The PCSN covers each child's minimum needs:

• Base Primary Support: $455 per child per month (covers food, housing, clothing, essentials)
• Work-related childcare: Actual, reasonable costs for employment or vocational training
• Health insurance: Incremental cost to add child to parent's plan (not entire family premium)
• Cash medical: If private insurance unavailable, up to 10% of payer's net income

Standard of Living Adjustment (SOLA)

SOLA ensures children share in their parents' higher standard of living:

• SOLA income: Gross income minus $1,303 allowance (minimum adult necessities)
• Remaining SOLA: Combined SOLA income minus PCSN
• SOLA percentage: 10% for 1 child, 20% for 2 children, 30% for 3+ children
• Note: If PCSN exceeds combined SOLA income, no SOLA is distributed

Parenting Time Adjustments

Hawaii recognizes three time-sharing configurations based on overnights, not legal custody labels:

• Equal time-sharing (~183 overnights each): Uses "payout method"—each parent's 6-month obligation is calculated, differences annualized, and a single net monthly payment from the higher-obligation parent results
• Extensive time-sharing (>143 but <183 overnights): Adjustment rate = (basic support − equal-time support) ÷ 40, multiplied by nights above 143
• Split custody: When each parent has primary time with different children—per-child amounts are cross-multiplied and offset

Need a Deeper Analysis?

The calculator above gives you a quick estimate. For a comprehensive analysis covering PCSN, SOLA, parenting time adjustments, and deviation scenarios, get your full Hawaii child support analysis here. For the official calculation, use the Hawaii Judiciary's Excel worksheets.

Minimum and Maximum Limits

• Minimum order: $91 per child per month (except equal time-sharing can be lower)
• Maximum cap: A parent's total support generally should not exceed their standardized net income
• 70% threshold: If support exceeds 70% of obligor's net income, this may warrant a deviation under exceptional circumstances

Exceptional Circumstances (Deviations)

The guideline result is presumptive, but courts may deviate with written findings. Examples include:

• Support exceeds 70% of net: Creates hardship for obligor
• Additional children: Other children the payor legally supports
• Extraordinary needs: Special medical or disability-related costs
• Private education: K-12 tuition/fees may be considered
• Inability to earn: Documented disabilities or lack of realistic employment
• Party agreement: Subject to court review for reasonableness

Not exceptional: Payor's remarriage/step-children, visitation expenses, or heavy debt by itself.

Duration of Support

Hawaii child support continues until:

• Age 18: Standard termination under HRS §577-1
• High school continuation: Past 18 while child is full-time in high school
• Post-secondary education: If order provides, support can continue for full-time college students; CSEA sends verification notice near 19th birthday; agency collection terminates at 23 unless order specifies otherwise
• Disabled adult children: Courts may order continued support regardless of majority

Modification Standards

Either parent may request modification through Family Court or Office of Child Support Hearings (OCSH):

• 10% threshold: If recalculation differs by at least 10%, a material change is presumed — check if you qualify
• 3-year review: Either parent may request review/adjustment without proving change after 3 years
• New guidelines: Adoption of updated guidelines itself can justify review
• Two-way adjustment: Support can go up even if the request was to decrease

Enforcement Tools

The Child Support Enforcement Agency (CSEA) has comprehensive enforcement authority:

• Income withholding: Automatic garnishment of wages and other income
• Tax refund intercepts: State and federal refunds applied to arrears
• Passport denial: Federal denial when arrears reach $2,500
• License suspension: Driver's, professional, and other licenses under HRS §576D-13
• Bank levies/liens: Financial institution data match (FIDM) and property liens
• Credit reporting: Delinquencies reported to credit bureaus

Interest on Arrears

Hawaii charges interest on past-due support under HRS §478-3:

• Interest rate: 10% per year
• Interest type: Simple (not compound)
• When it applies: Post-judgment interest on arrears reduced to judgment or matured installments
• How to get it: Must request court to award and calculate interest—not automatically added

Common Calculation Mistakes

• Using paycheck net: Hawaii uses standardized net from Table of Incomes, not actual take-home pay
• Forgetting the SSR: $1,693 Self-Support Reserve is subtracted for every parent
• Wrong SOLA percentage: 10% for 1 child, 20% for 2, 30% for 3+—not cumulative beyond 30%
• Counting full insurance premium: Only incremental child cost counts, not entire family plan
• Using legal custody labels: Overnight count determines worksheet section, not "joint" or "sole"
• 143/183 thresholds: Extensive = >143 but <183 overnights; Equal = ~183 each
• Assuming age 18 ends all support: High school and college extensions may apply

Self-Employment Income

For business owners and self-employed parents:

• Start with gross receipts: Subtract ordinary, necessary, and reasonable business expenses
• Depreciation: Only straight-line depreciation for normal wear allowed
• Self-employment tax: Subtract one-half of SE tax
• Averaging: Consider 3-year average unless unusual events distort a year
• Controlling interest: Count owner's percentage of entity's adjusted net income
• Losses: Generally cannot offset wage income unless court allows

Key Takeaways

• Melson-style model: Protects self-support first, then covers child needs, then adds SOLA
• $1,693 Self-Support Reserve: Subtracted from each parent's income
• $455 per child base: Primary Child Support Need floor
• SOLA: 10% per child (max 30%) of remaining income
• $91 minimum: Per child per month (except equal time-sharing)
• 143/183 overnight thresholds: Extensive vs. equal time-sharing
• 10% modification threshold: Presumed material change
• 3-year review right: No change required after 3 years
• 10% arrears interest: Simple interest on judgments
• Age 23 agency cap: Unless order specifies otherwise for college support

For more information about Hawaii divorce processes, see our Hawaii divorce timeline and filing checklist. For property division information, review our Hawaii marital property guide.