Hawaii Child Support Calculator
Income-shares schedule based on combined gross income of both parents and number of children; each parent's obligation is prorated by income share; adjusted for custody arrangement and add-ons (childcare, health insurance, extraordinary expenses).
How Hawaii Calculates Support
Hawaii Child Support: Common Questions
How does Hawaii calculate child support?
Hawaii uses the Income Shares model. Income-shares schedule based on combined gross income of both parents and number of children; each parent's obligation is prorated by income share; adjusted for custody arrangement and add-ons (childcare, health insurance, extraordinary expenses).
What income does Hawaii use to calculate child support?
Hawaii's guideline runs on gross. That distinction matters: entering gross income into a formula built on net income (or the reverse) produces a materially wrong figure. Most states count income from essentially any regular source -- wages, self-employment, bonuses, commissions, rental and investment income, and many benefits -- not just salary.
Does 50/50 custody mean no child support in Hawaii?
Not necessarily. Hawaii's guideline weighs each parent's share of combined income alongside the parenting-time arrangement, so a significantly higher earner can still owe support even at an even split of time.
Can a judge order a different amount than the Hawaii guideline?
Yes. The figure produced by Hawaii's Income Shares guideline is presumptive, not mandatory: a court can order a different amount when applying the guideline would be unjust or inappropriate for the specific case, and generally must state its reason on the record. Common grounds include extraordinary medical or educational expenses, a child's special needs, or costs the formula does not capture.
How do I change an existing Hawaii child support order?
You have to file for a modification -- a change in your circumstances does not change what you owe on its own. Hawaii, like most states, requires a substantial change in circumstances: a significant involuntary income change, a change in the parenting schedule, or a material change in the child's needs. Until a court or the state child support agency issues a new order, the existing amount stays fully enforceable and arrears keep accruing, and a modification is generally not applied retroactively before the date you filed -- so filing promptly matters. In Hawaii, modifications are handled through Child Support Enforcement Agency — Hawaii Dept. of the Attorney General.
Where can I find Hawaii's official child support worksheet?
Hawaii publishes it directly: "Child Support Guidelines — Hawaii State Judiciary". This site's calculator is a fast estimate built on the same published guideline, not a replacement for the official form -- a court filing generally requires the state's own worksheet. The link is in the Hawaii Resources section on this page.
What You'll Need
- Number Of Children On Order*
HRS § 576D-7: Child support guidelines schedule
- Parent A Income*
Parent A gross monthly income used by guideline.
HRS § 576D-7: Gross income definition
- Parent B Income*
Parent B gross monthly income used by guideline.
HRS § 576D-7: Gross income definition
- Custody Type Or Worksheet Selection*
Calculator selects custody model/worksheet and applies corresponding formula.
Custody arrangement and worksheet selection
- Other Child Support Or Dependents Adjustment
Adjustments for other dependents or court-ordered support for other children.
Other children / preexisting support adjustment
- Spousal Support Adjustment
Spousal support paid or received may adjust income calculation.
Spousal support adjustment
- Parenting Time Input
Parenting time variable for shared/joint custody adjustments.
Parenting time adjustment
- Work Related Childcare Costs
Childcare add-on
- Child Health Insurance And Uninsured Medical
Child's health insurance premium share and uninsured medical allocation.
Medical support
- Income Cap And Above Cap Handling
Schedule caps at a combined income level; above-cap support is court discretion.
Maximum schedule income
- Deviation Factors And Findings
Deviation allowed for exceptional circumstances; requires findings.
Exceptional circumstances / deviation
* Required fields — optional items shown in gray
Learn More
Hawaii Resources
Official Worksheet / Calculator
Child Support Guidelines — Hawaii State JudiciaryChild Support Agency
Child Support Enforcement Agency — Hawaii Dept. of the Attorney GeneralCourts Self-Help Center
Self-Help Center Info — Hawaii Judiciary