Best Child Support in Hawaii — 6 verified resources

About Child Support for Women

Child support is administered state-by-state under the federal Title IV-D program, with every state required to operate a Child Support Enforcement (CSE) agency. For custodial mothers, these agencies establish paternity, locate non-custodial parents, calculate orders under state guidelines, and enforce payments through wage garnishment, tax refund intercept, license suspension, and contempt actions. Services are free of charge. Mothers can also pursue retroactive support and modifications when income changes. The federal Office of Child Support Enforcement (OCSE) oversees the program. This directory includes each state's CSE agency, online support calculators, local enforcement offices, and modification resources.

Child Support in Hawaii

Hawaii's Family Court is a division of the Circuit Court and operates in each of its four judicial circuits (Oahu, Maui, Hawaii Island, Kauai). The Child Support Enforcement Agency operates under the Attorney General. Honolulu is the largest population center. Legal Aid Society of Hawaii, Volunteer Legal Services Hawaii, and the Hawaii State Coalition Against Domestic Violence serve women.

6 Resources

1. Hawaii Child Support Enforcement Agency — Free

The Hawaii Child Support Enforcement Agency helps women establish paternity, obtain child support orders, enforce existing orders, and modify support amounts when circumstances change. Located at 601 Kamokila Blvd Suite 251 in Kapolei, call 808-692-8265 Monday through Friday 7:45am to 4:30pm. Services are free for custodial parents receiving public assistance and low-cost for others. Bring your child's birth certificate, the other parent's information, and any existing court orders.

808-692-8265 · 601 Kamokila Blvd Suite 251, Kapolei, HI 96707 · Mon-Fri 7:45am-4:30pm · Visit Website

2. National Child Support Enforcement Association — Free

The National Child Support Enforcement Association is the professional organization representing child support agency workers across all 50 states. NCSEA advocates for strong child support policies, trains enforcement staff, and publishes research on improving outcomes for custodial parents and children. Their website at ncsea.org includes policy resources and reports useful for advocates. While not a direct service provider, their work shapes how child support programs serve families nationwide.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

3. Find Your State Child Support Agency — Free

The federal Administration for Children and Families maintains a free directory with direct links and contact information for every state's child support enforcement agency. Use this resource to quickly locate the correct office for applying for services, checking on case status, or requesting a modification. Available at acf.hhs.gov — search by state. No cost, no registration required. A useful starting point before calling your local agency.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

4. Single Mother Guide — Child Support — Free

Single Mother Guide offers comprehensive plain-language articles for single mothers on applying for child support, modifying existing orders when income changes, enforcing orders when a parent stops paying, and understanding what happens if a parent moves out of state. The site covers interstate cases, how arrears work, and what to do when the other parent hides income. Free to read at singlemotherguide.com — no registration required.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

5. Healthy Children — Child Support Basics — Free

Healthy Children, published by the American Academy of Pediatrics, offers parent-focused guidance on child support fundamentals including how support amounts are calculated, what expenses are typically covered, how medical coverage is handled, and how separation affects children's wellbeing. Written by pediatricians and family health professionals. Free to read online at healthychildren.org — a helpful complement to legal resources for parents navigating separation.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

6. National Family Support Network — Free

The National Family Support Network works to strengthen families through quality family support services and policy advocacy across the country. NFSN promotes evidence-based programs that help parents build protective factors, reduce stress, and improve child outcomes. Their network connects local family support programs with training and resources. Visit nationalfamilysupportnetwork.org for information on advocacy efforts and to find affiliated programs in your community.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

Frequently Asked

How many child support resources are in Hawaii?
Women's Corner tracks 6 verified child support resources for women in Hawaii.
Are child support resources in Hawaii free?
6 of the 6 listed child support resources in Hawaii are explicitly free or low-cost.
Which cities in Hawaii have child support resources?
Listings span cities including Kapolei.
What are some examples of child support resources in Hawaii?
Featured entries include Hawaii Child Support Enforcement Agency, National Child Support Enforcement Association, Find Your State Child Support Agency, Single Mother Guide — Child Support, Healthy Children — Child Support Basics.
Do these listings include phone numbers?
1 of 6 Hawaii child support listings include verified phone numbers.
How do I open a child support case?
Apply free through your state's Child Support Services agency — online, by mail, or in person at the local office. The agency establishes paternity if needed, locates the other parent, calculates the order, and enforces collection through wage garnishment, tax intercepts, and license suspension. You don't need the father's cooperation to open a case.
What if the father isn't paying?
Report non-payment to your state Child Support Services agency — they have enforcement tools you can't access alone, including wage garnishment, federal/state tax refund intercepts, passport denial, driver's license suspension, and contempt prosecution. Keep your contact info current with the agency so payments route to you correctly.
Can I get child support if we were never married?
Yes. You first establish paternity — voluntarily through an Acknowledgment of Paternity form, or through a court-ordered DNA test if the father disputes it. Once paternity is legal, the court issues a support order based on his income. The state agency handles the whole process at no cost.
What if my support order is too low?
File a Motion to Modify with the court if there's been a substantial change — his income went up, your costs went up, custody time changed, or it's been 3+ years since the last review. Your state Child Support agency will do a free review every 3 years on request. Modifications aren't retroactive, so file as soon as circumstances change.