Property tax, transfer tax and closing costs in Hawaii

Hawaii: Conveyance tax of $0.10 per $100 under $600,000 rising through tiers to $1.00 per $100 at $10 million and over for a buyer who will claim a homeowner exemption, and $0.15 to $1.25 per $100 otherwise. Seller pays by statute. Annual assessment by each county as of October 1 for the next fiscal year.

Reviewed October 15, 2026. Every line links its statute or official source.

What Hawaii sets

Transfer tax: Conveyance tax of $0.10 per $100 under $600,000 rising through tiers to $1.00 per $100 at $10 million and over for a buyer who will claim a homeowner exemption, and $0.15 to $1.25 per $100 otherwise. Source: tax.hawaii.gov
Who customarily pays: Seller pays by statute. Source: tax.hawaii.gov
Local transfer taxes: Not stated. No official source confirmed this yet.
Reassessment cycle: Annual assessment by each county as of October 1 for the next fiscal year. Source: realpropertyhonolulu.com
Homestead and other exemptions: Home exemption varies by county. Honolulu exempts $120,000 of assessed value ($160,000 at 65 and over) on an owner-occupied home. Source: realpropertyhonolulu.com
Owner’s title policy: Seller customarily pays for the owner’s title policy. Source: cca.hawaii.gov
How closings run: Escrow closings are customary. Source: cca.hawaii.gov
Survey: Not stated. No official source confirmed this yet.
Other closing customs: Not stated. No official source confirmed this yet.

Hawaii transfer tax on a $839,000 sale

State conveyance tax (buyer not eligible for homeowner exemption)seller pays$2,097.50$839,000 × 0.25% (the rate for a price up to $999,999.99) = $2,097.50

seller pays: $2,097.50
Total transfer tax: $2,097.50

Statutory transfer taxes on a $839,000 sale, as of the reviewed date. Who pays is custom and contract outside the statute’s primary liability. Local taxes described above are not in this figure unless listed as a line. Recording fees, title and attorney charges are separate.

Open the Hawaii transfer tax calculator, with a link to share and an embed for your site.

Typical property tax in Hawaii

Median real-estate tax paid: $2,239 a year
Per month: $187
Median owner-occupied home value: $839,100
Effective rate they imply: 0.27%

Census American Community Survey five-year file, 2020-2024, tables B25103 and B25077, owner-occupied homes. The median bill rose 31% against the 2015-2019 file. An estimate for a typical home, not yours. Your bill depends on the parcel, its exemptions and the next reassessment.

For agents

Your buyers ask what closing costs in Hawaii and who pays. This page answers from the statute, with the date it was checked. Send it, or embed the calculator on your own site.

Ike lets a licensed real estate agent originate the mortgage on the deals they already close. Expected compensation is about 100 basis points per eligible funded loan once licensed and sponsored. Ike is preparing licenses state by state.

See if you qualify

Get the yearly update for your farm area

One email when Hawaii rates, exemptions or transfer taxes change, and when the next reassessment lands.

Sources

Ike Mortgage LLC. NMLS ID pending. For licensing information, go to: www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org. Nothing on this page is a loan payment, rate, term or down payment, and nothing here is a Loan Estimate.