Office of Consumer Protection

Hawaii’s Gift Certificate law has changed. Pursuant to Act 195 (2010) and effective July 1, 2010, the following amendments have gone into effect: (1) the minimum expiration period for most gift certificates has been extended to five years; (2) merchants will now be allowed to charge consumers a one-time initial activation or issuance fee of not more than ten percent (10%) of the face value of the certificate or $5, whichever is lower; and (3) stored value cards issued by financial institutions which are not being marketed as gift cards will be excluded from the statutory definition of “Gift Certificate”.  To view Act 195, please click on the following link:

https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session2010/bills/GM687_.PDF