Hawaii Section 538 income limits for FY2026
A Section 538 tenant can earn up to 115% of area median income at move-in. In Hawaii that limit for a family of four runs from $113,600 in Hawaii County, HI to $153,400 in Urban Honolulu, HI. Limits took effect July 13, 2026.
| Area | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina, HI part of the Kahului-Wailuku, HI metro area | 97,700 | 111,700 | 125,650 | 139,600 | 150,750 | 161,950 | 173,100 | 184,250 |
| Urban Honolulu, HI metro area | 107,400 | 122,700 | 138,050 | 153,400 | 165,650 | 177,950 | 190,200 | 202,500 |
| Hawaii County, HI | 79,500 | 90,900 | 102,250 | 113,600 | 122,700 | 131,800 | 140,850 | 149,950 |
| Kauai County, HI | 96,650 | 110,500 | 124,300 | 138,100 | 149,150 | 160,200 | 171,250 | 182,300 |
From income limit to rent cap
Two rent rules apply under 7 CFR 3565.203. Each unit's rent, counting tenant-paid utilities, can't exceed 30% of 115% of area median income adjusted for family size, which is 30% of the figure in the table for the household size you assume, divided by 12. And across the whole project, the average rent can't exceed 30% of 100% of area median income each year.
Worked example for Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina, HI: the four-person limit is $139,600, so the per-unit cap for a unit sized for four people is $3,490 a month including utilities. The project-average cap uses 100% of median instead of 115%, roughly $3,034 a month at the four-person size. Which household size applies to each bedroom count is set in USDA's program handbook; confirm it with your lender.
Income is tested only at move-in. A tenant whose income later rises above the limit can stay (7 CFR 3565.202(a)). Want to see what those rents support in debt? Run them through the 538 loan sizer.
All 4 Hawaii areas and every other state in one file: 538 income limits download.