How much deposit can a kitchen remodel contractor ask for in Hawaii?

Hawaii has no statutory cap on contractor deposits. No statutory cap. Hawaii Contractors Licensing Board recommends 10% max for residential. For kitchen remodel, industry standard is 10% — meaning on a $100,750 project, expect $10,075 max. Any request above $15,113 is a red flag.

Industry standard for kitchen remodel: 10%. Large fixed-price job with long materials lead time. Industry standard: 10% deposit, then progress draws tied to milestones (rough-in / cabinets-in / final). Never pay materials in full upfront. Most legitimate Hawaii contractors will follow this norm regardless of whether the state has a statutory cap.

Hawaii doesn't have a statutory cap, but industry-standard deposits sit between 10–25% for most kitchen remodel projects. A request above 15% is a strong signal of cash-flow problems (the contractor is funding earlier jobs with your money) or outright fraud risk. Get 2 more written quotes before signing anything.

Best practice in Hawaii: 10% deposit at contract signing → milestone-based progress payments tied to inspectable phases (rough-in, mid-build, substantial completion) → 5–10% retention held until punchlist + final inspection sign-off. Never pay materials in full upfront; if your contractor goes under, the materials supplier owns those goods, not you. Pay via check or credit card — never wire transfer to a personal account.