If someone you love is locked up in Hawaii, getting money into their account covers commissary - food, hygiene, phone time, writing materials - and keeps the connection alive. Hawaii operates a unified corrections system: all state facilities, both prisons and community correctional centers, are run by a single state department. There is one electronic deposit platform for all of them. But there are important rules attached - you must be on the approved visitor list before you can deposit, and there is a monthly cap on how much you can send.
Hawaii's corrections department was also renamed. As of January 1, 2024, the former Department of Public Safety's corrections functions became the Hawaii Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (DCR). If you see references to the old Department of Public Safety for corrections matters, that agency no longer exists - DCR at dcr.hawaii.gov is the current department.
Hawaii's unified system: one platform for all state facilities
Hawaii DCR operates seven state correctional facilities across the islands:
Prisons (all on Oahu): Halawa Correctional Facility (Aiea), Waiawa Correctional Facility (Waipahu), and Women's Community Correctional Center.
Community correctional centers (jails, one per major island): Oahu Community Correctional Center (OCCC, Honolulu), Hawaii Community Correctional Center (HCCC, Hilo on the Big Island), Kauai Community Correctional Center, and Maui Community Correctional Center.
All seven facilities - prisons and jails alike - use the same deposit platform: GTL/ViaPath ConnectNetwork. There is no separate county jail deposit system in Hawaii because the state runs all facilities.
Sending money: GTL/ViaPath ConnectNetwork
Effective October 18, 2022, all electronic deposits into Hawaii DCR inmate trust accounts go through GTL/ViaPath ConnectNetwork (also accessible at ConnectNetwork.com).
To deposit, you set up a ConnectNetwork account, select the facility where your person is housed, and add them to your account. You can then deposit using a credit or debit card at any time.
Two rules apply that are not the case in most states:
You must be an approved visitor. Electronic deposits through ConnectNetwork are available to approved visitors only. If you are not on the inmate's approved visitor list, you cannot deposit electronically. The approved visitor application process goes through the specific facility. Get on the list before you try to deposit.
The monthly limit is $300 per inmate. Electronic deposit amounts are limited to $300 per inmate per month. Deposits above this limit will not be processed. Plan your deposits accordingly if the person's commissary needs are significant.
Deposits and payments through ConnectNetwork are transmitted to the facility within one to two business days. Fees may apply to electronic deposits.
All deposits are subject to court-ordered restitution and CVCC (Crime Victim Compensation Commission) fines. Amounts owed for restitution or crime victim compensation may be deducted from the account before funds reach the spending balance.
Phone calls and tablet service
Hawaii DCR contracts with GTL (Global Tel Link) for all inmate phone calls - the same company that operates ConnectNetwork. Phone service has been through GTL since February 2018. Tablet service for video visits and other programming has been through GTL since September 2021.
Phone account funding is separate from the inmate trust account deposit process. To set up or fund a phone account for receiving calls, use the GTL platform directly.
If your person is housed on the mainland
Hawaii has historically housed a portion of its inmates at privately operated correctional facilities on the mainland United States, due to overcrowding in Hawaii's state facilities. If your person is at a mainland facility under contract with Hawaii DCR, the deposit vendor and rules may differ from the ConnectNetwork process used at Hawaii's own facilities. Contact Hawaii DCR directly to confirm the current deposit process for a mainland placement. The DCR website at dcr.hawaii.gov lists current facility information.
Federal custody in Hawaii
If your person is in federal Bureau of Prisons custody in Hawaii - the primary federal facility is FDC Honolulu (Federal Detention Center) at 351 Elliott Street, Honolulu HI 96819 - deposits go through the BOP Trust Fund via Western Union, MoneyGram at retail, or online at bop.gov. You need the eight-digit BOP register number. Do not use ConnectNetwork or GTL for federal inmates at FDC Honolulu.
What to know before you send anything
Get on the approved visitor list first. You cannot deposit electronically until you are an approved visitor. Contact the specific facility to start the visitor application process before attempting any deposit.
Know the $300/month cap. Electronic deposits are limited to $300 per inmate per month. There is no workaround for this limit.
Find the correct facility first. Use the DCR inmate locator on dcr.hawaii.gov to confirm which facility your person is in. All seven state facilities use ConnectNetwork, but you select the specific facility when setting up your account.
Deposits are subject to restitution deductions. Court-ordered restitution and CVCC fines may be deducted from deposits before funds reach the spending balance.
If your person is on the mainland, verify the process. Hawaii DCR's ConnectNetwork arrangement may not apply to mainland contract placements - confirm directly with DCR.
Hawaii DCR contact
Website: dcr.hawaii.gov
Related pages:
/prisons/hawaii
How to write a letter to someone in a Hawaii facility
Send mail and photos through InmateAid
Arrest Record Search (affiliate)
Frequently asked questions
What is the deposit vendor for Hawaii state correctional facilities?
GTL/ViaPath ConnectNetwork. All seven Hawaii DCR facilities - both prisons and community correctional centers - use GTL/ViaPath ConnectNetwork for electronic deposits into inmate trust accounts. This has been in effect since October 18, 2022.
Does Hawaii have county jails?
No, not in the traditional sense. Hawaii is a unified corrections system - all correctional facilities (both prisons and community correctional centers/jails) are operated by the state Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. There is no separate county jail deposit system.
Do I need to be on the visitor list to send money in Hawaii?
Yes. Electronic deposits through ConnectNetwork are available to approved visitors only. You must be on the inmate's approved visitor list before you can make a deposit. Contact the specific facility to complete the visitor application.
What is the monthly deposit limit in Hawaii?
$300 per inmate per month for electronic deposits. Deposits above this limit will not be processed.
How long does a deposit take to reach a Hawaii inmate's account?
Deposits through ConnectNetwork are transmitted to the facility within one to two business days.
What is the Hawaii Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation?
Effective January 1, 2024, the corrections functions of the former Hawaii Department of Public Safety were reorganized into the new Hawaii Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (DCR). The website is dcr.hawaii.gov. References to the "Department of Public Safety" for corrections matters refer to the predecessor agency.
What facilities does Hawaii DCR operate?
Three prisons on Oahu (Halawa Correctional Facility, Waiawa Correctional Facility, Women's Community Correctional Center) and four community correctional centers - Oahu CCC (Honolulu), Hawaii CCC (Hilo/Big Island), Kauai CCC, and Maui CCC.
What if my person is housed at a mainland facility?
Hawaii has placed some inmates at mainland contract facilities due to overcrowding. The ConnectNetwork deposit process for Hawaii's own facilities may not apply. Contact Hawaii DCR at dcr.hawaii.gov to confirm the deposit process for a mainland placement.
Are deposits subject to restitution deductions in Hawaii?
Yes. Per DCR policy, deposits may be subject to court-ordered restitution and CVCC (Crime Victim Compensation Commission) fines before funds are available for spending.
How do phone calls work at Hawaii DCR facilities?
GTL (Global Tel Link) handles all inmate phone service at Hawaii DCR facilities. Phone account funding is separate from the trust account deposit. Use the GTL platform to set up or fund a phone account.
How do I send money to someone at FDC Honolulu?
FDC Honolulu is a federal Bureau of Prisons facility, separate from Hawaii DCR. Use the BOP Trust Fund - Western Union, MoneyGram, or bop.gov online. You need the eight-digit BOP register number. ====================================================================
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