Compare legal limits, fees and the true cost of small loans in your state before you talk to any lender. Compare legal limits, fees and the true cost of small loans in your state.
Credit Unions vs Payday Loans in Waipahu, HI
1 credit union is headquartered in Waipahu, with 31,533 members. Credit unions are member-owned and often offer small personal loans and payday alternative loans (PALs) at far lower rates than payday lenders.
- Credit unions
- 1
- Members
- 31,533
- Federal
- 1
- State-chartered
- 0
Credit unions vs payday loan stores in Waipahu
Waipahu has 1 payday, installment and title loan stores but only 1 credit unions headquartered here — about 1.0 loan stores for every credit union. Local credit unions count 31,533 members — roughly 43 memberships per 100 residents.
Credit unions
1
1.4 per 100k residents
31,533 members
Payday & loan stores
1
1.4 per 100k residents
1 store chain
Biggest loan store chains in Waipahu: OneMain Financial (1).
Borrowing $500 for 6 months in Waipahu
| Option | Payment | Total cost of borrowing |
|---|---|---|
| Installment loan at the Hawaii rate cap (36% APR) | $92.30/mo | $53.79 |
| Credit union PAL (28% APR) | $90.27/mo | $41.62 |
| Payday loan renewed every 2 weeks (typical $15 per $100, not available in Hawaii) | $75.00 every 2 weeks | $975.00 |
- Monthly payment at the Hawaii rate cap vs median monthly household income
- 1.0%
Example calculation with fixed monthly payments; the payday row shows typical out-of-state pricing for comparison. Actual rates and terms vary by lender.
What it means for a household in Waipahu
- Median household income
- $110,036
- A $400 emergency equals
- 1.3 days of income
- Households earning under $25,000
- 9.1%
- Residents below the poverty line
- 8.5%
Income and poverty: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey, by ZIP code; figures for Waipahu are population-weighted and approximate. Hours of work are based on the median individual income.
Payday loans vs credit union PALs: the rules in Hawaii
| Payday loan in HI | Credit union PAL | |
|---|---|---|
| Legal status | Not allowed — storefront payday loans are banned | Offered by many federal credit unions |
| Rate cap | Capped at 36% APR (2021 Law) | Up to 28% |
| Term | Usually 2–4 weeks, due in one payment | 1 to 12 months, in installments |
| Credit check | Usually none; a bank account and income are required | Membership required; payments can be reported to credit bureaus |
Payday rules: Hawaii law as summarized on our Hawaii payday page. PAL rules: National Credit Union Administration (NCUA) rules for federal credit unions (PAL I and PAL II); state-chartered credit unions may offer similar small loans.
Credit unions headquartered in Waipahu
| Credit union | Address | Members | Website |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pearl Hawaii Federal Credit UnionFederal | 94-449 Ukee St Waipahu, HI 96797 | 31,533 | pearlhawaii.com |
Payday and installment loan stores in Waipahu
For comparison: storefront payday, installment and title lenders in Waipahu with addresses, phone numbers and hours. Check a credit union first — a PAL or small personal loan usually costs far less.
| Address | Phone | Hours | Google rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 94-866 Moloalo St Ste D-2 Waipahu, HI 96797 | (808) 671-5466 | — | 3.7 |
More about Waipahu
Only credit union headquarters are listed, with the address on file with the NCUA; phone numbers and branch locations are on each credit union’s website. Many credit unions also have branches in Waipahu and nearby — check membership requirements, as some are open to anyone who lives or works in the area. Loan stores: storefront locations of major payday, installment and title lenders; call ahead to confirm hours.