Found an item? Your responsibilities

What to do when you find someone else's property — your responsibilities and how to return it safely.

Found something in Hawaii? Handling it responsibly protects both you and the owner. Rules vary by location, but the principles are consistent.

Make a reasonable effort to find the owner. Check for ID, contact details, or anything that identifies who it belongs to.
Don't assume it's yours to keep. Keeping found property without trying to return it can have legal consequences. When in doubt, hand it in.
Hand valuables to the authorities. Report significant or high-value finds to the police non-emergency line for Hawaii; they'll log it and may issue a reference.
Store it safely. Keep the item secure and unchanged while you try to return it.
Post a found listing. Add a found-item listing for Hawaii with enough detail for the real owner to identify it — while holding back one verifying detail.

Helpful resources for Hawaii

Nextdoor
Reach neighbors to return a found item

Recent reports in Hawaii

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FOUND carry-ons near Waikiki Beach, Hawaii

I found these carry-ons late Friday evening, around 7:15 p.m., near the Duke Kahanamoku statue on Kalakaua Avenue, just steps from Waikiki Beach. They were tucked behind a potted palm by the boardwalk entrance to the bus stop shelter. The two rolling suitcases look well-loved but intact, one with a bright blue strap and a luggage tag that bore initials I couldn’t read. I checked the area and then carried them to the security desk at the nearby hotel so they wouldn’t blow away in the trade-wind gusts. It felt oddly responsible and hopeful, as if a traveler was about to arrive any minute, and I was the quiet guardian of their day’s end.

near the Duke Kahanamoku statue, Kalakaua Ave 8 days ago

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Found hand tools at Ala Moana Beach Park.

On my morning walk today around 7:15 a.m., I found a bundle of hand tools under a bench near the Makai Market Food Court at Ala Moana Beach Park in Honolulu. They were all tangled together with a dusty canvas tool bag; the hammerhead caught the sun, and the screwdrivers peeked out like little flags. I know how important those tools are to someone tackling home projects or garden fixes after a long week. I brought the pile to a sheltered spot by the park entrance and left a note so it would stay dry. I hope the owner sees this post and claims their gear soon; it’s exactly the sort of thing that makes a neighborhood feel like home.

near the Makai Market Food Court, Ala Moana Beach Park, Honolulu 20 days ago

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Found toy train near Waikiki

I found a small blue toy train wedged under a bench on Kalakaua Avenue in Waikiki around 6:15 p.m. on Sunday. The wheels click when I nudge it, and the paint has a few chips from a hundred little adventures. I picture a child dragging it along the shore as the sun sets behind Diamond Head. It felt like a quiet moment of connection with a memory someone cherished, and I’m posting it here in case the owner recognizes the piece.

Sentimental

near Waikiki Beach Walk, Kalakaua Ave 28 days ago

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Found iPhone on Bachelot St

I saw this iphone at Bachelot St. Please let me know if this is yours.

Hawaii about 2 months ago

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Keys with kryptonite lock; found label

Set of keys one of which is for a kryptonite lock. Two others are labeled "University of Hawaii. Found 6.1.26 clipped to chain link fence near Hunakai right of way.

Urgent

Hawaii 2 months ago

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Blue ceramic teapot with bamboo lid

I found this blue ceramic teapot with a bamboo lid this morning around 9:15am on Kalakaua Avenue, right outside the Duke Kahanamoku statue in Waikiki, Honolulu, Hawaii. It's about 1.2 liters, with a glossy cobalt glaze and a tiny chip on the rim. On the bottom there is a faint maker's mark that reads 'Nalu Ceramics.' The lid fits snugly, and the overall look is clean aside from that small flaw. If you own it, I’d love to get it back—send me a message here and we can meet near the statue in Waikiki to hand it over.

Hawaii 3 months ago