I looked at Hawaii Panel, a survey panel only for people who live in Hawaii. It is legit and pays through PayPal, but you usually get only around one survey per quarter. Below is what I found, and which sites I recommend instead.
Legit, but very few surveys
Surveys about Hawaii, paid in PayPal cash or Amazon gift cards. Hawaii residents only.
On this page
The short answer
Hawaii Panel is legit. It does pay you for answering surveys, through PayPal or Amazon gift cards.
But you usually only receive around one survey per quarter, and each survey pays around 25 to 100 points. So the earning potential is very low, and it is only for residents of Hawaii. The real value is helping shape your community with your opinion.
- Low payout threshold: 500 points for a $5 Amazon gift card
- Pays via PayPal
- Surveys about Hawaii, so you help shape your community
- Support by FAQ, email, contact form and phone
- Limited earning opportunities
- Very low earning potential: around one survey per quarter
- The PayPal minimum went up from $5 to $10
- In-person focus groups are at the office in Honolulu
- The website is not optimized for mobile
- Hawaii residents only
My experience with Hawaii Panel
I looked at how you join Hawaii Panel, how it pays, and how its surveys and research projects work. This is what I did myself, and what I did not test.
- First tested
- June 2020Review first published Jun 24, 2020
- Latest retest
- Checked: surveys, rewards, support
- Surveys available
- Around one per quarterAbout four surveys a year
- Reward options
- PayPal and Amazon gift cardsFrom 500 points
- The registration form and the profile questions
- The research projects and the referral program
- The reward options
- The website on a mobile browser
- The FAQ and the contact options
- A payout. My review does not show a payment from Hawaii Panel.
- A focus group or interview. They are mostly in person in Honolulu.
Inside Hawaii Panel: my screenshots
Screenshots from my test
Hawaii Panel at a glance
| What it is | A simple survey panel with surveys about Hawaii |
|---|---|
| Cost to join | Free |
| Minimum age | 14 to join; 18 to get paid via PayPal |
| Ways to earn | Paid surveys, research projects such as focus groups, and referrals |
| Pay per survey | Around 25 to 100 points; rarely 500 points |
| Point value | 1,000 points = $10 |
| Minimum cashout | 1,000 points ($10) for PayPal · 500 points for a $5 Amazon gift card |
| Apps | No app. The website works on a mobile browser, but is not optimized for it. |
| Where you can join | Residents of Hawaii only |
| Support | FAQ page, email, contact form and phone |
Is Hawaii Panel legit and safe?
Yes, Hawaii Panel is legit. It does pay you for answering surveys. But that alone does not make it a good way to earn extra money. Here is what you should know.
- Very few surveys
You usually only receive around one survey per quarter, so about four surveys a year. Reaching even the low threshold takes a lot of time.
- You will not qualify for every survey
Each survey starts with qualifying questions. If you do not qualify, the process ends and you get nothing.
- Focus groups are in Honolulu
In-person focus groups and interviews are held at the office in Honolulu. In my experience, usually only people who live near the facility get invited.
- Not made for mobile
There is no app, and you have to keep zooming in on the website because it is not optimized for mobile.
My takeIf you are looking to earn extra cash online and you live in Hawaii, I will be blunt with you. Hawaii Panel is not the best site to join. The only real value I can see is the ability to help shape your community by participating in its surveys.
Hawaii Panel has very few surveys. These sites in your country let you earn more regularly.
See the best sites in your countryHow you earn on Hawaii Panel
There are 3 ways to earn. Paid surveys are the main one. Tap one to read more.
Paid surveys25 to 100 points
All surveys are about Hawaii, or about a product or service that impacts Hawaii. If you live in Hawaii, this is one way to have your opinion heard.
You get survey invites by email, and you can log in to see the available surveys. Each survey shows its reward. You first answer qualifying questions. If you qualify, you go on to the actual survey.
You usually only receive around one survey per quarter. If you are lucky, a survey pays 500 points, but that rarely happens.
Research projectsSignificant, but rare
From time to time, Hawaii Panel holds focus groups online or in person. When you register, you are asked if you are interested. If you say yes, you give your phone number, because that is how they contact you.
In-person focus groups and interviews are held at the office in Honolulu. If you do not live in Honolulu, do not expect to get invited, which is unfortunate because focus groups usually pay a significant amount.
Referral program100 points each
When the person you invite registers, you and your referral both get 100 points. There are no other conditions.
You invite people with the invite tool on the website. It sends an invite email once you enter the person’s email address.
How much can you make?
Not a lot. You usually only receive around one survey per quarter, and each survey pays around 25 to 100 points. A survey that pays 500 points rarely ever happens. So the earning potential is very low.
The only way to earn a significant amount is to be invited to a focus group or interview, and those are mostly for people who live near Honolulu. If you want to earn online, your time is better spent on sites with better earning potential.
Payout methods and minimums
| Method | Minimum | Note |
|---|---|---|
| PayPal | 1,000 points ($10) | You must be 18 or older. The minimum used to be $5. |
| Amazon gift card | 500 points ($5) | The lowest way to cash out |
Every survey you complete earns points, which you exchange for a reward once you reach the threshold. For more sites that pay via PayPal, see the top sites that pay via PayPal.
Hawaii Panel alternatives I have tested
| Site | Best for | Min. cashout | My rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prime Opinion | Surveys only, fast payouts | $5 or $10, by country | 4.6 / 5 |
| Survey Junkie | Easy-to-use survey site in the US, Canada, Australia and the UK | $5 | 4.4 / 5 |
| Branded Surveys | Surveys in the US, UK and Canada, paid via PayPal, bank transfer or gift cards | $5 | 4.4 / 5 |
| Swagbucks | Many daily ways to earn, one of the biggest GPT sites | About $5 PayPal; gift cards from 100 SB | 4.3 / 5 |
For more sites you can earn from regularly, see the top survey sites in your country.
How I scored Hawaii Panel
I use the same 100-point system for every platform. See how I test and rate.
Hawaii Panel scores 42 out of 100. If you want to earn extra cash, I recommend these sites instead.
See the best sites in your countryHawaii Panel FAQ
Is Hawaii Panel legit?
Yes. It pays you for answering surveys. But you usually only get around one survey per quarter.
Who can join Hawaii Panel?
Only residents of Hawaii who are at least 14 years old. To get paid via PayPal, you must be at least 18.
How does Hawaii Panel pay?
Through PayPal from 1,000 points ($10), or with a $5 Amazon gift card from 500 points.
How much does a survey pay?
Usually around 25 to 100 points. A survey that pays 500 points rarely happens.
Does Hawaii Panel have focus groups?
Yes, from time to time, online or in person. In-person focus groups and interviews are held at the office in Honolulu.
Is there a Hawaii Panel app?
No. You can use the website on a mobile browser, but it is not optimized for mobile.
Who tested Hawaii Panel for this review
If you have any comments, questions, or experiences with Hawaii Panel, I would love to hear from you in a comment below.