Abortion in Hawaii is safe and legal

And it’s a basic health care need for millions of people who can become pregnant. In fact, about 1 in 4 people with a uterus will have at least one abortion in their lifetime. 

Right now, you can have an abortion for any reason in Hawaii until fetal viability, which is the stage of pregnancy when a fetus has developed enough that it is able to survive outside the uterus without extreme medical help. It usually happens around 24 to 26 weeks of pregnancy, but is determined by a physician on a case-to-case basis. You can also have an abortion in Hawaii at any time to protect your life or health. 

For pregnancies up to 10 weeks, you can get abortion pills delivered in Hawaii through Hey Jane, a virtual abortion clinic and sexual health care provider. We’re proud to have expanded access in Hawaii, providing safe abortion care to thousands of people without the need to travel for in-clinic visits. 

Care with Hey Jane includes:

• Consultations for safe, FDA-approved abortion pills within 1 business day
• Virtual care from the comfort and convenience of your phone
• Judgment-free support from our expert care team
• Fast delivery to your home or PO box in discreet, unmarked packaging
• Care that’s less than in-clinic costs through
  • Income-based sliding scale pricing
  • Insurance coverage
  • Financial assistance from our abortion fund partners

Find out more about how abortion treatment with Hey Jane works here, including our sliding-scale pricing, insurance partners, and abortion funds that can help pay for treatment, if eligible. 

How to get abortion pills delivered in Hawaii

Hey Jane is the leading provider of at-home abortion care in the US. We offer abortion pills for people who are at least 18 years old and are up to 10 weeks pregnant. 

How Hey Jane Works

Step 1: After completing our secure intake process online, you’ll be connected with one of our licensed medical providers.

Step 2: If they determine you’re eligible for treatment, you’ll receive your abortion pills within a few days in discreet packaging, plus anti-nausea medication and ibuprofen to help with any side effects. 

Step 3: You’ll have access to our expert and compassionate clinical care team for medical and emotional support along the way. 

At Hey Jane, we believe in providing private abortion care with holistic medical, emotional, and community support. We determine patient eligibility based on the gestational age of the pregnancy and the person’s medical history. To find out if you’re eligible, fill out our secure, online form. 

If you’re eligible, our clinical care team will guide you through the process to receive FDA-approved abortion pills. Our fast turnaround times ensure the medications are delivered quickly to your door, including the option of next-day shipping. We offer ongoing support from our clinical care team, 24/7 phone support for urgent medical needs, a peer-to-peer community forum, and helpful resources. We partner with abortion funds to provide financial assistance. 

Want to see if you’re eligible? 

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Who can get abortion pills with Hey Jane in Hawaii? 

To receive medication abortion care with Hey Jane, you must be 18 or older, up to 10 weeks pregnant, and medically eligible. 

Hey Jane provides care regardless of immigration status and supports all pregnant people, including all gender identities. You do not have to be a resident of Hawaii to receive care from Hey Jane in the state. You can also travel to Hawaii to complete your consultation and take your abortion medication.

See if you’re eligible for Hey Jane here.

Why Hawaiians need better abortion access 

Hawaii was the first state to legalize abortion in 1970 before Roe v Wade, and the state continues to protect abortion access. However, just because abortion is legal in Hawaii doesn’t mean it’s always accessible. In some parts of Hawaii, you may need to fly to another island to get to the nearest in-state clinic. This requires time, including taking time off from work or school, access to transportation, and additional expenses, like gas, taxi fare, child care, and overnight accommodations. Given that 24% of women aged 15-49 in Hawaii have incomes below 200% of the federal poverty level, this makes the cost of getting an abortion nearly impossible for a majority of people who need one. 

At Hey Jane, we believe that no one in Hawaii should have to board a plane or travel long distances to get the reproductive and sexual health care they need.

While Hawaii is focused on supporting, protecting, and expanding abortion access, there are still a number of factors that make it difficult for people in the state to receive abortion care quickly and locally. 

As of April 2024, there are only seven publicly listed in-person clinics in Hawaii, which is less than the number of fake clinics (also known as crisis pregnancy centers) across the state.  

There are also “contraceptive deserts” in Hawaii, with over 60,000 people in need living in counties that lack reasonable access to a full range of contraception methods.

Undoubtedly, there’s more that can be doneto improve abortion access in Hawaii. At Hey Jane, we’re proud to offer comprehensive reproductive and sexual health services, including abortion, to people in Hawaii from the comfort of their homes.

Abortion pills are safe and highly effective

Abortion pills are very safe. Complications from this treatment are very uncommon— they occur in less than 1% of patients. When used correctly, the medications work up to 99.6% of the time.

Getting a medication abortion does not lower your chances of getting or staying pregnant in the future; it does not cause infertility or cause birth defects in a future pregnancy. In fact, you can get pregnant almost immediately after having an abortion.

That’s not all:

• The abortion pill is safer than Tylenol (acetaminophen)
• The abortion pill is safer than Viagra (sildenafil)

Despite myths that say otherwise, having an abortion does not increase your risk for breast cancer and does not cause depression.

What to expect after taking abortion pills

Medication #1: Mifepristone

Mifepristone blocks progesterone, the hormone that’s needed for a pregnancy to develop. Most people don’t experience any side effects and feel totally fine after taking this.

Medication #2: Misoprostol

You can choose to take the pills in your vagina or in your cheeks for Step 2. Our treatment guide goes over how to take them both ways — choose the one you prefer. The medicine works equally well either way but can cause more nausea when taken in your cheeks.

If you decide to dissolve them in your cheeks, you can take them any time between 24-48 hrs after Step 1, as best fits your schedule. If you decide that vaginal misoprostol is a good fit for you, you can take them vaginally right after taking Step 1, or up until 72 hrs after Step 1. Please know that the pills don’t always completely dissolve in the vagina, and sometimes small pill pieces can remain in the vagina or even fall out - this is ok, it doesn’t mean the medication didn’t work. This is important to know if you need to go to a hospital or care provider after taking the medication and plan to keep the abortion confidential. There is no test a doctor/health care provider can do to tell if you’ve taken medication to end a pregnancy unless they see pill fragments or pieces in the vagina.

Misoprostol is the medication that causes uterine cramping and bleeding and the cervix to open, which helps to pass the pregnancy, similar to an early miscarriage. Heavy bleeding and cramping are expected within about 4-6 hours of taking the medication. Taking ibuprofen (or, for people who are allergic, Tylenol Extra-Strength) and anti-nausea medication 30 minutes before using misoprostol can help. Depending on how many weeks pregnant someone is, they may take an additional dose of misoprostol to ensure that treatment is successful. Hey Jane’s medical providers let patients know what would be best for them.

Having some of these items on hand can help you manage the symptoms during an abortion:

• 800 mg ibuprofen or Tylenol Extra-Strength (included for all Hey Jane patients)
• Hot water or heating pad
• Warm tea or soup
• Anti-nausea medication (Hey Jane patients also receive this)
• If you have access to a support person, than can also be very helpful

Ready to start? Consult with a Hey Jane provider now.

If you still have questions or need additional help, check out our resource center or FAQs for answers to commonly asked questions.

How much does an abortion in Hawaii cost?

The cost of  abortion pills can vary depending on where you get them and whether or not you use insurance. According to ANSIRH, the median cost of a medication abortion in Hawaii in 2021 was $850, the highest median cost in the country and almost 50% higher than the national average.

However, the cost of  abortion pills in Hawaii may be lower with insurance or through a virtual provider like Hey Jane.

According to ANSIRH, the median cost of procedural abortion services during the first trimester in Hawaii in 2021 was $950, the third highest in the country. 

Procedural abortions are generally more expensive than medication abortions, and in-clinic medication abortions are generally more expensive than telehealth medication abortions. But cost is not the only consideration, and patients should consider all relevant factors when choosing what's best for them.

At Hey Jane, we offer income-based sliding scale pricing, accept select insurance providers, and partner with national and state-level abortion funds to help people access care. 

Curious about the cost of abortion in other states? Check out our other state guides here.

How to find an abortion clinic in Hawaii

If you’re more than 10 weeks pregnant or prefer to get an abortion in person, there are some factors to keep in mind when searching for the right abortion clinic.  

1. First, calculate how far along you are in your pregnancy. Some clinics only offer abortion procedures up until a certain gestational age, so you’ll want to call to confirm that you’re eligible before scheduling. You may also want to consider the cost of an abortion in Hawaii, which is different for medication versus procedural. INeedAnA.com is a great resource for finding abortion clinics. If you need help or financial support, here are some great resources.
2. Beware of fake clinics! When searching for clinics online, use caution. You’ll want to avoid scheduling with a fake clinic, sometimes called a “crisis pregnancy center,” a type of organization that often appears clinical online and in-person, but are generally not medical clinics and are funded by anti-choice organizations aimed at preventing pregnant people from accessing abortion care. Horrible, we know. INeedAnA.com has a helpful search tool for locating real abortion clinics

How to get financial assistance 

Cost should never prevent someone from getting an abortion that they need, which is why we offer different payment options. We use income-based sliding scale pricing, accept HSA/FSA cards, and partner with select insurance plans (with more plans coming soon).

We also partner with abortion funds that can provide support for eligible patients. Abortion funds can cover the full or partial cost of treatment. Learn more about abortion funds and how they might be able to help you get the care you need.

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Last updated May 13, 2024