Understanding the Tax Map Key (TMK) System in Hawaii

James T. Morrison, R(S)

Wondering what those numbers are when you look up your property? Those are the TMK numbers! Find out what they're for.

Hawaii's TMK System Explained

If you’re looking to buy or sell property in Hawaii, you’ll quickly come across a unique identifier that’s used to pinpoint the exact location of each parcel of land: the Tax Map Key (TMK) system. In this guide, we’ll take a closer look at how the TMK system works in Hawaii, and why it’s so important for anyone involved in real estate transactions.

Here is an example of a TMK number, and the cooresponding meaning for each number.

3 – 2 – 7 – 55 – 33 – 106
ISLAND – ZONE- SECTION – PLAT – PARCEL – CPR

The Hawaii TMK (Tax Map Key) numbers are made up of six segments that provide specific information about the property. Here are the different parts of the Hawaii TMK numbers:

Island: The first segment identifies which island the property is located on. There are four major islands in Hawaii, and each one is assigned a number: Oahu is 1, Maui (including Molokai and Lanai) is 2, Hawaii (Big Island) is 3, and Kauai is 4.
Zone: The second segment refers to the district or zone within the island. There are nine zones on each island, each with a unique name.
Section: The third segment divides each zone into nine sections, typically numbered in a clockwise direction in each zone.
Plat: The fourth segment identifies the plat number, which refers to a specific area within the section.
Parcel: The fifth segment refers to the parcel number, which identifies a specific piece of land within the plat.
CPR: The sixth and final segment is only used for condominium properties. It designates a specific unit within the complex and stands for “condominium property regime”.

When combined, these six segments create a unique identifier for each property in Hawaii. The TMK number is used by government agencies, real estate professionals, and property owners to identify and track ownership, facilitate property transactions, and calculate property taxes.

Image Map with Overlay

First things first: what is a TMK?

A TMK is a multi-digit code that’s assigned to each piece of real estate in Hawaii. It’s used by the state government to keep track of property ownership and taxation, and it’s also a key reference point for anyone looking to locate a specific property.

So, how does the TMK system work?

The TMK is made up of six segments: Island, Zone, Section, Plat, Parcel, and CPR. Each segment provides specific information about the property, and when combined, they create a unique identifier that’s used to locate the property on a map.

TMK Glossary

Zone: One of the nine districts within Hawaii County, numbered from 1 to 9. Each zone corresponds to a specific area on the map.
Section: A subdivision of each zone, numbered from 1 to 9, typically in a clockwise direction within each zone.
Plat: A designated area within a section, identified by a three-digit number.
Parcel: A specific piece of land within a plat, identified by a three-digit number.
Condominium Property Regime (CPR): A legal framework used for the development and management of condominiums, which allows for individual ownership of units within a larger building or complex.
Island: Each of the four major islands in Hawaii has a corresponding number in the TMK system. Oahu is 1, Maui (with Molokai and Lanai) is 2, Hawaii (Big Island) is 3, and Kauai is 4.
Address: A unique combination of numbers and street names used to identify a specific property location. The first two digits of a street address in Hawaii correspond to the zone and section of the TMK for that parcel.
Real Estate: Property consisting of land or buildings, or both, including natural resources such as water, crops, minerals, or other immovable property.

Let's break down each segment in more detail:

Island: The first segment of the TMK identifies which island the property is located on. For example, the Big Island is designated as Island 3.
Zone: The second segment refers to the district or zone within the island. There are nine zones on each island, each with a unique name. For example, Zone 7 on the Big Island is known as the North Kona district.
Section: The third segment divides each zone into nine sections. These are typically numbered in a clockwise direction in each zone.
Plat: The fourth segment identifies the plat number, which refers to a specific area within the section.
Parcel: The fifth segment refers to the parcel number, which identifies a specific piece of land within the plat.
CPR: The sixth and final segment is only used for condominium properties. It designates a specific unit within the complex and stands for “condominium property regime”.

How its used

Now that you understand how the TMK system works, let’s take a closer look at how it’s used in practice.

When you’re looking to buy or sell property in Hawaii, the TMK is an essential reference point. It’s often more important than the property’s address, as it provides a more precise location and can be used to verify ownership and tax information. You’ll typically find the TMK listed on property tax statements, and it’s also used in real estate listings and legal documents.

It’s worth noting that the TMK system is different from the Volcanic Lava Hazard Zones in Hawaii, which are used to identify areas that may be at risk of volcanic activity. So, if you’re buying property in Hawaii, it’s important to understand both systems to get a complete picture of the property’s location and potential risks.

Address Numbers

The TMK system is not only used for identifying the location of a property in Hawaii, but it also helps in translating a traditional street address. The first two digits of a street address correspond to the zone and section of the TMK for that parcel. So, if an address has the numbers 74-4909, it means that the property is located in zone 7, section 4.

This system can also be used to conveniently narrow down real estate searches. For instance, if a client wants to live in the northern part of the North Kona district, they can specify TMKs in the range of 3-7-1 to 3-7-4.

Once a person becomes a property owner in Hawaii, their TMK is used for all government-related entities such as property taxes, building permits, and legal matters like survey and easements. It is also used in real estate contracts when the owner decides to sell their property. Therefore, many people tend to memorize their TMK along with their street address to ensure a smooth transaction when dealing with government agencies or selling their property.

An amazing tool

The TMK system is useful for several reasons. First, it allows the state government to keep track of property ownership and taxation. By assigning a unique code to each property, the government can easily identify the owner and assess property taxes. This ensures that property taxes are assessed fairly and accurately, and helps to prevent fraud or errors in tax assessments.

Second, the TMK system is a key reference point for anyone looking to locate a specific property. By using the TMK code, you can easily identify the location of a property, even if you don’t have a specific street address. This can be especially useful in rural areas or undeveloped land, where street addresses may not be available or accurate.

Third, the TMK system can be a valuable tool for real estate professionals and home buyers. Real estate agents can use the TMK code to quickly locate properties that match their clients’ criteria, such as location, size, and price range. Home buyers can also use the TMK code to narrow their search and find properties that meet their needs.

Finally, the TMK system is important for legal and surveying purposes. The TMK code is used in legal documents, such as deeds and real estate contracts, to identify the property being transferred. It is also used in surveys and other land-related documents to ensure accuracy and avoid confusion.

In summary, the TMK system is a vital part of Hawaii’s real estate industry, providing an efficient and accurate way to identify and locate properties, track ownership and taxation, and facilitate legal and surveying activities.

TMK History

The TMK (Tax Map Key) system in Hawaii was established in the 1950s by the Hawaii Department of Taxation. Prior to the creation of the TMK system, property in Hawaii was identified by a system of metes and bounds descriptions, which made it difficult to track and manage property ownership.

The TMK system was designed to simplify property identification and taxation in Hawaii. It uses a unique identification number for each property, which is assigned based on its location on a tax map. The number is used to identify and track property ownership and to calculate property taxes.

The Hawaii Department of Taxation worked with other state and county agencies to create the TMK system, which was first implemented in the City and County of Honolulu in 1959. The system was gradually expanded to the other counties in Hawaii over the following decades.

Today, the TMK system is an essential tool for property owners, real estate professionals, and government agencies in Hawaii. It provides a standardized way of identifying and tracking property ownership and is used for a wide range of purposes, including property taxation, land use planning, and real estate transactions.

What is a CPR?

The last numbers in the TMK (Tax Map Key) number system in Hawaii depend on whether the property is a condominium or not. If the property is not a condominium, the last two segments of the TMK number are the Plat and Parcel numbers, which identify a specific area within a section and a specific piece of land within the plat, respectively.

However, if the property is a condominium, there is an additional segment added to the TMK number. The sixth segment is the CPR (Condominium Property Regime) number, which designates a specific unit within the complex. The CPR number is used to identify individual units within a condominium, and it is important for legal and administrative purposes.

For example, a TMK number for a non-condominium property might look like this: 3-7-4-012-056-0000, where 012 is the Plat number and 056 is the Parcel number.

On the other hand, a TMK number for a condominium property might look like this: 1-2-3-123-456-7890, where 7890 is the CPR number that designates a specific unit within the complex.

Overall, the TMK number system in Hawaii provides a standardized and efficient way to identify and track properties, and the inclusion of CPR numbers for condominium properties ensures that individual units can be easily identified within a larger complex.

CPR... Why is it called a "Condo Property Regime"?

The term “condominium property regime” (CPR) is a legal term used in Hawaii to describe the way condominium properties are owned and managed. In Hawaii, a condominium is a form of property ownership in which each unit owner has exclusive ownership of their individual unit and joint ownership of the common areas of the property, such as the land, building, and amenities.

The term “regime” in CPR refers to the rules and regulations that govern the operation and management of the condominium property. The regime is established by a set of legal documents, including the declaration of condominium property regime, bylaws, and house rules. These documents set out the rights and responsibilities of the unit owners, the management of the property, and the use and maintenance of the common areas.

The CPR system was established in Hawaii in the 1960s when the first modern condominiums were built in the state. The CPR system has since been adopted in other states, and it has become a common way of owning and managing multi-unit properties. The term “condominium property regime” is unique to Hawaii and is used instead of “condominium association” or “homeowners association,” which are more commonly used in other parts of the country.