The state Department of Budget and Finance has returned $222,269,449 of previously unclaimed property to their rightful owners over the past five-and-a-half years.

Since July 1, 2002, the state has paid 29,810 claims to individuals and businesses, thanks to an increased effort to reunite the funds with their owners or heirs.

The state holds in safekeeping abandoned or unclaimed property like dormant savings and checking accounts, unclaimed inheritances, shares of stock, uncashed personal checks, uncashed payroll checks, deposits held by utilities, insurance and medical refunds that in most cases have remained inactive for a period of at least five years.

Interested parties can conduct an online search at www.unclaimedproperty.hawaii.gov or call the Unclaimed Property Program at 586-1589.

From the Neighbor Islands, the toll-free voice access numbers for each island for those with touch-tone phones are as follows:

Big Island: 808-974-4000

Kaua'i: 808-274-3141

Maui: 808-984-2400

Moloka'i and Lana'i: 800-468-4644

After dialing the local number, listen for a voice prompt and dial 6-1589.