At Consumer Credit Counseling Service of Hawaii business is booming, especially when it comes to providing the mandatory financial counseling that's required before someone can file for bankruptcy.

That's been increasing and figures to rise even more this year, says Wendy Burkholder, head of the agency that provides advice and counseling on how to handle debt problems.

Bankruptcy filings have increased 58% in the first five months of 2007 compared to the same period last year, according to a research company that tracks federal bankruptcy data. And the states with the highest per-capita filings were all in the South or Midwest, the data shows.