The number of Hawaii residents filing for bankruptcy rose to 358 in March from 357 in the same month a year earlier, according to data released today by  U.S. Bankruptcy Court.

Although bankruptcy filings have stabilized in recent months the volume of new cases is still high by historical standards. The number of new cases averaged about 80 a month before the recession hit in late 2007.

Of the cases filed in March 271 were under Chapter 7, 85 were under Chapter 13 and two were under Chapter 11. The majority of the cases, 219, were filed in Honolulu County. Maui County had 63 cases, while the Big Island had 47 cases and Kauai had 29 cases, according to the Bankruptcy Court.