Hawaii Laws
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Are Autopsy Reports Public in Hawaii? (2026 Guide)
Hawaii autopsy reports are public records under the UIPA, but privacy redactions apply. Learn who can request a report, the fee, and how to get one in 2026.
Are Brass Knuckles Legal in Hawaii? (2026 Metal Knuckles Law)
Carrying metal knuckles concealed in Hawaii is a misdemeanor under HRS 134-51. Having them during another crime is a class C felony, up to five years.
Are Magic Mushrooms Legal in Hawaii? Psilocybin Laws (2026)
Psilocybin is Schedule I in Hawaii, and possessing any amount is a class C felony under HRS 712-1243. Hawaii has no psilocybin therapy program.
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Bankruptcy in Hawaii (2026): Exemptions & Means Test
Hawaii lets filers choose state or federal exemptions. The state homestead protects up to $30,000 for heads of family or seniors, or $20,000 for others, plus the means test.
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Common Law Marriage in Hawaii: Is It Recognized? (2026)
Hawaii has never recognized common law marriage formation. H.R.S. § 572-1 requires a license and ceremony. Hawaii does recognize valid common law marriages formed in states that permit them.
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Does Hawaii Have an Age Verification Law? (2026 Update)
Hawaii has not enacted an age-verification law for adult websites. House Bill 1212 was carried over to a second session but never got a floor vote.
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Hawaii Adoption Records: Family Court Access to the OBC
Hawaii adult adoptees request adoption records directly from family court under HRS 578-15, using Form 1F-P-767, without showing good cause.
Hawaii Age of Consent Laws: Statutes, Penalties and Reporting
How Hawaii criminal law protects minors by age, with sexual assault degrees for under 14, ages 14 to 15 and professional-capacity offenses, penalties and reporting.
Hawaii AI Laws and Regulation (2026)
Guide to Hawaii AI laws, regulation, and legislation covering deepfakes, employment AI, healthcare AI, and more.
Hawaii AI Meeting Recording Laws (2026)
Learn how Hawaii consent laws apply to AI meeting recorders. One-party consent rules, penalties, and compliance.
Hawaii Annulment Laws: Grounds, Deadlines and How to File (2026)
Hawaii annulment law under HRS 580-21: the six grounds, who may file, the two-year physical incapacity limit, cohabitation bars and the 3-month residency rule.
Hawaii Assault Laws: First, Second and Third Degree Penalties
Hawaii has no battery crime: assault is graded in three degrees by injury and victim. See felony lines, protected workers and family abuse penalties.
Hawaii At-Will Employment Laws: Exceptions and Your Rights
Hawaii is an at-will employment state with public-policy and implied-contract exceptions. Learn what protections apply and when a firing may be illegal.
Hawaii Audio Recording Laws: One-Party Consent Rules and Penalties
Hawaii audio recording laws allow one-party consent under HRS 803-42. Learn when you can legally record conversations, the private places exception, and penalties.
Hawaii Background Check Laws (2026 Guide)
Hawaii background check laws: Ban the Box, lookback periods, Clean Slate, employer and housing checks.
Hawaii Biometric Privacy Laws: Collection, Consent & Penalties (2026)
Hawaii covers biometric data through its breach notification law (HRS Ch. 487N) and constitutional privacy rights. Learn what fingerprint, voiceprint, and iris data protections apply.
Hawaii Birth Certificate: How to Order, Fees and Who Can Get One
The Hawaii Department of Health charges $10 for a certified birth certificate plus a $2.50 administration fee. Order online or by mail, or pick up in Honolulu.
Hawaii Car Accident Laws: No-Fault, PIP, and Your Claim
Hawaii is a no-fault state with mandatory PIP and a $5,000 or serious-injury threshold to sue for pain and suffering. Learn the 40/80/20 limits, 2-year SOL, and comparative negligence rule.
Hawaii Car Seat Laws (2026): Age, Weight & Penalty Rules
Hawaii requires rear-facing seats until age 2 and a booster or harness until age 10, with fines from $100 to $800. See 2026 penalties, exemptions, and stages.
Hawaii Child Custody Laws: Types, Best Interests, and Your Rights
Hawaii decides custody by the best interests of the child under HRS 571-46. Learn the 16 factors, joint custody rules, relocation rights, and how to modify an order.
Hawaii Child Support Laws (2026): Guidelines & Calculator
Hawaii uses the Melson Formula for child support. 2024 guidelines: $91 minimum, $1,693 self-support amount. Learn how courts calculate, modify, and enforce orders.
Hawaii Court Records: How to Search eCourt Kokua and How Sealing Works
Hawaii runs one statewide court records search, eCourt Kokua. Learn what it covers, its limits, and how sealing a Hawaii case record works.
Hawaii Dashcam Laws: Recording Rules, Audio Consent, and Legal Limits (2026)
Hawaii dashcam laws allow video and audio recording under one-party consent (HRS 803-42). Learn windshield rules, privacy limits in private places, and penalties.
Hawaii Data Breach Notification Laws: Reporting Rules & Timelines (2026)
Hawaii requires breach notification without unreasonable delay under HRS 487N. Learn about penalties up to $2,500, private right of action, and what triggers notice.
Hawaii Data Privacy Laws: Constitutional Privacy & Consumer Rights (2026)
Guide to Hawaii data privacy laws including constitutional privacy rights, data breach notification under HRS 487N, SSN protections, and 2026 legislative updates.
Hawaii Death Records: Are They Public + How to Get Them
Hawaii is a closed-record state. Only those with a direct and tangible interest can get a certified death certificate; records open to the public after 115 years. Fee is $10.
Hawaii Debt Collection Laws: The Bracket Garnishment Formula, 6-Year Debt Limit, and Repossession
Hawaii debt collection laws: the unique 5-10-20 percent garnishment brackets, the most-favorable-calculation rule, the 6-year debt deadline, and repossession.
Hawaii Deepfake Laws: AI Images, Voice Cloning & Penalties (2026)
Hawaii enacted a criminal deepfake NCII law in 2021 (HRS 711-1110.9, class C felony). Its 2024 election deepfake law was struck down in January 2026. A broad 2026 AI deepfake bill (HB 2137) awaits the governor's signature.
Hawaii Defamation Laws: Libel, Slander & Suing (2026)
Hawaii defamation laws: a 2-year deadline (HRS 657-4), the strong 2022 anti-SLAPP law (HRS 634G), defamation per se, damages, and how to sue.
Hawaii Divorce Laws (2026): Grounds, Residency, and Process
Hawaii divorce laws explained: no-fault irretrievably broken ground, domicile-based residency, no waiting period, and equitable distribution of marital property.
Hawaii Dog Bite Laws: Liability and Victim Rights
Learn about Hawaii dog bite laws, liability under HRS 663-9, Act 224 criminal penalties, the 2-year statute of limitations, and victim rights.
Hawaii Drone Laws 2026: Trespass, Privacy & Warrants
Hawaii bans flying a drone within 50 feet of a home to harass someone under HRS Section 711-1125 (renumbered from 711-1114), and criminalizes drone surveillance of private places.
Hawaii E-Scooter Laws: Sidewalk, Helmet & Age Rules (2026)
Hawaii's e-scooter helmet age just moved from under-16 to under-18 under Act 259, signed July 15, 2026. The minimum age to ride is 15, and the statewide speed cap is 15 mph.
Hawaii Easements, Landlocked Property and Eminent Domain (2026)
Hawaii prescriptive easements generally take 20 years and cannot cross Land Court land. Learn landlocked access rules and HRS chapter 101 condemnation deadlines.
Hawaii Emancipation Laws: How to Get Emancipated in Hawaii (2026)
Learn how to get emancipated in Hawaii under HRS section 577-25. Covers petition requirements, minimum age (16), family court process, what rights emancipation grants, and what it does not (voting, alcohol).
Hawaii Embezzlement and Forgery Laws: Theft Degrees and Penalties
Hawaii treats embezzlement as theft under HRS 708-830, generally a class C felony above $750 and class B above $20,000. Forgery is graded by instrument.
Hawaii Employee Monitoring Laws: Employer Rules (2026)
Hawaii bars employers from taking employee social media passwords under Haw. Rev. Stat. § 487G-3. See how HRS 803-42 governs the rest of workplace monitoring.
Hawaii Expungement Laws: Haw. Rev. Stat. § 831-3.2 and the HCJDC Process
Hawaii expungement under Haw. Rev. Stat. § 831-3.2 covers arrests without conviction and deferred-plea dismissals. Learn eligibility, fees, the HCJDC application, and what Hawaii does not expunge.
Hawaii Felony Classes and Misdemeanor Penalties (2026)
Hawaii grades crimes as class A, B and C felonies, misdemeanors and petty misdemeanors. See prison terms, fines, probation and the 2026 changes.
Hawaii Final Paycheck Laws: Deadlines and Criminal Penalties
Hawaii requires final wages at discharge, or next payday after quitting, backed by civil penalties and a criminal felony charge. Full breakdown with citations.
Hawaii Fireworks Laws (2026): Permits, Use Windows, and Penalties
Hawaii requires a license or permit for every fireworks category (Haw. Rev. Stat. § 132D-7), plus fixed windows and a purchase permit for consumer fireworks.
Hawaii GPS Tracking Laws: Is It Legal to Put a Tracker on a Car? (2026)
Hawaii's wiretap law makes GPS tracking without owner consent a Class C felony with up to 5 years under HRS 803-42. See who can legally track a car.
Hawaii Grandparents' Rights: Two Visitation Statutes Explained
Hawaii has two grandparent visitation routes with different standards. What each requires, and what the law does not say about adoption.
Hawaii Guardianship Laws: Minors, Adults and Conservators (2026)
How Hawaii guardianship works under HRS chapter 560: clear and convincing proof, the kokua kanawai, parent-named guardians, conservators and alternatives.
Hawaii Hit and Run Laws: Penalties and What to Do
Learn Hawaii hit and run laws under HRS 291C-12: penalty tiers from misdemeanor to Class B felony, neurotrauma surcharges, and no-fault insurance rules.
Hawaii Homestead Exemption: County Home Exemptions and Deadlines
Hawaii has no state homestead exemption; each county sets its own. See Honolulu, Maui and Kauai home exemption amounts, who is eligible and claim deadlines.
Hawaii Identity Theft Laws: Three Degrees, Felony Classes, and Reporting
Hawaii's identity theft law splits into three degrees by the severity of the underlying crime, from a Class A felony down to a Class C felony.
Hawaii Jury Duty Laws: $50 Pay, Exemptions and Employer Rules
Hawaii now pays jurors $50 a day under Act 126 of 2026. See who can serve, optional exemptions including age 80, employer protections and what happens if you miss.
Hawaii Knife Laws (2026): Switchblade and Butterfly Rules
Hawaii bans concealed carry of a dirk, switchblade, or butterfly knife, not open carry or ownership. See the exact statutes, defenses, and penalties.
Hawaii Landlord-Tenant Laws (2026): Deposits, Notice, and Tenant Rights
Hawaii caps security deposits at 1 month's rent and requires return within 14 days. Learn entry notice, lease termination rules, and tenant rights under HRS ch. 521.
Hawaii Landlord-Tenant Recording Laws: Surveillance and Privacy Rights
Hawaii landlord-tenant recording laws protect tenant privacy in rental units under HRS 711-1111. Learn rules for security cameras, recording disputes, and landlord entry.
Hawaii Laws on Recording in Public: Your Rights in Public Spaces
Hawaii law allows recording in public spaces where there is no expectation of privacy. Learn rules for beaches, parks, streets, government meetings, and protests.
Hawaii Laws on Recording Police: Your Rights Under Act 164
Hawaii Act 164 (2016) explicitly protects your right to record police officers in public. Learn the rules, limitations, and what officers can and cannot do.
Hawaii Lemon Law (2026): How to Qualify & Get a Refund
Hawaii's lemon law (HRS 481I) covers new vehicles with 3+ repair attempts or 30+ business days out of service within 2 years/24,000 miles. Manufacturer chooses refund or replacement.
Hawaii License Plate Reader Laws (2026)
Hawaii has no dedicated ALPR statute. Act 212 of 2025 exempts plate readers from its facial-recognition ban; what we could and could not verify.
Hawaii Manslaughter and Negligent Homicide Laws (2026)
Hawaii manslaughter (HRS 707-702) is a class A felony: up to 20 years, or an extended life term. See the EMED defense and negligent homicide for DUI deaths.
Hawaii Marriage and Divorce Records: 2026 Rules for Getting a Copy
Since February 1, 2026 Hawaii DOH no longer keeps divorce records. Divorce copies now come from Family Court. Marriage copies need a direct, tangible interest.
Hawaii Marriage License Requirements 2026: $65 Fee, No Waiting Period
How to get a Hawaii marriage license in 2026: apply online, meet a Department of Health agent together, pay $65, and marry within 30 days. Age and officiant rules.
Hawaii Medical Recording Laws: Patient Rights, HIPAA, and Consent Rules (2026)
Hawaii medical recording laws allow patients to record doctor visits under one-party consent (HRS 803-42). Learn HIPAA rules, privacy in private places, and telehealth recording.
Hawaii Medical Records Retention Laws (2026 Guide)
Hawaii medical records retention laws: how long hospitals and doctors keep your records, HIPAA rules, and patient rights.