Missed Court in Hawaii: What Happens Next

What Hawaii law says can follow a missed court date: whether it is a separate crime, the driver’s license rule for traffic cases, what happens to bail, and the court’s own next steps. It runs in your browser and nothing is stored.

What kind of case was the court date for?
How was the person released before the date?

Pick the state, the kind of case and how the person was released to see what that state’s law says.

Hawaii failure to appear law

In Hawaii, missing a required court date after release can be charged as its own crime. The statute grades it by the kind of case:

  • Released on a felony charge: class C felony. Knowingly failing to appear after release on a felony charge is bail jumping in the first degree, a class C felony. (HRS § 710-1024)
    Bail jumping in the first degree is a class C felony.
  • Released on a misdemeanor charge: misdemeanor. Knowingly failing to appear after release on a misdemeanor or petty misdemeanor charge is bail jumping in the second degree, a misdemeanor. (HRS § 710-1025)
    the person knowingly fails to appear as ordered. (2) Bail jumping in the second degree is a misdemeanor.

The statute’s mental-state words are “knowingly”, so the reason the date was missed can matter.

When a date is missed, the court’s order is called a penal summons or bench warrant (Hawaii State Judiciary, Tips on Going to Court).

Driver’s license after a missed traffic date in Hawaii

For traffic infractions the court may not order the license or vehicle registration withheld for an unpaid judgment; no license hold for missing a criminal traffic date was confirmed at an official source, so ask the court clerk. (HRS § 291D-12(b))

shall not order the director of finance to withhold issuing or renewing the driver's license, or registering, renewing the registration of, or issuing the title to a motor vehicle, of any person who has not paid a monetary assessment, has not performed community service in lieu thereof, or has not otherwise satisfied a judgment for the State entered pursuant to this chapter.

Note: Amended by Act 243 (2025).

Bail and bonds after a missed date in Hawaii

After a forfeiture judgment, execution issues unless a motion showing good cause is filed within 30 days of the notice to the surety. (HRS § 804-51)

Window to ask the court to set the forfeiture aside: 30 days from notice of the forfeiture judgment.

To compare what posting bail costs in Hawaii, see the Hawaii bail bond calculator.

How to deal with a missed date in Hawaii

Only the court that set the date can recall a warrant or give a new date. Contact that court’s clerk, or the lawyer or public defender on the case, who can ask the court to recall or quash the warrant.

What this page does not do

  • It does not check whether a warrant was issued in any case or whether anyone will be arrested.
  • Whether a separate failure-to-appear charge is filed is the prosecutor’s decision; what happens to bail is the court’s.
  • It collects nothing; your choices stay in your browser.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is failure to appear a crime in Hawaii?

Yes. Released on a felony charge: class C felony under HRS § 710-1024; Released on a misdemeanor charge: misdemeanor under HRS § 710-1025.

Is missing court a felony in Hawaii?

In some cases. released on a felony charge: class C felony under HRS § 710-1024. Otherwise: released on a misdemeanor charge: misdemeanor under HRS § 710-1025.

Will Hawaii suspend my license for missing a traffic court date?

For traffic infractions the court may not order the license or vehicle registration withheld for an unpaid judgment; no license hold for missing a criminal traffic date was confirmed at an official source, so ask the court clerk. The rule is in HRS § 291D-12(b).

Sources

Checked against the sources above on October 20, 2026.

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