Hawaii Restraining Order Laws (2026): How to Get a Protective Order

In Hawaii, victims of domestic abuse can petition Family Court for a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) followed by an Order for Protection under HRS Chapter 586. The final Order for Protection lasts for a fixed reasonable period set by the court and is renewable. Victims with no qualifying relationship may file an Injunction Against Harassment under HRS Chapter 604.

If you are in immediate danger, call 911. For confidential help 24/7, contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 (text START to 88788).

Types of restraining orders in Hawaii

Hawaii runs two civil protective-order tracks. The first, governed by HRS Chapter 586, is the Domestic Abuse Protective Order. It starts as a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) issued on an ex parte basis and, after a hearing, becomes an Order for Protection. This track covers physical harm, bodily injury, assault, the imminent threat of these acts, extreme psychological abuse, and malicious property damage between family and household members.

The second track is the Injunction Against Harassment under HRS Chapter 604. It does not require any prior relationship between the petitioner and respondent. A person who has been subjected to harassment, which in Hawaii means a course of conduct that seriously alarms or disturbs, or serves no legitimate purpose, can seek this injunction in District Court. The two tracks cover separate situations, but a victim can sometimes qualify under both if there is both a domestic relationship and a pattern of harassment.

Act 121 (2025) amended HRS Chapter 586, including the section 586-11 violation penalties, to strengthen domestic abuse protections. Courts and advocates now apply the updated provisions of Chapter 586 when processing new petitions.

Who can get a restraining order in Hawaii?

For a Domestic Abuse TRO or Order for Protection under HRS Chapter 586, the petitioner must be a family or household member of the respondent. Hawaii defines that relationship to include current and former spouses, reciprocal beneficiaries, parents and children, blood relatives, and persons related by marriage. It also covers current and former dating partners and people who currently live together or have lived together in the household, with the caveat that a purely economic roommate relationship may not qualify. The definition of domestic abuse under Chapter 586 extends to extreme psychological abuse and malicious property damage, not just physical violence.

For the Injunction Against Harassment under HRS Chapter 604, no qualifying relationship is required. Any person who has experienced harassment as defined by Hawaii law may file, regardless of whether they know the respondent or have any prior connection. Parents and legal guardians may petition on behalf of minor children in either track.

How to file for a restraining order in Hawaii

You file a petition for a Domestic Abuse TRO in Family Court, which is a division of the Circuit Court. Hawaii has Family Courts on each of its four counties: Oahu (First Circuit), Maui (Second Circuit), Hawaii Island (Third Circuit), and Kauai (Fifth Circuit). For the Injunction Against Harassment, you file in District Court in the relevant county.

Under the federal Violence Against Women Act, the court cannot charge a filing fee or service fee for a domestic-violence protective order. Bring any documentation you have of the abuse or threats, but you can file even if you have no physical evidence. Court self-help centers at each courthouse provide free forms and general guidance on completing them. Local domestic-violence advocacy organizations, such as those affiliated with the Hawaii State Coalition Against Domestic Violence, can also help you prepare and accompany you to court. Contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 if you need help finding an advocate near you.

After you file, a judge reviews your petition the same day. If the judge finds reasonable cause, the TRO is issued immediately without the respondent being present.

Temporary vs. final orders: how long they last

Hawaii's ex parte TRO under Chapter 586 has an unusually long initial duration compared to most states. The TRO remains in effect for up to 180 days after issuance. Within 15 days of the TRO being served on the respondent, the court must hold an Order to Show Cause hearing where both parties can appear and present their positions.

At that hearing, the court determines whether to issue a final Order for Protection. The final order lasts for a fixed reasonable period that the court considers appropriate to the circumstances. There is no single statewide standard duration for the final order. If a minor child is covered by the order, the court may extend it past the child's 18th birthday. Final orders are renewable.

Firearms and a Hawaii protective order

Hawaii has some of the strongest state-level firearm provisions tied to protective orders in the country. Under HRS section 134-7(f), any person subject to a Chapter 586 order must relinquish possession and control of all firearms and ammunition they own to the police department of the appropriate county for safekeeping for the duration of the order, and is prohibited from possessing or controlling a firearm regardless of whether they owned it before the order was issued. A restrained person who is the registered owner, knows the firearm's location, but refuses to surrender it or disclose its location is guilty of a separate misdemeanor. This prohibition applies from the moment the order is served and is not limited to firearms acquired after the order.

On top of the state prohibition, a qualifying final protective order triggers the federal firearm ban under 18 U.S.C. 922(g)(8). A person subject to a qualifying order may not possess any firearm or ammunition under federal law. Violation of the federal prohibition is a serious federal offense separate from any state charges for violating the order itself.

Respondents who are prohibited from possessing firearms should consult with an attorney or the court self-help center about the specific surrender procedures required in their order. The prohibition applies for the full duration of the order.

What happens if someone violates the order?

Violating an Order for Protection in Hawaii is a crime under HRS section 586-11. For a first violation against a family or household member, the law sets a mandatory minimum sentence of 5 days imprisonment and a fine between $300 and $500. A second or subsequent violation carries a mandatory minimum of 45 days imprisonment and a fine between $500 and $1,000. These figures reflect Act 121 (2025), which raised the mandatory minimums.

Police in Hawaii can arrest a person without a warrant when there is probable cause to believe the person has violated a protective order. You do not need to obtain a new court order before calling the police about a violation.

If the respondent violates your order, call 911 immediately. Document what happened, including dates, times, any witnesses, and any messages or physical evidence. Report the violation to the court that issued your order as well, so that it is in the record. Courts can hold violators in contempt of court in addition to criminal prosecution. Repeated violations can result in escalating penalties.

This article is general legal information, not legal advice, and it is not a safety plan. Protective-order rules vary by state and change. If you are in danger, call 911. For help with your specific situation, contact your local court's self-help center, a domestic-violence advocate, or a licensed attorney.

Related pages

For more background on the laws surrounding personal safety and documentation, see the main restraining orders hub for a full state-by-state comparison. If you are documenting harassment to support your petition, Hawaii's recording law page explains the rules for recording conversations in the state.

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