HRS §143-13
When animal control can put down a sick or dangerous dog
This section says that if animal control takes a dog and the dog is too old, sick, or dangerous to keep in the pound, the animal control officer can humanely kill it right away. It does not require a waiting period or a court order.
The statute, as written — Destruction of diseased or unfit dogs
All dogs taken into the custody of the animal control officer which by reason of age, disease, or other causes, are unfit for further use or are dangerous to keep impounded, may be forthwith humanely destroyed by the animal control officer.
LawTrove is not legal advice. The summary above is a computer-generated restatement — the authoritative text is the official version linked above.