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HRS §200-53

Selling or getting rid of an abandoned vessel

If a vessel is abandoned, the person in charge of the repair shop, marina, yacht club, or other private property can sell it or get rid of it after putting a public notice in a newspaper. They must wait at least five days after the notice before selling or disposing of it. After that, they must file a sworn statement with the department saying who bought it or how it was disposed of.

businesseslandowners

The statute, as written — Sale or disposition of vessel

When a vessel is abandoned, the owner of the vessel repair business or private marina, or the owner's authorized representative; the designated representative of the yacht club; or the owner of other private property, after one public advertisement in a newspaper of general circulation in the State, may negotiate a sale of the vessel or dispose of it; provided that the vessel shall not be sold or disposed of less than five calendar days after the publication of the advertisement. Upon the sale or disposal of the vessel under this part, the owner of the vessel repair business or private marina, or the owner's authorized representative; the designated representative of the yacht club; or the owner of other private property, shall file an affidavit with the department stating to whom the vessel was sold or, if the vessel was not sold, the manner in which the vessel was disposed of pursuant to this part.
Read the official text at capitol.hawaii.gov ↗as published Jan 6, 2026our copy taken Aug 20, 2026

LawTrove is not legal advice. The summary above is a computer-generated restatement — the authoritative text is the official version linked above.