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HRS §200A-14

Certificate of title does not give vessel possession rights

Having a certificate of title for a vessel does not by itself give you the right to take possession of it. Court orders against the certificate, like garnishment or attachment, cannot decide who gets the vessel. Other legal ways to enforce liens or security interests on the vessel are still allowed, and a missing lien note on the certificate does not cancel the lien.

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The statute, as written — Effect of possession of certificate of title; judicial process

Possession of a certificate of title shall not by itself provide a right to obtain possession of a vessel. Garnishment, attachment, levy, replevin, or other judicial process against the certificate shall not be effective to determine possessory rights to the vessel. This chapter shall not prohibit enforcement under the law of this State other than this chapter of a security interest in, levy on, or foreclosure of a statutory or common-law lien on a vessel. Absence of an indication of a statutory or common-law lien on a certificate shall not invalidate the lien.
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.