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HRS §261-72

What happens to the money from selling an aircraft

When the state sells an aircraft it took into custody, the transportation department first uses the sale money to pay airport fees, auction costs, and other expenses. Any leftover money goes to the state general fund. The former owner can claim that leftover money, and lien holders get paid first.

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The statute, as written — Disposition of proceeds of sale

The department of transportation shall deposit into the airport revenue fund, that portion of the proceeds of the sale of an aircraft as shall represent the storage and other airport fees and charges due the department, the expenses of the auction, and any other expense incurred by the department in taking into custody and disposing of an aircraft. The balance, if any, shall be deposited into the general fund of the State. The owner may recover any such balance of the proceeds from the State only if the owner files a claim therefor with the department of budget and finance within five years after the execution of the bill of sale. A lien holder shall receive priority of payment from the balance of the proceeds to the extent of the lien holder's lien on the aircraft. If the proceeds of the sale are insufficient to cover the storage and other airport fees and charges, the expenses of the auction and other expenses of the department in taking into custody and disposing of the aircraft, the department of transportation may, within five years, bring an action for the deficiency in a court of appropriate jurisdiction against the person who was the owner of the aircraft at the time custody was taken by the department.
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.