← Back to search

HRS §414-242

When a company can pay a director's legal costs

This section explains when a corporation may pay a director's legal costs and other liabilities from a lawsuit. It allows payment if the director acted in good faith and believed their actions were in the company's best interest. It also says a company cannot pay for certain cases, like when a director got an improper financial benefit.

The statute, as written — Permissible indemnification

(a) Except as otherwise provided in this section, a corporation may indemnify an individual who is a party to a proceeding because the individual is a director against liability incurred in the proceeding if: (1) (A) The individual conducted the individual's self in good faith; and (B) The individual reasonably believed: (i) In the case of conduct of official capacity, that the individual's conduct was in the best interests of the corporation; and (ii) In all other cases, that the individual's conduct was at least not opposed to the best interests of the corporation; and (C) In the case of any criminal proceeding, the individual had no reasonable cause to believe the individual's conduct was unlawful; or (2) The individual engaged in conduct for which broader indemnification has been made permissible or obligatory under a provision of the articles of incorporation (as authorized by section 414-32(b)(5)). (b) A director's conduct with respect to an employee benefit plan for a purpose the director reasonably believed to be in the interests of the participants in, and the beneficiaries of, the plan is conduct that satisfies the requirement of subsection (a)(1)(B)(ii). (c) The termination of a proceeding by judgment, order, settlement, or conviction, or upon a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent, is not, of itself, determinative that the director did not meet the relevant standard of conduct described in this section. (d) Unless ordered by a court under section 414-245(a)(3), a corporation may not indemnify a director: (1) In connection with a proceeding by or in the right of the corporation, except for reasonable expenses incurred in connection with the proceeding if it is determined that the director has met the relevant standard of conduct under subsection (a); or (2) In connection with any proceeding with respect to conduct for which the director was adjudged liable on the basis that the director received a financial benefit to which the director was not entitled, whether or not involving action in the director's official capacity.
Read the official text at capitol.hawaii.gov ↗as published Jan 6, 2026our copy taken Aug 20, 2026

Sections this one refers to

§414-245 When a court can order a company to pay a director's legal costs

§414-32 What must be in the articles of incorporation

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