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HRS §414D-245

What happens when a nonprofit corporation dissolves

A dissolved nonprofit corporation still exists legally, but it can only do things needed to wrap up its business, like paying debts, selling property, and giving away remaining assets. Dissolution does not end lawsuits, change how the board works, or transfer property automatically.

creditors

The statute, as written — Effect of dissolution

(a) A dissolved corporation continues its corporate existence but shall not carry on any activities except those appropriate to wind up and liquidate its affairs, including: (1) Preserving and protecting its assets and minimizing its liabilities; (2) Discharging or making provision for discharging its liabilities and obligations; (3) Disposing of its properties that will not be distributed in kind; (4) Returning, transferring, or conveying assets held by the corporation upon a condition requiring return, transfer, or conveyance, which occurs by reason of the dissolution in accordance with that condition; (5) Transferring, subject to any contractual or legal requirements, its assets as provided in or authorized by its articles of incorporation or bylaws; (6) If the corporation is a public benefit corporation and no provision has been made in its articles or bylaws for distribution of assets on dissolution, transferring, subject to any contractual or legal requirement, its assets to one or more persons described in section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, or if the dissolved corporation is not described in section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, to one or more public benefit corporations; (7) If the corporation is not a public benefit corporation and no provision has been made in its articles or bylaws for distribution of assets on dissolution, transferring its assets to its members or, if it has no members, to those persons whom the corporation holds itself out as benefiting or serving; and (8) Doing every other act necessary to wind up and liquidate its assets and affairs. (b) Dissolution of a corporation does not: (1) Transfer title to the corporation's property; (2) Subject its directors or officers to standards of conduct different from those prescribed in part VIII; (3) Change quorum or voting requirements for its board or members; change provisions for selection, resignation, or removal of its directors or officers or both; or change provisions for amending its bylaws; (4) Prevent commencement of a proceeding by or against the corporation in its corporate name; (5) Abate or suspend a proceeding pending by or against the corporation on the effective date of dissolution; or (6) Terminate the authority of the registered agent.
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.