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HRS §480-23.1

Protecting witnesses who must testify in investigations

This section explains how witnesses in official investigations are protected. If you might be a suspect, you must be told your rights. A judge can order you to testify even if you refuse, but you get immunity from prosecution.

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The statute, as written — Procedures

(a) If a person has been or may be subpoenaed to testify or to produce a record, document, or other object in an official proceeding under this chapter, the investigating officer shall, when the investigation reaches a stage when the posture of discovered evidence renders the witness a substantially probable suspect of criminal misconduct, notify such person of the person's constitutional rights. (b) A judge of a circuit court or of a district court may, upon application by the attorney general or any county attorney, corporation counsel, or prosecuting attorney, of any county, issue an order requiring the person to testify or to produce a record, document, or other object, notwithstanding the person's refusal to do so on the basis of the person's privilege against self-incrimination. The application shall specify whether the immunity being sought is use immunity as set forth in section 480-23.2 or transactional immunity as set forth in section 480-23.3. (c) The order may be issued prior to the assertion of the privilege against self-incrimination but shall not be effective until the witness asserts the witness' privilege against self-incrimination and the presiding officer communicates the order to the witness. The order shall specify the type of immunity being granted and contain appropriate explanation of the scope of protection from prosecution being afforded thereby.
Read the official text at capitol.hawaii.gov ↗as published Jan 6, 2026our copy taken Aug 20, 2026

Sections this one refers to

§480-23.2 Protection for testimony you are forced to give

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