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HRS §490:3-117

Separate agreements can change payment obligations

This section says that a separate written agreement between the person who owes payment and the person who can enforce the instrument can change, add to, or cancel the payment obligation, as long as the instrument was issued or the obligation was made because of that agreement or as part of the same deal. If so, that agreement can be used as a defense to payment.

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The statute, as written — Other agreements affecting instrument

Subject to applicable law regarding exclusion of proof of contemporaneous or previous agreements, the obligation of a party to an instrument to pay the instrument may be modified, supplemented, or nullified by a separate agreement of the obligor and a person entitled to enforce the instrument, if the instrument is issued or the obligation is incurred in reliance on the agreement or as part of the same transaction giving rise to the agreement. To the extent an obligation is modified, supplemented, or nullified by an agreement under this section, the agreement is a defense to the obligation.
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.