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HRS §490:7-501

How to transfer a negotiable document of title

This section explains how a negotiable document of title is transferred, or negotiated, depending on whether it is paper or electronic. It also says that endorsing a non-negotiable document does not make it negotiable, and that naming a person to be notified in a bill of lading does not affect its negotiability.

businessesbuyersfinancial institutions

The statute, as written — Form of negotiation and requirements of due negotiation

(a) The following rules apply to a negotiable tangible document of title: (1) If the document's original terms run to the order of a named person, the document is negotiated by the named person's indorsement and delivery. After the named person's indorsement in blank or to bearer, any person may negotiate the document by delivery alone. (2) If the document's original terms run to bearer, it is negotiated by delivery alone. (3) If the document's original terms run to the order of a named person and it is delivered to the named person, the effect is the same as if the document had been negotiated. (4) Negotiation of the document after it has been indorsed to a named person requires indorsement by the named person and delivery. (5) A document is duly negotiated if it is negotiated in the manner stated in this subsection to a holder that purchases it in good faith, without notice of any defense against or claim to it on the part of any person, and for value, unless it is established that the negotiation is not in the regular course of business or financing or involves receiving the document in settlement or payment of a monetary obligation. (b) The following rules apply to a negotiable electronic document of title: (1) If the document's original terms run to the order of a named person or to bearer, the document is negotiated by delivery of the document to another person. Indorsement by the named person is not required to negotiate the document. (2) If the document's original terms run to the order of a named person and the named person has control of the document, the effect is the same as if the document had been negotiated. (3) A document is duly negotiated if it is negotiated in the manner stated in this subsection to a holder that purchases it in good faith, without notice of any defense against or claim to it on the part of any person, and for value, unless it is established that the negotiation is not in the regular course of business or financing or involves taking delivery of the document in settlement or payment of a monetary obligation. (c) Indorsement of a nonnegotiable document of title neither makes it negotiable nor adds to the transferee's rights. (d) The naming in a negotiable bill of lading of a person to be notified of the arrival of the goods does not limit the negotiability of the bill or constitute notice to a purchaser of the bill of any interest of that person in the goods.
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.