HRS §490:9-303
Which state's law controls liens on titled goods
This section says that when goods (like cars) have a certificate of title, the law of the state that issued that title controls liens and their priority. Goods are covered from when the title application is accepted until the title expires or a new state issues a new title.
courtscreditorsdebtors
The statute, as written — Law governing perfection and priority of security interests in goods covered by a certificate of title
(a) This section applies to goods covered by a certificate of title, even if there is no other relationship between the jurisdiction under whose certificate of title the goods are covered and the goods or the debtor. (b) Goods become covered by a certificate of title when a valid application for the certificate of title and the applicable fee are delivered to the appropriate authority. Goods cease to be covered by a certificate of title at the earlier of the time the certificate of title ceases to be effective under the law of the issuing jurisdiction or the time the goods become covered subsequently by a certificate of title issued by another jurisdiction. (c) The local law of the jurisdiction under whose certificate of title the goods are covered governs perfection, the effect of perfection or nonperfection, and the priority of a security interest in goods covered by a certificate of title from the time the goods become covered by the certificate of title until the goods cease to be covered by the certificate of title.
LawTrove is not legal advice. The summary above is a computer-generated restatement — the authoritative text is the official version linked above.