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HRS §501-214

How a judgment against the state is paid

This section explains how a court judgment against the state's finance director is paid. If other defendants are also liable, the court first tries to collect from them. If that fails, the court tells the governor, who orders the finance director to pay from the general fund. If judgment is only against the director, the same payment process applies.

courtsstate agencies

The statute, as written — Judgments, how satisfied

When there are defendants other than the director of finance, and where judgment is entered for the plaintiff against the director and against some or all of the other defendants, execution shall issue against the other defendants and be levied upon them. If the execution is returned unsatisfied in whole or in part, and the officer returning the same certifies that the amount due cannot be collected from the lands or goods of the other defendants, the circuit court rendering the judgment shall direct the clerk to certify to the governor the amount due on the execution, and the governor shall draw the governor's warrant therefor upon the director, and the director shall pay the amount out of the general fund, without any further act making an appropriation therefor. When in the action judgment for any reason cannot be entered against all or any of the other defendants, it may be entered against the director alone, or against the director and such of the other defendants as are found to be liable, and against whom judgment can lawfully be entered. Whenever judgment is entered against the director alone, whether in a case where the director is sole defendant or joint defendant with others, the circuit court before which the action is tried shall cause the clerk to transmit to the governor a certificate of the entry of judgment and of the amount due, and the director shall pay the same upon the warrant of the governor, as above provided.
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.