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HRS §516-23

Time limit for taking land by eminent domain

The housing agency must buy or start eminent domain proceedings within twelve months of designating land. If it doesn't, it must pay the owners' out-of-pocket costs. If the tenant causes the delay, the tenant pays those costs instead.

landownersstate agenciestenants

The statute, as written — Exercise of power of eminent domain

Within twelve months after the designation of all or part of the development tract for acquisition, the Hawaii housing finance and development corporation shall acquire through voluntary action of the parties, or institute eminent domain proceedings to acquire the leased fee interest in the tract or portion so designated; provided that negotiations for acquisition by voluntary transaction shall not be required before the institution of eminent domain proceedings. Except as otherwise provided in this part, the corporation shall exercise its power of eminent domain in the same manner as provided in chapter 101. If the development tract or applicable portion thereof, as the case may be, is not acquired or eminent domain proceedings are not instituted within the twelve-month period, the corporation shall reimburse the fee owner, the lessor, and the legal and equitable owners of the land so designated for actual out-of-pocket expenses of appraisal, survey, and attorney fees as the owner, the lessor, and the legal and equitable owners may have incurred as a result of the designation; provided that, if the development tract or an applicable portion thereof is not acquired or eminent domain proceedings are not instituted within the twelve-month period as a result of the lessee's dismissal, discontinuance, or withdrawal from the eminent domain proceedings or failure to purchase the leased fee interest condemned because of the lessee's inability, failure, or refusal to comply with any provision under chapter 516 or to purchase the leased fee interest condemned, then such lessee and not the corporation shall be solely responsible to reimburse the fee owner, the lessor, and the legal and equitable owners of the land so designated or condemned, for their respective prorated costs, as described above, which the fee owner, the lessor, and the legal and equitable owners may have incurred as a result of the designation and condemnation.
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.