HRS §531B-9
Funeral director's authority to handle remains when family can't be found
If no one with the right to decide can be found or has lost that right, and the public authority doesn't step in within 36 hours, a funeral director can take charge of the body and charge for it. They must use legal disposal methods.
state agencies
The statute, as written — Authority to direct and control disposition; recovery of reasonable expenses
(a) A funeral director or manager of a funeral establishment, cemetery, mortuary, crematory, or hydrolysis facility shall have complete authority to direct and control the final disposition and disposal of a decedent's remains and to proceed under this chapter to recover reasonable charges for the final disposition and disposal if: (1) The funeral director or manager: (A) Has no knowledge that any of the persons described in section 531B-4(a)(1) through (a)(10) exist; (B) Has knowledge that the person or persons who may or do have the right of disposition cannot be found after reasonable inquiry or reasonable attempts to contact; or (C) Has knowledge that the person or persons who may or do have the right of disposition have lost this right pursuant to section 531B-6; and (2) The appropriate public authority fails to assume responsibility for disposition of the remains within thirty-six hours after having been given written notice of the decedent's death. Written notice may be given by hand delivery, certified mail, facsimile transmission, or electronic mail transmission. (b) Disposal of the decedent's remains pursuant to this section shall be by any means that are not prohibited by law.
Sections this one refers to
§531B-4 Who decides what happens to a person's remains
§531B-6 When someone loses the right to decide burial
LawTrove is not legal advice. The summary above is a computer-generated restatement — the authoritative text is the official version linked above.