HRS §560:1-303
Which court handles a case when more than one could
When a case could be filed in more than one court in Hawaii, the first court to start the case gets to handle it. If the same case is filed in several courts, the first one keeps it unless it decides another court is the right place, then it moves the case. A court can also move a case to another court if that's fairer.
courts
The statute, as written — Venue; multiple proceedings; transfer
(a) Where a proceeding under this chapter could be maintained in more than one place in this State, the court in which the proceeding is first commenced has the exclusive right to proceed. (b) If proceedings concerning the same estate, protected person, ward, or trust are commenced in more than one court of this State, the court in which the proceeding was first commenced shall continue to hear the matter, and the other courts shall hold the matter in abeyance until the question of venue is decided, and if the ruling court determines that venue is properly in another court, it shall transfer the proceeding to the other court. (c) If a court finds that in the interest of justice a proceeding or a file should be located in another court of this State, the court making the finding may transfer the proceeding or file to the other court.
LawTrove is not legal advice. The summary above is a computer-generated restatement — the authoritative text is the official version linked above.