HRS §580-3.5
Getting a personal judgment against someone who left Hawaii
In family court, a judge can make a personal judgment against someone who lives outside Hawaii if they were personally served with court papers and were a Hawaii resident when the case started or when they were served. This applies only if the court got jurisdiction through specific service rules.
attorneysbeneficiarieschildrencourtscreditorsdebtorsdomestic partnersguardiansheirsparentspersonal representativesspousestrustees
The statute, as written — Personal judgment against absent defendant
In any proceeding in the family court, the court may render a personal judgment against a party who is outside of this State and over whom jurisdiction is acquired by service of process in the manner set forth in section 580-3(b) or (c), if the party was personally served with a copy of the summons or order to show cause and complaint or other pleading upon which the judgment is based and if the party was a domiciliary of this State at the time: (1) The cause of action that is the subject of the proceeding arose; (2) Of the commencement of the proceeding; or (3) Of service.
Sections this one refers to
§580-3 How divorce and separation papers are delivered
LawTrove is not legal advice. The summary above is a computer-generated restatement — the authoritative text is the official version linked above.