HRS §583A-203

When Hawaii can change another state's custody order

Read the official text at capitol.hawaii.gov ↗

This section says when a Hawaii court may change a child custody order made by a court in another state. It can only do so if Hawaii has the right kind of jurisdiction and one of two special conditions is met. Otherwise, it must not modify the other state's order.

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The statute, as written — Jurisdiction to modify determination

A copy, taken August 20, 2026. The version published by the Legislature is the one that governs, and it may have changed since. Check it before relying on anything here.

Except as otherwise provided in section 583A-204, a court of this State shall not modify a child-custody determination made by a court of another state unless a court of this State has jurisdiction to make an initial determination under section 583A-201(a)(1) or (2) and: (1) The court of the other state determines it no longer has exclusive, continuing jurisdiction under section 583A-202 or that a court of this State would be a more convenient forum under section 583A-207; or (2) A court of this State or a court of the other state determines that the child, the child's parents, and any person acting as a parent do not presently reside in the other state.

Read the official text at capitol.hawaii.gov ↗as published Jan 6, 2026our copy taken Aug 20, 2026

Sections this one refers to

§583A-201 When Hawaii can decide child custody first

§583A-202 When a Hawaii court keeps authority over a child custody case

§583A-204 Emergency child custody orders when a child is in danger

§583A-207 When Hawaii can refuse to hear a child custody case

LawTrove is not legal advice. The summary above is a computer-generated restatement — the authoritative text is the official version linked above.