HRS §634-27

How to serve court papers when a defendant cannot be found

Read the official text at capitol.hawaii.gov ↗

This section lets a judge allow service by publication or another method when a defendant in an attachment case cannot be personally served because they never lived in Hawaii, left, or are hiding. If the defendant does not show up, the court can enter a default judgment and sell attached property.

courtscreditors

The statute, as written — Substituted service of summons in attachment cases

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.

In all cases where a writ of attachment is issued out of any court in accordance with chapter 651, relating to attachments, if it appears by affidavit or otherwise to the satisfaction of the judge that the defendant in attachment was never a resident of the State, or has removed therefrom, or that the defendant secretes oneself so that process cannot be personally served upon the defendant, the judge may order that service be made by publication as provided in section 634-23, or in the manner provided in section 634-24, and with like effect. Upon the trial of the cause the defendant thus summoned, if the defendant does not appear, may be declared to be in default, and the court may proceed to hearing and judgment, and may issue execution against the property upon which attachment has been levied.

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

Sections this one refers to

§634-23 How to include unknown people and serve absent defendants in court cases

§634-24 How to serve legal papers outside Hawaii or by mail

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