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HRS §657-1

Six-year deadline for filing certain lawsuits

This law sets a six-year time limit for starting certain lawsuits. It covers most debt collection, some court judgments, taking or holding personal property, and other personal legal claims. If you miss the deadline, you generally cannot sue later.

businessescreditorsdebtorshomeownerslandlordstenants

The statute, as written — Six years

The following actions shall be commenced within six years next after the cause of action accrued, and not after: (1) Actions for the recovery of any debt founded upon any contract, obligation, or liability, excepting such as are brought upon the judgment or decree of a court; excepting further that actions for the recovery of any debt founded upon any contract, obligation, or liability made pursuant to chapter 577A shall be governed by chapter 577A; (2) Actions upon judgments or decrees rendered in any court not of record in the State, or, subject to section 657-9, in any court of record in any foreign jurisdiction; (3) Actions for taking or detaining any goods or chattels, including actions in the nature of replevin; and (4) Personal actions of any nature whatsoever not specifically covered by the laws of the State. [CC 1859, §1036; am imp L 1907, c 113, §1; am L 1913, c 19, §1; RL 1925, §2639; RL 1935, §3910; am L 1943, c 139, §1; RL 1945, §10421; RL 1955, §241-1; am L 1965, c 139, §1; HRS §657-1; am L 1972, c 105, §1(a); am L 1978, c 109, §3]
Read the official text at capitol.hawaii.gov ↗as published Jan 6, 2026our copy taken Aug 20, 2026

Sections this one refers to

§657-9 Time limits from other states can block lawsuits here

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