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HRS §657-31.5

When you can claim land you've occupied

This section limits when a person defending a lawsuit can claim ownership of land by adverse possession. The claim is only allowed if the land is five acres or less and the person has not made a similar claim in the past twenty years. There are exceptions for claims made before 1978.

courtslandowners

The statute, as written — Adverse possession

In an action under this part where the person defending the action claims by adverse possession in excess of the period of limitation, said claim can only be made: (1) If the real property which is the subject of the action is five acres or less; and (2) Where the person claiming by adverse possession has not asserted any similar claim, in good faith, within the past twenty years; however, this shall not include similar claims made before November 7, 1978. However, any person defending an action under this part may claim adverse possession if that person's time period of adverse possession of the land exceeded twenty years prior to November 7, 1978, or exceeded other earlier applicable time periods of adverse possession.
Read the official text at capitol.hawaii.gov ↗as published Jan 6, 2026our copy taken Aug 20, 2026

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