HRS §707-720
What counts as kidnapping and the penalties
Read the official text at capitol.hawaii.gov ↗Kidnapping is when someone intentionally or knowingly restrains another person for certain bad reasons, like ransom, using them as a shield, or committing a felony. It is a serious crime, but the penalty can be reduced if the victim is released safely before trial.
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The statute, as written — Kidnapping
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.
(1) A person commits the offense of kidnapping if the person intentionally or knowingly restrains another person with intent to: (a) Hold that person for ransom or reward; (b) Use that person as a shield or hostage; (c) Facilitate the commission of a felony or flight thereafter; (d) Inflict bodily injury upon that person or subject that person to a sexual offense; (e) Terrorize that person or a third person; (f) Interfere with the performance of any governmental or political function; or (g) Unlawfully obtain the labor or services of that person, regardless of whether related to the collection of a debt. (2) Except as provided in subsection (3), kidnapping is a class A felony. (3) In a prosecution for kidnapping, it is a defense which reduces the offense to a class B felony that the defendant voluntarily released the victim, alive and not suffering from serious or substantial bodily injury, in a safe place prior to trial.
LawTrove is not legal advice. The summary above is a computer-generated restatement — the authoritative text is the official version linked above.