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HRS §708-831

When theft becomes a more serious crime

This law defines theft in the second degree, a more serious theft crime. It covers stealing from a person, stealing property worth over $750, stealing certain farm or aquaculture items, stealing from seniors, and stealing certain items like purses. It is a felony with possible fines for some farm thefts.

everyone

The statute, as written — Theft in the second degree

(1) A person commits the offense of theft in the second degree if the person commits theft of: (a) Property from the person of another; (b) Property or services the value of which exceeds $750; (c) An aquacultural product or part thereof from premises that are fenced or enclosed in a manner designed to exclude intruders or there is prominently displayed on the premises a sign or signs sufficient to give notice and reading as follows: "Private Property", "No Trespassing", or a substantially similar message; (d) Agricultural equipment, supplies, or products, or part thereof, the value of which exceeds $100 but does not exceed $20,000, or of agricultural products that exceed twenty-five pounds, from premises that are fenced, enclosed, or secured in a manner designed to exclude intruders or where there is prominently displayed on the premises a sign or signs sufficient to give notice and reading as follows: "Private Property", "No Trespassing", or a substantially similar message; or if at the point of entry of the premises, a crop is visible. The sign or signs, containing letters no less than two inches in height, shall be placed along the boundary line of the land in a manner and in such a position as to be clearly noticeable from outside the boundary line. Possession of agricultural products without ownership and movement certificates, when a certificate is required pursuant to chapter 145, is prima facie evidence that the products are or have been stolen; (e) Agricultural commodities that are generally known to be marketed for commercial purposes. Possession of agricultural commodities without ownership and movement certificates, when a certificate is required pursuant to section 145-22, is prima facie evidence that the products are or have been stolen; provided that "agricultural commodities" has the same meaning as in section 145-21; (f) Property commonly used to store items of monetary value, including but not limited to any purse, handbag, or wallet; (g) Property or services, the value of which exceeds $250, from a person who is sixty years of age or older and the age of the property owner is known or reasonably should be known to the person who commits theft; or (h) An electric gun as defined in section 134-81. (2) Theft in the second degree is a class C felony. A person convicted of committing the offense of theft in the second degree under subsection (1)(c) and (d) shall be sentenced in accordance with chapter 706, except that for the first offense, the court may impose a minimum sentence of a fine of at least $1,000 or two-fold damages sustained by the victim, whichever is greater.
Read the official text at capitol.hawaii.gov ↗as published Jan 6, 2026our copy taken Aug 20, 2026

Sections this one refers to

§145-21 What words mean in this law

§145-22 Agricultural products: proof of ownership and movement

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