District Court Rules of Civil Procedure – 2026

The District Court Rules of Civil Procedure, governing civil actions in the district courts of Hawaiʻi, which hear claims below the circuit courtsّ threshold. Coverage parallels the circuit-court rules through commencement, service, pleadings, discovery, trial and judgment, with the district courts own procedural variations.

Last updated October 04, 2026

Browse all 87 rules of the 2026 edition below. Each rule includes the full text, a plain-English summary, committee notes, amendment history, and cross-references to related rules. Use the search box to find rules by keyword or number.

Article I. Scope of Rules - One Form of Action

Rule 1 Scope of Rules Rule 2 One Form of Action

Article II. Commencement of Action; Service of Process, Pleadings, Motions and Orders

Rule 3 Commencement of Action Rule 4 Process Rule 5 Service and Filings of Pleadings and Other Papers Rule 6 Time

Article III. Pleadings and Motions

Rule 7 Pleadings Allowed; Form of Motions Rule 8 General Rules of Pleading Rule 9 Pleading Special Matters Rule 10 Form of Pleadings Rule 11 Signing of Pleadings, Motions, and Other Papers; Sanctions Rule 11.1 Limited Appearance and Withdrawal Rule 12 Defenses and Objections - When and How Presented - by Pleading or Motion - Motion for Judgment on the Pleadings Rule 12.1 Defense of Title in District Courts Rule 13 Counterclaim and Cross-claim Rule 14 Third-party Practice Rule 15 Amended and Supplemental Pleadings Rule 16 Pre-trial Procedure Rule 16.1 Appearance by Telephonic or Videoconference Call

Article IV. Parties

Rule 17 Parties Plaintiff and Defendant; Capacity Rule 18 Joinder of Claims Rule 19 Joinder of Persons Needed for Just Adjudication Rule 20 Permissive Joinder of Parties Rule 21 Misjoinder and Non-joinder of Parties Rule 22 Interpleader Rule 23 Reserved Rule 24 Intervention Rule 25 Substitution of Parties

Article V. Depositions and Discovery

Rule 26 General Provisions Governing Discovery Rule 27 Depositions Before Action or Pending Appeal Rule 28 Persons Before Whom Depositions May Be Taken Rule 29 Stipulations Regarding Discovery Procedure Rule 30 Depositions Upon Oral Examination Rule 31 Depositions Upon Written Questions Rule 32 Use of Depositions in Court Proceedings Rule 33 Questions to Parties Rule 34 Production of Documents and Things and Entry Upon Land for Inspection and Other Purposes Rule 35 Physical and Mental Examination of Persons Rule 36 Requests for Admissions Rule 37 Failure to Make Discovery: Consequences

Article VI. Trials

Rule 38 Jury Trial of Right Rule 39 Reserved Rule 39.1 Conduct of a Trial Rule 40 Reserved Rule 41 Dismissal of Actions Rule 42 Consolidation; Separate Trials Rule 43 Taking of Testimony Rule 44 Reserved Rule 44.1 Determination of Foreign Law Rule 45 Subpoena Rule 46 Exceptions Unnecessary Rule 47 Reserved Rule 48 Reserved Rule 49 Reserved Rule 50 Reserved Rule 51 Reserved Rule 52 Findings by the Court Rule 53 Reserved

Article VII. Judgment

Rule 54 Judgments; Costs Rule 55 Default Rule 56 Summary Judgment Rule 57 Reserved Rule 58 Entry of Judgment Rule 59 New Trial; Amendment of Judgments Rule 60 Relief from Judgment or Order Rule 61 Harmless Error Rule 62 Stay of Proceedings to Enforce a Judgment Rule 63 Disability of Judge

Article VIII. Provisional and Final Remedies and Special Proceedings

Rule 64 Seizure of Person or Property Rule 65 Reserved Rule 65.1 Security: Proceedings Against Sureties Rule 66 Reserved Rule 67 Deposit in Court Rule 68 Offer of Settlement or Judgment Rule 69 Execution Rule 70 Garnishment Rule 71 Reserved

Article IX. Judicial Review

Rule 72 Judicial Review to a District Court

Article X. District Courts and Clerks

Rule 77 District Courts and Clerks Rule 78 Motion Day Rule 79 Books and Records Kept by the Clerk and Entries Therein Rule 80 Stenographic Report or Transcript as Evidence

Article XI. General Provisions

Rule 81 Applicability Rule 82 Jurisdiction and Venue Unaffected Rule 83 Rules by District Courts Rule 84 Forms Rule 85 Title