Legal research for Hawaii law firms - Honolulu, Hilo and Kahului
By LegiMatch Research Team · Published October 16, 2026 · 2 min read
Short answer: a Hawaii research plan covers the Supreme Court of Hawaii and the Intermediate Court of Appeals, the Ninth Circuit for federal cases, and Hawaii's rule of modified comparative fault (51% bar).
Hawaii's courts
| Court | Role |
|---|---|
| Supreme Court of Hawaii | Highest court; binds every Hawaii court |
| Intermediate Court of Appeals | Most appeals |
| Trial courts | Circuit courts (general jurisdiction), district courts and family courts |
Local rules worth knowing
Under Hawaii Rule of Appellate Procedure 35, memorandum opinions of the appellate courts filed after July 1, 2008 may be cited for persuasive value; summary disposition orders can't. Check the rule's current text before citing one.
The negligence standard
Hawaii applies modified comparative fault (51% bar): a plaintiff recovers, reduced by their share of fault, as long as their fault isn't greater than the defendants'.
Hawaii federal courts
| District | Main cities |
|---|---|
| District of Hawaii | Honolulu |
Appeals go to the Ninth Circuit in San Francisco.
Case reporters and codes
Reported Hawaii decisions are in P.3d. The Hawaii Revised Statutes is the starting point for statutory questions (capitol.hawaii.gov).
Sample matter
Example: "A visitor slipped on a wet pool deck at a Waikiki hotel where the anti-slip coating had worn away; the hotel says signs warned guests not to run." Begin with Hawaii appellate decisions on similar facts, then confirm the governing law - HRS § 663-31 on comparative negligence - and each case's later treatment.
LegiMatch is built for the first step: describe the matter and get up to 100 similar decisions, ranked by a match score you can inspect, each linked to the court's own text. It's a research tool, not legal advice.
More states: courts in every major US city.
Frequently asked questions
Can I cite a Hawaii memorandum opinion?
Memorandum opinions filed after July 1, 2008 may be cited for persuasive value under HRAP 35; summary disposition orders may not.
What negligence rule does Hawaii use?
Modified comparative negligence: a plaintiff recovers if their negligence isn't greater than the negligence of the defendants, with damages reduced.
Which federal circuit covers Hawaii?
The Ninth Circuit, which sits in San Francisco.
Sources
- Hawaii court system and legislature websites
- United States Courts, court locator (uscourts.gov)
This article is general information about legal research, not legal advice. Verify every authority before relying on it.
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