Hawaii's condo regulator says AI invented a statute section that does not exist
Hawaii's condo regulator says AI invented a statute section that does not exist
2026-09-10 · Hawaii · Regulation
Hawaii’s Real Estate Branch has published what may be the most specific regulator warning in the country about boards using AI for condominium law — specific because it names the fake citations it has actually seen.1
“Artificial Intelligence & The Condominium Community” ran in the Hawaii Condominium Bulletin, Volume 31, No. 4, March 2026, published under HAR § 16-201-92 and funded by the Condominium Education Trust Fund. It is expressly “not an official or binding interpretation, opinion or decision” of the Commission or DCCA.
What the Branch says it has seen
The Branch “has documented recent instances where AI responses included fabricated statutory citations or referenced repealed laws as currently applicable.” Two named examples:
- a non-existent § 514B-105(b)(8), HRS; and
- references to ch. 514A, HRS — which was repealed.
Plus a verified error of substance: an AI stated that meeting notices must be given ten days in advance. HRS § 514B-121(d) requires fourteen.
The Branch also records a case where the tool got it right: § 514B-143(a) requires associations to maintain property insurance, commercial general liability coverage and a fidelity bond unless the governing documents provide otherwise. Both outcomes, from the same tool, is the point.
The data warning
“Documents uploaded for analysis by AI generally do not remain confidential or private and are often used by the companies that operate AI to train their future systems. Boards have potentially limitless liability if they upload sensitive owner data.”
Keep reading with the Hawaii State Pass
The rest of this analysis — what an association can actually do, the recent bills and rulings, and how Hawaii compares nationally — is for subscribers. $49/month for every Hawaii topic on HOA Weekly.
$49/month, $449/year, or a $19.99 day pass.
What you unlock
- Why the repealed-chapter example is worse than a typo
- The reserve-study passage is the sharpest paragraph in the guidance
- The transparency point, and where it bites
and 2 more sections in detail
Already a subscriber? Sign in
Recurring monthly subscription · Cancel anytime · Need help?
Related Hawaii HOA Topics
Stay on top of Hawaii HOA law
Every week: new Hawaii legislation, court rulings, and regulatory developments affecting condos, planned communities, and property managers. Free.
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.