1. Introduction

Consider Hawaii, where HRS Chapter 421J, Planned Community Associations, governs planned-community associations — and DCCA identifies that chapter as the HOA chapter for planned communities.¹ A separate statute, HRS Chapter 514B, Condominiums, the Condominium Property Act, governs condominium associations.² DCCA lists HRS Chapter 514A as repealed as of July 1, 2020, while Chapter 514B carries transition language for certain condominium property regimes previously registered or created under Chapter 514A.^3,4 Association entities may also intersect with HRS Chapter 414D when they organize as Hawaii nonprofit corporations.⁵

Association litigation starts in Hawaii trial courts, including circuit courts, and appellate review generally moves through the Intermediate Court of Appeals, with further review or transfer in the Hawaii Supreme Court.^6,7,8 Here is something to note: Hawaii does not run a general state agency responsible for cooperative or homeowner association governance under HRS Chapter 421J, but DCCA's Real Estate Branch and Real Estate Commission administer condominium registration, education, and related regulatory functions.^9,10

Recent enacted activity has focused on condominium budgets, document access, property insurance, and repair financing.¹¹ Recent appellate activity concentrates on condominium foreclosure damages and unit-access disputes.^12,13 Put it all together, and Hawaii sits closer to a condominium-centered regulatory model than to a broad planned-community HOA regime.¹⁴

2. Primary statute and key resources

• Hawaii Planned Community Associations Act, HRS Chapter 421J. DCCA lists Chapter 421J as the planned-community association statute and notes that the Real Estate Branch holds no jurisdiction over Chapter 421J governance.¹⁵
• Hawaii Condominium Property Act, HRS Chapter 514B. The operative condominium statute for association governance, registration, budgets, records, liens, insurance, and dispute provisions.¹⁶
• Hawaii Judiciary, trial and appellate courts. The Judiciary identifies the Supreme Court and Intermediate Court of Appeals as appellate courts, and the circuit, family, and district courts as trial courts.¹⁷
• DCCA Real Estate Branch / Real Estate Commission. REB assists the Commission with real estate licensees and with condominium project, association, managing-agent, and condominium hotel operator registration.¹⁸
• DCCA Office of Consumer Protection. OCP accepts consumer complaints through DCCA's consumer portal and handles unfair or deceptive practice complaints.¹⁹

Footnotes

1. HRS Chapter 421J, Planned Community Associations ↩
2. HRS Chapter 514B, Condominiums ↩
3. DCCA Real Estate Branch, REB Hawaii Revised Statutes ↩
4. DCCA Real Estate Branch, HRS Chapter 514B, Condominiums, updated Jan. 16, 2025 ↩
5. HRS Chapter 414D, Hawaii Nonprofit Corporations Act ↩
6. Hawaii Judiciary, How the Courts are Structured ↩
7. Hawaii Judiciary, The Intermediate Court of Appeals ↩
8. Hawaii Judiciary, Supreme Court of the State of Hawaii ↩
9. DCCA Real Estate Branch, REB Hawaii Revised Statutes ↩
10. DCCA Real Estate Branch, Condominium 2025 Legislative Session Update ↩
11. DCCA Real Estate Branch, Condominium 2025 Legislative Session Update ↩
12. Hawaii Supreme Court, Wong v. Association of Apartment Owners of Harbor Square, No. SCAP-22-0000552 ↩
13. Hawaii Intermediate Court of Appeals, Association of Apartment Owners of Regency Park v. Harder, No. CAAP-20-0000373 ↩
14. DCCA Real Estate Branch, REB Hawaii Revised Statutes ↩
15. DCCA Real Estate Branch, REB Hawaii Revised Statutes ↩
16. DCCA Real Estate Branch, HRS Chapter 514B, Condominiums, updated Jan. 16, 2025 ↩
17. Hawaii Judiciary, How the Courts are Structured ↩
18. DCCA Real Estate Branch, Condominium 2025 Legislative Session Update ↩
19. DCCA Office of Consumer Protection, Consumer Complaint Portal ↩
20. Hawaii State Legislature, HB70, 2025 Regular Session, Relating To Condominium ↩
21. Hawaii State Legislature, SB385, 2025 Regular Session, Relating To Condominiums ↩
22. Hawaii State Legislature, SB1044, 2025 Regular Session, Relating To The Stabilization Of Property Insurance ↩
23. Hawaii State Legislature, HB2801, 2024 Regular Session, Relating To Commercial Property Assessed Financing ↩
24. Hawaii Supreme Court, Wong v. Association of Apartment Owners of Harbor Square, No. SCAP-22-0000552 ↩
25. Hawaii Intermediate Court of Appeals, Association of Apartment Owners of Regency Park v. Harder, No. CAAP-20-0000373 ↩
26. Hawaii Insurance Division, Commissioner's Memorandum 2026-4PC, Hurricane Insurance Data Call ↩
27. Hawaii State Legislature, SB2433, 2026 Regular Session, Relating To Condominiums ↩
28. Hawaii State Legislature, HB2580, 2026 Regular Session, Relating To Condominium Associations ↩
29. U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Housing Discrimination Under the Fair Housing Act ↩
30. U.S. Department of Justice, ADA Law, Regulations, and Standards ↩
31. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, 12 CFR Part 1006, Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, Regulation F ↩
32. U.S. Department of Justice, A Guide to the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act ↩
33. Federal Communications Commission, Over-the-Air Reception Devices Rule ↩