Adverse Possession Laws in Hawaii

In Hawaii, adverse possession takes 20 years, and new claims are limited to parcels of five acres or less.

Last checked October 2026. General information, not legal advice.

Standard period: 20 years; Claims are limited to parcels of five acres or less, unless the possession exceeded 20 years before November 7, 1978.

Sources

Last checked October 2026

The rules in Hawaii

How many years of possession are required for adverse possession in Hawaii?

Standard period in Hawaii: 20 years. Claims are limited to parcels of five acres or less, unless the possession exceeded 20 years before November 7, 1978.

Where do the Hawaii adverse possession laws come from?

The rules above come from Haw. Rev. Stat. 657-31, Haw. Rev. Stat. 657-31.5 and Haw. Rev. Stat. 669-1. Each source is linked on this page. We last checked them in October 2026.

Good to know

The claimant must show good faith, and may assert a claim to land of five acres or less only once in 20 years.

What this means in practice

Courts usually require possession that is actual, open, continuous, exclusive and hostile (without the owner's permission) for the full statutory period. The person claiming the land generally has to prove each element, and courts read these requirements strictly.

Owners can protect themselves by inspecting vacant or rural land regularly, keeping boundary lines marked, and responding quickly to fences, buildings or other uses that cross the line. Written permission, such as a simple license or lease, can make a neighbor's use permissive instead of hostile.

Adverse possession does not usually transfer title automatically. The occupant often needs a court judgment, such as in a quiet title action, before the new ownership can be recorded. Boundary disputes between neighbors are often settled with a survey and a recorded deed instead of a lawsuit.

General information, not legal advice. Laws change, and cities can add their own rules, so check the current statute before you rely on it.