2022 Hawaii Revised Statutes
Title 36. Civil Remedies and Defenses and Special Proceedings
657. Limitation of Actions
657-31 Twenty years.

Law Journals and Reviews

The Statutory Elements of Hawaii's Adverse Possession Law. 14 HBJ, no. 2, at 67 (1978).

§657-31 Twenty years. No person shall commence an action to recover possession of any lands, or make any entry thereon, unless within twenty years after the right to bring the action first accrued. [L 1870, c 22, §1; am L 1898, c 19, §1; RL 1925, §2657; RL 1935, §3928; RL 1945, §10439; RL 1955, §241-30; HRS §657-31; am L 1973, c 26, §4]

Law Journals and Reviews

Beach Access: A Public Right? 23 HBJ, no. 1, at 65 (1991).

Public Beach Access: A Right for All? Opening the Gate to Iroquois Point Beach. 30 UH L. Rev. 495 (2008).

Case Notes

Easement by prescription. 36 H. 692 (1944).

Entry means entry by claimant personally as well as entry through another. 54 H. 488, 510 P.2d 93 (1973).

Exclusivity of possession is essential to claim of adverse possession. 57 H. 172, 552 P.2d 77 (1976).

A tenant in common claiming adverse possession must prove tenant acted in good faith, which in most cases mandates actual notice to tenant's cotenants of tenant's claim. 57 H. 195, 552 P.2d 1380 (1976).

Element of hostility discussed. 60 H. 650, 594 P.2d 128 (1979).

Saving clause in 1973 amendment requires application of prior law's ten-year period of limitations in adverse possession case. 3 H. App. 11, 639 P.2d 1119 (1982).

This section addresses recovery of possession of land and does not apply to claims seeking to imply an easement on another's land; further, statutes of limitations generally do not apply to bar a claim for an implied easement by necessity. 133 H. 425 (App.), 329 P.3d 330 (2014).

Miscellaneous. Doctrine of lost grant invoked against State. 25 H. 357 (1920), aff'd 272 F. 856 (1921). As to dower being barred. 6 H. 651 (1887); 15 H. 284 (1903). As to curtesy. 16 H. 432 (1905). May run in favor of married woman. 9 H. 135 (1893). Parol gift of land followed by required period of adverse possession cannot be disturbed. 10 H. 495 (1896). Parol exchange. 4 H. 198 (1879). Foreclosure of mortgage. 14 H. 527 (1902); 15 H. 507 (1904); 17 H. 49 (1905); 19 H. 382 (1909); 20 H. 620 (1911). Deficiency judgment. 20 H. 620 (1911). Term "entry" has common law meaning. 19 H. 681 (1909). Interruption of statute. 22 H. 673 (1915); 30 H. 204 (1927). Running of statute not checked by conveyance to minor. 24 H. 1, 6 (1917). As to cotenant and ouster. 24 H. 361 (1918). Acceptance of deed does not necessarily affect adverse possession. 5 H. 104 (1884); 48 H. 17, 395 P.2d 273 (1964). Acceptance by defendant of Royal Patent in name of plaintiff. 6 H. 390 (1883). Legal presumption of a deed. 24 H. 750 (1919). Basis of statute differs from laches. 25 H. 438 (1920), aff'd 269 F. 751 (1921). Statute distinguished from presumption of lost grant. 25 H. 357 (1920), aff'd 272 F. 577 (1921). Tacking and taxes. 31 H. 108 (1929). Directed verdict, possession less than ten years. 31 H. 436 (1930). Where evidence of adverse possession is clear and undisputed it is error not to direct a verdict. 48 H. 17, 395 P.2d 273 (1964). Fractional interests. 30 H. 100 (1927).

Requirements of adverse possession. 7 H. 590 (1889); 11 H. 518 (1898); 14 H. 321 (1902); 14 H. 330 (1902); 26 H. 809 (1923). Occasional visits to land without residence or occupation held insufficient. 4 H. 207 (1879). Long acquiescence in adverse possession though not a bar till after statutory period held to be significant. 6 H. 700 (1888). Plaintiff in ejectment need not show possession within statutory period if plaintiff shows title and no adverse possession is proved. 7 H. 324 (1888). Landlord and tenant. 12 H. 142 (1899). Konohiki and tenant. 4 H. 259 (1879); 10 H. 166 (1895); 15 H. 124 (1903); 19 H. 484 (1909). As between cotenants. 4 H. 42 (1877); 5 H. 491 (1885); 7 H. 575 (1889); 10 H. 583 (1897); 13 H. 716 (1901); 16 H. 228 (1904); 20 H. 724 (1911); 36 H. 614 (1944); 39 H. 327 (1952). As to infants. 7 H. 421 (1888); 16 H. 228 (1904). Possession by administrator. 4 H. 571 (1883); 4 H. 577 (1883). After administrator's discharge administrator holds realty adverse to the heirs. 6 H. 183 (1876). Claim must be ownership in fee. 16 H. 432 (1905); 18 H. 662 (1907); 19 H. 602 (1909); 22 H. 510 (1915). Claim under defective title. 9 H. 135 (1893). Claim where possession commenced with permission. 4 H. 481 (1882); 29 H. 750 (1927). By more than one person. 31 H. 661 (1930). Recognition of title in another inconsistent with adverse possession. 37 H. 49 (1945). See 33 H. 387 (1935); 34 H. 679 (1938); 34 H. 722 (1938); 36 H. 164 (1942); 39 H. 482 (1952). Prima facie case of constructive adverse possession. 50 H. 369, 440 P.2d 965 (1968).

Exceptions. Does not run against government. 3 H. 635 (1875); 7 H. 421 (1888); 16 H. 652 (1905); 18 H. 649 (1908). Did run against king on private lands. 14 H. 330 (1902); 14 H. 643 (1903). Mental incompetent. 31 H. 817 (1931).

Cited: 3 H. 610, 612 (1875); 3 H. 768, 776 (1877); 5 H. 377, 378 (1885); 5 H. 525 (1886); 6 H. 329, 330 (1882); 6 H. 545 (1884); 6 H. 573 (1885); 7 H. 575, 577 (1889); 8 H. 508, 510 (1893); 10 H. 573, 574 (1897); 11 H. 644, 649 (1899); 11 H. 755, 757 (1899); 14 H. 643, 644 (1903); 16 H. 345, 347 (1904); 18 H. 121, 123 (1906); 21 H. 252, 253 (1912); 31 H. 376, 383 (1930); 31 H. 796, 798 (1931); 32 H. 659, 661 (1933); 48 H. 17, 19, 395 P.2d 273 (1964); 49 H. 537, 553, 425 P.2d 83 (1967); 73 H. 297, 832 P.2d 724 (1992).