Haw. Rev. Stat. § 666 § 666-11
Judgment; writ of possession.
Operative Text
If it is proved to the satisfaction of the court that the plaintiff is entitled to the possession of the premises, the plaintiff shall have judgment for possession, and for the plaintiff's costs. Execution shall issue accordingly. The writ of possession shall issue to the sheriff, deputy sheriff, police officer, or independent civil process server from the department of law enforcement's list under section 353C-11, commanding the sheriff, deputy sheriff, police officer, or independent civil process server to remove all persons from the premises, and to put the plaintiff, or the plaintiff's agent, into the full possession thereof. [CC 1859, §943; RL 1925, §2784; RL 1935, §4021; RL 1945, §10410; RL 1955, §240-11; am L 1963, c 85, §3; HRS §666-11; am L 1972, c 90, §8(f); gen ch 1985; am L 1989, c 211, §10; am L 1990, c 281, §11; am L 2012, c 142, §10; am L 2013, c 116, §§18, 25(17); am L 2015, c 101, §4; am L 2021, c 41, §18; am L 2022, c 278, §17]
Under Haw. Rev. Stat. § 666-11, when a court finds that a plaintiff (typically a landlord) has proven the right to reclaim a property, the court issues a judgment for possession along with an award of costs. A writ of possession is then directed to authorized law enforcement personnel—such as a sheriff, deputy sheriff, police officer, or an independent civil process server listed by the department of law enforcement under section 353C-11—who are empowered to remove all occupants and restore full possession to the plaintiff or the plaintiff's designated agent. This provision establishes the formal legal mechanism by which a court-ordered eviction is carried out in Hawaii.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under Haw. Rev. Stat. § 666-11, a landlord who prevails in a possession proceeding receives both a judgment for possession and reimbursement of court costs. Compliant operators generally work through the court process and then coordinate with the authorized officer—sheriff, deputy sheriff, police officer, or a listed independent civil process server—to execute the writ of possession rather than attempting to remove tenants through self-help measures. Allowing only court-authorized personnel to carry out the physical removal is consistent with what § 666-11 requires.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Haw. Rev. Stat. § 666-11 means that a tenant cannot be physically removed from a rental property without a court first issuing a judgment for possession and then directing a writ to authorized law enforcement or a listed civil process server. If a landlord attempts to remove occupants without going through this court process, that may constitute an unlawful self-help eviction, which tenants can raise as a defense in court proceedings. Tenants facing a writ of possession may wish to consult a tenant-rights organization or legal aid provider to understand what options exist under § 666-11 and related Hawaii law.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated October 23, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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