Statewide — all four counties
Clerk issuance in 1–3 days
Clerk fee advanced & included
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Quick answer

To domesticate a subpoena in Hawaii, submit your out-of-state subpoena to a clerk of the Circuit Court in the circuit where discovery is sought, together with a Hawaii subpoena that mirrors the foreign subpoena's terms and lists all counsel. Under HRS § 624D-3 the clerk promptly issues the Hawaii subpoena, and the request is not an appearance in Hawaii's courts. Hawaii adopted the UIDDA in 2012 (HRS Chapter 624D); no reciprocity is required. We prepare the Hawaii subpoena, file in the correct circuit, and serve under HRCP Rule 45(c).

Hawaii UIDDA Overview

Domesticating a Foreign Subpoena in Hawaii

Hawaii adopted the Uniform Interstate Depositions and Discovery Act as HRS Chapter 624D, effective April 12, 2012 (Act 17, Session Laws of Hawaii 2012). It lets an out-of-state litigant obtain an enforceable Hawaii subpoena for depositions, testimony, documents, and inspection of premises — without a new lawsuit, a commission, or a hearing. See HRS § 624D-3.

Under § 624D-3, you submit the foreign subpoena to a clerk of the Circuit Court in the circuit where discovery is sought, and the clerk promptly issues a Hawaii subpoena that incorporates the foreign terms. Hawaii's trial courts sit in four judicial circuits across the islands — the First (Oahu), Second (Maui), Third (Hawaii Island), and Fifth (Kauai) — and Served 123 LLC files and serves in every one.

Submitting the subpoena is not an appearance. HRS § 624D-3 is explicit that requesting issuance does not make you a party in Hawaii's courts. The Hawaii subpoena the clerk issues must incorporate the terms of the foreign subpoena and list the names, addresses, and telephone numbers of all counsel of record and any unrepresented party. Hawaii's discovery rules — HRCP Rules 26 through 31, 34(c), and 45 — then govern (§ 624D-5).

Hawaii UIDDA Framework (HRS Chapter 624D)

  • § 624D-1Short title — the Uniform Interstate Depositions and Discovery Act
  • § 624D-2Definitions — foreign jurisdiction, foreign subpoena, person, state, subpoena (testimony, documents, premises)
  • § 624D-3Clerk of the circuit court issues the Hawaii subpoena; not an appearance
  • § 624D-4Service in compliance with HRCP Rule 45(c)
  • § 624D-5HRCP Rules 26-31, 34(c), and 45 govern the deposition, production, and inspection
  • § 624D-6Quash, modify, enforce, or protective order in the discovery circuit

Statute, Not a Court Rule

  • Codified at HRS Chapter 624D (eff. 4/12/2012)
  • No reciprocity requirement
  • No special on-face subpoena language required
  • Submitting the foreign subpoena is not an appearance (§ 624D-3)

What's Included

  • HRS Chapter 624D eligibility review
  • Hawaii subpoena prepared per the statute
  • Clerk filing & any issuance fee advanced
  • Service under HRCP Rule 45(c) statewide
  • Proof of service (PDF)
  • Real-time updates & live support
Step-by-Step

How It Works in Hawaii

From intake to proof of service — exactly what happens on every Hawaii order.

1

Send your subpoena & case details

Email the out-of-state subpoena, the originating court, and the Hawaii island or circuit where the witness lives, works, or transacts business. We open the file and confirm scope the same day.

2

We confirm the circuit

Hawaii has four judicial circuits across the islands. We identify the correct one — the circuit where discovery is sought — so the clerk issues without a venue problem.

3

Hawaii subpoena prepared

We draft the Hawaii subpoena to incorporate the foreign subpoena's terms and list the names, addresses, and telephone numbers of all counsel of record and any unrepresented party, as § 624D-3 requires.

4

Filed with the Circuit Court clerk

Our authorized representative submits the foreign subpoena and the Hawaii subpoena to a clerk of the Circuit Court in the discovery circuit and advances any issuance fee. The clerk promptly issues the Hawaii subpoena — no hearing, and it is not an appearance.

5

Served under HRCP Rule 45(c)

We serve the issued Hawaii subpoena under Rule 45(c) of the Hawaii Rules of Civil Procedure — by an authorized server, with proof of service for your file.

6

Proof of service returned

You receive the clerk-issued Hawaii subpoena and proof of service. If the recipient moves to quash or modify, that goes to the court in the discovery circuit (§ 624D-6) and we coordinate next steps.

Why It Matters

Foreign Subpoena vs. Hawaii Subpoena

An out-of-state subpoena does not bind a Hawaii witness until a clerk of the Circuit Court issues a Hawaii subpoena.

Foreign subpoena alone
  • Has no force against a Hawaii resident or business
  • Cannot be enforced by a Hawaii court
  • The witness can disregard it without consequence
  • No Hawaii issuance from the circuit clerk
  • Servers have no authority to compel compliance
Domesticated under § 624D-3
  • Issued by a clerk of the Circuit Court in the discovery circuit
  • Enforceable in Hawaii, with quash/modify heard locally (§ 624D-6)
  • Binds the witness under Hawaii law and HRCP Rule 45
  • Incorporates the foreign subpoena's terms and counsel information
  • Served and returnable under HRCP Rule 45(c)
Legal Authority

Hawaii Subpoena Domestication — Controlling Law

The framework lives in Chapter 624D of the Hawaii Revised Statutes (Title 33, Evidence), with service and discovery under the Hawaii Rules of Civil Procedure.

AuthoritySubjectKey requirement
HRS § 624D-1Short titleNames the chapter the Uniform Interstate Depositions and Discovery Act.
HRS § 624D-2DefinitionsDefines foreign subpoena and the scope of a subpoena — testimony, documents and ESI, and inspection of premises.
HRS § 624D-3(a)Submission to the clerkSubmit the foreign subpoena to a clerk of the Circuit Court in the discovery circuit; it is not an appearance.
HRS § 624D-3(b)Prompt issuanceThe clerk promptly issues a Hawaii subpoena for service on the named person.
HRS § 624D-3(c)ContentsThe Hawaii subpoena incorporates the foreign terms and lists all counsel of record and unrepresented parties.
HRS § 624D-4ServiceServed in compliance with Rule 45(c) of the Hawaii Rules of Civil Procedure.
HRS § 624D-5Discovery rulesHRCP Rules 26-31, 34(c), and 45 govern the deposition, production, and inspection.
HRS § 624D-6Quash / modify / protectMotions go to the court in the circuit where discovery is conducted.
HRS § 607-12Witness fees$4 per day plus mileage, with inter-island travel costs for off-island witnesses.
HRCP Rule 45Subpoena practiceGoverns issuance, service, objections, and protection for Hawaii subpoenas.

Citations verified against the Hawaii Revised Statutes (Chapter 624D, Title 33) and the Hawaii Rules of Civil Procedure at the time of writing. Statutes and rules may be amended and clerk procedures can vary by circuit; we confirm the current rules and any fees on every order.

Avoid Rejection

Where Hawaii Domestications Go Wrong

The errors that get a subpoena bounced at the clerk's window — or quashed later.

Filing in the wrong circuit

Hawaii has four judicial circuits across separate islands. You submit to the clerk of the Circuit Court for the circuit where the witness lives, works, or transacts business — not where your case sits. Wrong circuit means re-filing.

Not incorporating the foreign terms

The Hawaii subpoena must mirror the out-of-state subpoena's commands. A Hawaii form that doesn't track the foreign terms is defective under § 624D-3.

Leaving counsel information off

§ 624D-3 requires the names, addresses, and telephone numbers of all counsel of record and any unrepresented party. Missing contacts are a common rejection.

Serving before the clerk issues

Only the clerk-issued Hawaii subpoena can be served. Serving the bare foreign subpoena is unenforceable — and wastes an attempt.

Ignoring inter-island logistics

A witness on a different island can be entitled to plane or ship travel plus per-day fees (HRS § 607-12). We account for inter-island service and witness costs up front.

Modifying the subpoena after issuance

Editing the subpoena after the clerk issues it — adding exhibits or fixing typos — creates a discrepancy clerks look for. We get it right before issuance.

Why Served 123

Built for Hawaii Filings

What a NAPPS-accredited, nationwide operation brings to a Hawaii domestication.

All four circuits

From the First Circuit on Oahu to Maui, Hawaii Island, and Kauai — we file and serve in every Hawaii circuit and county.

1–3 day issuance

Subpoenas are prepared and presented quickly; most clerks issue within one to three business days of submission.

Court-ready proof

You receive the clerk-issued Hawaii subpoena and proof of service for your file.

Statute-correct drafting

The Hawaii subpoena incorporates the foreign terms and counsel information exactly as § 624D-3 requires.

Inter-island handling

We manage cross-island service and the witness travel costs Hawaii allows under HRS § 607-12.

24/7 case intake

Send your subpoena anytime; live support at info@served123.com keeps every order moving.

Subpoena Types

Hawaii Subpoenas We Domesticate & Serve

Every major subpoena type we domesticate in Hawaii under § 624D-3.

Subpoena Duces Tecum

Compels production of documents, records, or electronically stored information. Business-records subpoenas are with HRCP Rules 26-31, 34(c), and 45 governing the discovery (§ 624D-5).

Subpoena Ad Testificandum

Requires personal appearance and testimony. Witness and mileage fees ($4 per day plus statutory mileage, with inter-island travel for off-island witnesses, HRS § 607-12) apply.

Deposition Subpoenas

Compels attendance at a recorded deposition under § 624D-3 — often combined with document production in a single subpoena.

Corporate & Entity

Directs an entity in Hawaii to designate a representative to testify. It can also compel inspection of premises under the entity's control (§ 624D-2).

Who We Help

Who Uses Hawaii Subpoena Domestication

From solo practitioners to Fortune 500 legal teams — all relying on Served 123 LLC for Hawaii domestication across all four Hawaii counties.

Law Firms

Running multi-state cases that need testimony or records from witnesses across all four Hawaii counties.

Corporate Legal

In-house teams handling cross-jurisdictional discovery through Hawaii's Circuit Courts.

Insurance Defense

Claims teams pulling Hawaii medical records, depositions, and expert subpoenas under § 624D-3.

Records Retrieval

Organizations needing end-to-end Hawaii domestication and records production.

Solo Practitioners

Attorneys who need dependable Hawaii coverage without a local vendor network in all four Hawaii counties.

Litigation Support

Support firms outsourcing Hawaii subpoena domestication for their attorney clients.

Statewide Coverage

Hawaii Circuits & Islands We Cover

Send the island or circuit where the witness lives, works, or transacts business — we file and serve across all four circuits.

Honolulu (Oahu) · First Circuit
Kapolei (West Oahu) · First Circuit
Wailuku (Maui) · Second Circuit
Molokai · Second Circuit
Lanai · Second Circuit
Hilo (Hawaii Island) · Third Circuit
Kona (Hawaii Island) · Third Circuit
Lihue (Kauai) · Fifth Circuit

All four Hawaii judicial circuits covered — the First, Second, Third, and Fifth (there is no Fourth). Send the island or circuit where discovery is sought and we handle filing and service.

Hawaii UIDDA FAQ

Hawaii Subpoena Domestication — FAQ

Common questions about domesticating and serving out-of-state subpoenas in Hawaii.

Yes. Hawaii enacted the Uniform Interstate Depositions and Discovery Act as HRS Chapter 624D (Act 17, Session Laws of Hawaii 2012), effective April 12, 2012. It lets a foreign subpoena be domesticated through a clerk of the Circuit Court without a commission, a new lawsuit, or a hearing.
No. Hawaii adopted the UIDDA in its standard form, so there is no reciprocity requirement — the procedure is available regardless of which state issued your subpoena, as long as it comes from a court of record.
A clerk of the Circuit Court in the circuit where discovery is sought issues the subpoena under § 624D-3. There is no separate lawsuit and no court appearance — the statute says submitting the foreign subpoena does not make you a party in Hawaii.
Hawaii has four judicial circuits across the islands — the First (Oahu), Second (Maui, Molokai, Lanai), Third (Hawaii Island), and Fifth (Kauai). File in the circuit where the witness lives, works, or transacts business. There is no Fourth Circuit — it was merged into the Third.
Under § 624D-3 it must incorporate the terms of the foreign subpoena and contain (or be accompanied by) the names, addresses, and telephone numbers of all counsel of record and of any party not represented by counsel.
Under § 624D-4, the issued Hawaii subpoena is served in compliance with Rule 45(c) of the Hawaii Rules of Civil Procedure. Served 123 LLC serves it and returns proof of service for your file.
A UIDDA request is not an appearance, so Hawaii's circuit court does not open a new case for it; we confirm and advance any clerk issuance fee for your circuit. Witness attendance and mileage fees are set by HRS § 607-12. We itemize everything on your invoice.
No. The UIDDA procedure is handled through the clerk and does not require you to retain Hawaii counsel or appear in a Hawaii court. Served 123 LLC prepares, files, and serves the subpoena for you.
Most circuit court clerks issue the Hawaii subpoena within one to three business days of submission. Service timing then depends on the island and the witness's location; we begin promptly and keep you updated.
Yes. A Hawaii subpoena under the UIDDA can command testimony at a deposition, the production of documents and electronically stored information, and the inspection of premises (§ 624D-2). HRCP Rules 26-31, 34(c), and 45 govern (§ 624D-5).
Yes. Serve the entity through its Hawaii registered agent. The subpoena can compel records in the entity's control and, where applicable, inspection of premises (§ 624D-2).
Hawaii's witness statute (HRS § 607-12) entitles a witness coming from another island to per-day fees plus the actual round-trip cost of plane or ship travel and ground mileage. We handle inter-island service and account for those costs.
A motion to quash, modify, or for a protective order is submitted to the court in the circuit where discovery is conducted (§ 624D-6) and must comply with Hawaii's rules of court. We coordinate with your counsel on enforcement.
All four circuits and counties — Oahu, Maui, Hawaii Island, and Kauai (including Molokai, Lanai, and Niihau). Send the island or circuit where discovery is sought and we handle filing and service.

Domesticate Your Hawaii Subpoena

Send the originating state, the Hawaii island or circuit, and your subpoena PDF. We prepare the Hawaii subpoena, file with the Clerk of the Circuit Court, advance any fee, and serve statewide — usually within days.

Served 123 LLC is a process service and litigation-support company, not a law firm. This page is general information about Hawaii procedure, not legal advice.

© Served 123 LLC — nationwide subpoena domestication and service of process. Authority cited: Hawaii Uniform Interstate Depositions and Discovery Act, HRS Chapter 624D. All 50 states