(a) If the keeper of any hotel provides a safe or vault in its office at the hotel for the safekeeping of any valuables belonging to the guests of the hotel, and prominently posts a notice in the room or rooms occupied by the guest stating that a safe or vault is provided in which valuables may be deposited and if any guest neglects to deliver valuables to the person in charge of the safe or vault, the keeper of the hotel shall not be liable in any sum for any loss of valuables sustained by the guest by theft or otherwise unless the loss is due to the negligence or fault of the keeper of the hotel. If the guest delivers valuables to the person in charge of the office for deposit in the safe or vault, the keeper shall not be liable for any loss sustained by the guest by theft or otherwise in any sum exceeding $500; provided that the keeper’s liability is limited to $500 only if:

Terms Used In Hawaii Revised Statutes 486K-4

  • Guest: means a person who is registered at the hotel and to whom a bedroom is assigned. See Hawaii Revised Statutes 486K-1
  • keeper: includes any individual, firm, or corporation actually operating a hotel. See Hawaii Revised Statutes 486K-1
  • Security box: means any metal or alloy box, used in a hotel for the safekeeping of any valuables, which may be securely locked with a locking mechanism that meets or exceeds Underwriters Laboratories standards and which shall be secured in a manner which precludes its removal from the room. See Hawaii Revised Statutes 486K-1
  • Valuables: includes money, bank notes, bonds, precious stones, jewelry, ornaments, watches, securities, transportation tickets, photographic cameras, checks, drafts, and other negotiable instruments, business papers, documents, and other papers, and other articles of value. See Hawaii Revised Statutes 486K-1
(1) The keeper gives a receipt for the valuables on a form which states, in type large enough to be clearly noticeable, that the keeper is not liable for any loss exceeding $500 except by special agreement in writing in which the keeper agrees to accept liability for losses in excess of $500; and
(2) The loss is not due to the negligence or fault of the keeper of the hotel.

The keeper may accept liability for losses in excess of $500 by special agreement in writing between a guest and the keeper or the keeper’s duly authorized representative.

(b) If the keeper of a hotel provides a security box in the room of any guest and prominently posts a notice stating that a security box is provided in which valuables may be deposited and explains the liability for losses therefrom, the keeper of the hotel shall not be liable in any sum for any loss sustained by the guest unless the loss is due to the negligence or fault of the keeper of the hotel.