[§654-1]  Information required.  (a)  An action may be brought to secure the immediate possession of personal property in any court of competent jurisdiction by filing a verified complaint showing:

     (1)  That the plaintiff is entitled to the immediate possession of the property claimed;

     (2)  A particular description of the property claimed; if the property claimed is a portion of divisible property of uniform kind, quality, or value, that such is the case, and the amount thereof which the plaintiff claims;

     (3)  The actual value of the property claimed;

     (4)  That the property has not been taken for a tax, assessment, or fine pursuant to a statute, or seized under an execution or an attachment against the plaintiff or the plaintiff’s property, or if so seized that it is by statute exempt from such seizure;

     (5)  That the property is in the possession of a named defendant, and the facts and circumstances relating to the possession thereof by the defendant, according to the plaintiff’s best knowledge and belief; and

     (6)  The names of all persons other than the defendant in possession of the property, having or claiming or who might have or claim to have an interest in the property according to the best belief of plaintiff, all of whom shall be joined as defendants in the action.

Terms Used In Hawaii Revised Statutes 654-1

  • Affidavit: A written statement of facts confirmed by the oath of the party making it, before a notary or officer having authority to administer oaths.
  • Attachment: A procedure by which a person's property is seized to pay judgments levied by the court.
  • Complaint: A written statement by the plaintiff stating the wrongs allegedly committed by the defendant.
  • Defendant: In a civil suit, the person complained against; in a criminal case, the person accused of the crime.
  • Jurisdiction: (1) The legal authority of a court to hear and decide a case. Concurrent jurisdiction exists when two courts have simultaneous responsibility for the same case. (2) The geographic area over which the court has authority to decide cases.
  • Personal property: All property that is not real property.
  • Plaintiff: The person who files the complaint in a civil lawsuit.
  • Statute: A law passed by a legislature.

     (b)  If the action already has been commenced, an affidavit may be filed at any time before the case is at issue, containing the information required by subsection (a).