Hawaii Foreclosure Guide
Hawaii uses judicial foreclosure as the default, though non-judicial (power of sale) foreclosure is permitted by statute. After a 2011 law change, non-judicial foreclosures require strict notice procedures and dispute resolution processes, which slowed the non-judicial pipeline significantly. Hawaii's property values are among the highest in the country, and surviving liens — including homeowners association dues — must be carefully reviewed before bidding.
Process Type
Both (Judicial default)
Typical Timeline
12–24 months
Sale Method
Public auction
County-Level Exceptions Investors Should Know
Statewide rules only tell part of the story. These county-level quirks catch out-of-state investors off guard.
Honolulu County (Oahu)
Honolulu has a leasehold land system — many condominium units sit on land owned by estates (like the Bishop Estate / Kamehameha Schools), and buyers purchase only a leasehold interest. A foreclosure auction on a leasehold condo transfers only the leasehold, not the fee, and the ground lease renegotiation dates can dramatically affect value.
Hawaii County (Big Island)
Properties on the Big Island near active lava zones (especially Leilani Estates, lower East Rift Zone) may have suffered lava inundation or be in lava hazard zones 1–3 that make them uninsurable or unmortgageable. Buyers should check USGS lava hazard zone maps before bidding.
Bidding on a Hawaii foreclosure?
Get a TitlePin report before the auction — identify recorded liens, judgments, and title risks, typically in under 1 minute.
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