Hawaii
In Hawaii, the statute of limitations on a written contract is 6 years under HRS § 657-1(1).
Rule
A written contract claim in Hawaii must be brought within 6 years.
- Written contract
- 6 yr
- Oral contract
- 6 yr
- Open account
- —
- Promissory note
- 6 yr
What the statute says
The following actions shall be commenced within six years next after the cause of action accrued, and not after: (1) Actions for the recovery of any debt founded upon any contract, obligation, or liability, excepting such as are brought upon the judgment or decree of a court; excepting further that actions for the recovery of any debt founded upon any contract, obligation, or liability made pursuant to chapter 577A shall be governed by chapter 577A
When does the clock start?
HRS § 657-1: six years "next after the cause of action accrued." For open accounts, HRS § 657-2 (Mutual current account): "In all actions in the nature of debt, account, or assumpsit, brought to recover any balance due upon a mutual, open, and current account, the cause of action shall be deemed to have accrued from the time of the last item proved in the account."
What pauses it?
HRS § 657-18 (Extension by absence from State): if the defendant is out of the State when the cause accrues, suit may be brought within the limited term after the person's return, and post-accrual absence "shall not be deemed or taken as any part of the time limited." Chapter 657 also provides §§ 657-13 (infancy, insanity, imprisonment), 657-19 (injunction), 657-20 (fraudulent concealment), 657-21 (keeping defendant in ignorance).
Last reviewed 2026-07-26
This is an informational reference, not legal advice, and using it creates no attorney-client relationship. Limitations periods turn on facts this page cannot know — which state's law governs, the contract type, when the claim accrued, and whether anything tolled or revived it. Confirm against the primary source and your own counsel before acting.