Anti-SLAPP Laws in Hawaii

At a glance

Requirements one by one

Governing law and coverage

The current chapter is §§ 634G-1 through 634G-11. Act 96 repealed the former chapter 634F in § 3 and took effect on approval, June 17, 2022, under § 5. Section 634G-10 directs liberal construction to protect the named constitutional rights, while § 634G-11 addresses uniform interpretation.

The motion covers specified communications in or about government proceedings and the exercise of speech, press, assembly, petition, or association rights on a matter of public concern (§ 634G-2(a)). A seller's own sales communication can fall outside the chapter, but the definition of “goods or services” excludes political, journalistic, artistic, and other listed works (§ 634G-2(b)-(c)).

Motion and stay

A party may move within sixty days of service, or later on good cause. Filing stays proceedings between the moving and responding parties, including discovery and pending hearings. Other parties' matters require a separate motion to stay. The court may permit limited discovery when the needed information is not reasonably available otherwise (§ 634G-3(a)-(e)).

Hearing and dismissal

The court hears the motion within sixty days of filing unless it orders a later hearing for discovery or other good cause; after discovery, the statute supplies a separate sixty-day hearing clock. It then rules within sixty days after the hearing (§§ 634G-4, 634G-7). Section 634G-5 allows the pleadings and evidence usable on summary judgment. Under § 634G-6(a), dismissal with prejudice follows if coverage is shown, no exemption is shown, and either the claimant lacks a prima facie case on each element or the movant establishes the stated pleading or summary-judgment ground.

Fees and appeal

The court must award costs, reasonable attorney's fees, and reasonable litigation expenses to a prevailing movant. A prevailing respondent receives them only if the motion was frivolous or filed solely to delay (§ 634G-9). A movant may appeal denial within thirty days as of right; on appeal, the stay extends to all parties (§§ 634G-8, 634G-3(d)).

What trips people up

Filing the motion stays proceedings between the two motion parties. Section 634G-3(b)(2) lets the court extend a stay to another party's hearing or discovery on the moving party's request; an appeal triggers the broader all-party stay automatically.

Common questions

Can the claimant avoid a fee ruling by dismissing voluntarily? A dismissal without prejudice does not prevent a ruling and fee request. A dismissal with prejudice establishes the movant as the prevailing party for the fee provision (§ 634G-6(b)-(c)).

Does a favorable order end the challenged claim? Yes. Section 634G-6(a) requires dismissal with prejudice when its conditions are met.

Statutes and sources

• Haw. Rev. Stat. § 634G-1 — “This chapter may be cited as the Hawaii Public Expression Protection Act.” Source: https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/hrscurrent/Vol13_Ch0601-0676/HRS0634G/HRS_0634G-0001.htm (accessed 2026-10-06).
• Haw. Rev. Stat. § 634G-2(a)-(b) — “(a) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (b), this chapter shall apply to a cause of action asserted against a person based on the person's: (1) Communication in a legislative, executive, judicial, administrative, or other governmental proceeding; (2) Communication on an issue under consideration or review in a legislative, executive, judicial, administrative, or other governmental proceeding; or (3) Exercise of the right of freedom of speech or of the press, the right to assemble or petition, or the right of association, guaranteed by the United States Constitution or the Hawaii State Constitution, on a matter of public concern. (b) This chapter shall not apply to a cause of action asserted: (1) Against a governmental unit or an employee or agent of a governmental unit acting or purporting to act in an official capacity; (2) By a governmental unit or an employee or agent of a governmental unit acting in an official capacity to enforce a law to protect against an imminent threat to public health or safety; or (3) Against a person primarily engaged in the business of selling or leasing goods or services if the cause of action arises out of a communication related to the person's sale or lease of the goods or services. (c) As used in this section: "Goods or services" does not include a dramatic, literary, musical, political, journalistic, or artistic work. "Governmental unit" means a public corporation or government or governmental subdivision, agency, or instrumentality. "Person" means an individual, estate, trust, partnership, business or nonprofit entity, governmental unit, or other legal entity.” Source: https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/hrscurrent/Vol13_Ch0601-0676/HRS0634G/HRS_0634G-0002.htm (accessed 2026-10-06).
• Haw. Rev. Stat. § 634G-3(a)-(b), (d)-(e) — “(a) Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, including rules of the court, no later than sixty days after a party is served with a complaint, crossclaim, counterclaim, third-party claim, or other pleading that asserts a cause of action to which this chapter applies, or at a later time on a showing of good cause, the party may file a special motion to dismiss the cause of action or part of the cause of action. (b) Except as otherwise provided in this section: (1) All other proceedings between the moving party and responding party in an action, including discovery and a pending hearing or motion, shall be stayed upon the filing of a motion under subsection (a); and (2) On motion by the moving party, the court may stay: (A) A hearing or motion involving another party if the ruling on the hearing or motion would adjudicate a legal or factual issue that is material to the motion under subsection (a); or (B) Discovery by another party if the discovery relates to the issue. (c) A stay under subsection (b) shall remain in effect until entry of an order ruling on the motion filed under subsection (a) and the expiration of the time to appeal the order. (d) If a party appeals from an order ruling on a motion filed under subsection (a), all proceedings between all parties in an action shall be stayed. The stay shall remain in effect until the conclusion of the appeal. (e) During a stay under subsection (b), the court may allow limited discovery if a party shows that specific information is necessary to establish whether a party has satisfied or failed to satisfy the burden imposed by section 634G-6(a) and is not reasonably available without discovery. (f) A motion for costs and expenses under section 634G-9 shall not be subject to a stay under this section. (g) A stay under this section shall not affect a party's ability to voluntarily dismiss a cause of action or part of a cause of action or move to sever a cause of action. (h) During a stay under this section, the court for good cause may hear and rule on a motion: (1) Unrelated to the motion under subsection (a); and (2) Seeking a special or preliminary injunction to protect against an imminent threat to public health or safety.” Source: https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/hrscurrent/Vol13_Ch0601-0676/HRS0634G/HRS_0634G-0003.htm (accessed 2026-10-06).
• Haw. Rev. Stat. § 634G-4 — “(a) The court shall hear a motion under section 634G-3(a) no later than sixty days after filing of the motion, unless the court orders a later hearing: (1) To allow discovery under section 634G-3(e); or (2) For other good cause. (b) If the court orders a later hearing under subsection (a)(1), the court shall hear the motion under section 634G-3(a) no later than sixty days after the court order allowing the discovery, subject to subsection (a)(2).” Source: https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/hrscurrent/Vol13_Ch0601-0676/HRS0634G/HRS_0634G-0004.htm (accessed 2026-10-06).
• Haw. Rev. Stat. § 634G-5 — “In ruling on a motion under section 634G-3(a), the court shall consider the parties' pleadings, the motion, any replies and responses to the motion, and any evidence that could be considered in ruling on a motion for summary judgment under the applicable Hawaii rules of civil procedure.” Source: https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/hrscurrent/Vol13_Ch0601-0676/HRS0634G/HRS_0634G-0005.htm (accessed 2026-10-06).
• Haw. Rev. Stat. § 634G-6(a) — “(a) In ruling on a motion under section 634G-3(a), the court shall dismiss with prejudice a cause of action or part of a cause of action if: (1) The moving party establishes under section 634G-2(a) that this chapter applies; (2) The responding party fails to establish under section 634G-2(b) that this chapter does not apply; and (3) Either: (A) The responding party fails to establish a prima facie case as to each essential element of the cause of action; or (B) The moving party establishes that: (i) The responding party failed to state a cause of action upon which relief can be granted; or (ii) There is no genuine issue as to any material fact and the party is entitled to judgment as a matter of law on the cause of action or part of the cause of action. (b) A voluntary dismissal without prejudice of a responding party's cause of action, or part of a cause of action, that is the subject of a motion under section 634G-3(a) shall not affect a moving party's right to obtain a ruling on the motion and seek costs, reasonable attorney's fees, and reasonable litigation expenses under section 634G-9. (c) A voluntary dismissal with prejudice of a responding party's cause of action, or part of a cause of action, that is the subject of a motion under section 634G-3(a) shall establish for the purpose of section 634G-9 that the moving party prevailed on the motion.” Source: https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/hrscurrent/Vol13_Ch0601-0676/HRS0634G/HRS_0634G-0006.htm (accessed 2026-10-06).
• Haw. Rev. Stat. § 634G-7 — “The court shall rule on a motion under section 634G-3(a) no later than sixty days after the hearing under section 634G-4.” Source: https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/hrscurrent/Vol13_Ch0601-0676/HRS0634G/HRS_0634G-0007.htm (accessed 2026-10-06).
• Haw. Rev. Stat. § 634G-8 — “A moving party may appeal within thirty days as a matter of right from an order denying, in whole or in part, a motion under section 634G-3(a).” Source: https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/hrscurrent/Vol13_Ch0601-0676/HRS0634G/HRS_0634G-0008.htm (accessed 2026-10-06).
• Haw. Rev. Stat. § 634G-9 — “On a motion under section 634G-3(a) the court shall award costs, reasonable attorney's fees, and reasonable litigation expenses related to the motion: (1) To the moving party if the moving party prevails on the motion; or (2) To the responding party if the responding party prevails on the motion and the court finds that the motion was frivolous or filed solely with intent to delay the proceeding.” Source: https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/hrscurrent/Vol13_Ch0601-0676/HRS0634G/HRS_0634G-0009.htm (accessed 2026-10-06).
• Haw. Rev. Stat. § 634G-10 — “This chapter shall be construed liberally to fully effectuate its purposes and intent to protect the exercise of the right of freedom of speech and of the press, the right to assemble and petition, and the right of association, guaranteed by the United States Constitution or Hawaii State Constitution.” Source: https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/hrscurrent/Vol13_Ch0601-0676/HRS0634G/HRS_0634G-0010.htm (accessed 2026-10-06).
• Haw. Rev. Stat. § 634G-11 — “In applying and construing this uniform act, consideration shall be given to the need to promote uniformity of the law with respect to its subject matter among states that enact it.” Source: https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/hrscurrent/Vol13_Ch0601-0676/HRS0634G/HRS_0634G-0011.htm (accessed 2026-10-06).
• 2022 Haw. Sess. Laws Act 96, § 3 — “SECTION 3. Chapter 634F, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is repealed.” Source: https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/sessionlaws/Years/SLH2022/SLH2022_Act96.pdf (accessed 2026-10-06).
• 2022 Haw. Sess. Laws Act 96, § 5 — “SECTION 5. This Act shall take effect upon its approval. (Approved June 17, 2022.)” Source: https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/sessionlaws/Years/SLH2022/SLH2022_Act96.pdf (accessed 2026-10-06).