(a)(a) Scope. Any party may serve on any other party a request
(l)(l) to produce and permit the party making the request, or someone acting on the requestor’s behalf, to inspect and copy, any designated documents (including writings, drawings, graphs, charts, photographs, phonorecords, and other data compilations from which information can be obtained, translated, if necessary, by the respondent through detection devices into reasonably usable form), or to inspect and copy, test, or sample any tangible things that constitute or contain matters within the scope of Rule 26(b) of these Rules and that are in the possession, custody or control of the party upon whom the request is served; or
(2)(2) to permit entry upon designated land or other property in the possession or control of the party upon whom the request is served for the purpose of inspection and measuring, surveying, photographing, testing, or sampling the property or any designated object or operation thereon, within the scope of Rule 26(b) of these Rules.
(b)(b) Procedure. The request may, without leave of court, be served upon the plaintiff after commencement of the action and upon any other party with or after service of the summons and complaint upon that party. The request shall set forth, either by individual item or by category, the items to be inspected and describe each with reasonable particularity. The request shall specify a reasonable time, place, and manner of making the inspection and performing the related acts.
The party upon whom the request is served shall serve a written response within 30 days after the service of the request, except that a defendant may serve a response within 45 days after service of the summons and complaint upon that defendant. A shorter or longer time may be directed by the court or, in the absence of such an order, agreed to in writing by the parties, subject to Rule 29 or 77(c)(2) of these Rules. The response shall set forth, either by individual item or by category, the items to be produced and describe each with reasonable particularity. The response shall state, with respect to each item or category, that inspection and related activities will be permitted as requested, unless the request is objected to, in which event the reasons for the objection shall be stated. If objection is made to part of an item or category, the part shall be specified and inspection permitted of the remaining parts. The party submitting the request may move for an order under Rule 37(a) of these Rules with respect to any objection to or other failure to respond to the request or any part thereof, or any failure to permit inspection as requested.
A party who produces documents for inspection shall produce them as they are kept in the usual course of business or shall organize and label them to correspond with the categories in the request.
(c)(c) Persons not parties. A person not a party to the action may be compelled to produce documents and things or to submit to an inspection as provided in Rule 45 of these Rules.
End
Amendment History
The Hawaiʻi State Judiciary’s compiled text of this rule carries no amendment order for this rule. For the adopting orders and any later amendments, see the Hawaiʻi State Judiciary’s rules page.
Plain-English Summary
Two requests live in this rule. The first is to produce and permit inspection and copying of designated documents, which the rule defines broadly to include writings, drawings, graphs, charts, photographs, phonorecords and other data compilations, as well as tangible things, in the possession, custody or control of the party served. The second is to permit entry on designated land or property for inspection, measuring, surveying, photographing, testing or sampling.
No leave is needed. The request may be served on the plaintiff after the action begins and on any other party with or after service of the summons and complaint. It must describe each item or category with reasonable particularity and specify a reasonable time, place and manner.
The written response is due within 30 days, with a longer period for a defendant measured from service of the summons and complaint. It states for each item that inspection will be permitted, or gives reasons for objecting, and a partial objection must specify the part.
Two practical rules close it. Documents are produced as they are kept in the usual course of business, or organized and labelled to match the categories in the request. And a non-party is reached not by this rule but by a subpoena under Rule 45.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get documents from the other side in Hawaii family court?
Serve a request under Rule 34 describing the documents with reasonable particularity and specifying a reasonable time, place and manner for inspection.
How long is there to respond to a document request?
30 days after service, except that a defendant may respond within a longer period running from service of the summons and complaint.
Do I need permission to serve a request for production?
No. It may be served without leave of court.
How must documents be produced?
As they are kept in the usual course of business, or organized and labelled to correspond with the categories in the request.
How do I get documents from someone who is not a party?
By subpoena under Rule 45. Rule 34 reaches only parties.
Source & verification. The rule text is reproduced verbatim from the
official Hawaii Family Court Rules (Haw. Fam. Ct. R. 34). Prescribed by the Supreme Court of Hawaii. The plain-English summary is original and written by us. Last verified September 11, 2026. ·
Official source
Also known as:request for production hawaii family courtdocument discovery hawaii divorceentry upon land hawaii family courthawaii family court rule 34