(a) Joinder of claims. A party asserting a claim to relief as an original claim, counterclaim, cross-claim, or third-party claim may join, either as independent or as alternate claims as many claims, legal or equitable, as the party has against an opposing party.
Rule 18.Joinder of Claims and Remedies.
Last amended January 1, 2000 · Last verified July 3, 2026
In one sentenceRule 18 lets a party join as many claims as it has against an opposing party in a single pleading, and lets two claims be joined even when one has traditionally had to be resolved before the other.
Full Text of Rule 18
(b) Joinder of remedies; fraudulent conveyances. Whenever a claim is one heretofore cognizable only after another claim has been prosecuted to a conclusion, the two claims may be joined in a single action; but the court shall grant relief in that action only in accordance with the relative substantive rights of the parties. In particular, a plaintiff may state a claim for money and a claim to have set aside a conveyance fraudulent as to that plaintiff, without first having obtained a judgment establishing the claim for money.
Amendment History
Amended May 15, 1972, effective July 1, 1972
further amended December 7, 1999, effective January 1, 2000
Plain-English Summary
Rule 18(a) lets a party asserting an original claim, counterclaim, cross-claim, or third-party claim join as many legal or equitable claims against an opposing party as it has, whether independent of each other or pleaded as alternatives. Rule 18(b) addresses a claim that used to be available only after another claim had already been resolved: the rule lets both be joined in a single action, though the court still grants relief only according to the parties' actual substantive rights. As an example, the rule lets a plaintiff plead both a claim for money and a claim to set aside a fraudulent conveyance in the same suit, without first winning a judgment on the money claim.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many claims can a party bring against an opposing party in one pleading?
Rule 18(a) lets a party join as many legal or equitable claims as it has against an opposing party, whether pleaded independently or as alternatives.
Can a claim to set aside a fraudulent conveyance be joined with the underlying money claim?
Yes. Rule 18(b) lets a plaintiff plead both in the same action without first obtaining a judgment establishing the money claim.
Source & verification. The rule text and History are reproduced verbatim from the
official Hawaii Rules of Civil Procedure (Haw. R. Civ. P. 18). Prescribed by the Supreme Court of Hawaii (Haw. Rev. Stat. § 602-11; Haw. Const. art. VI, § 7). The plain-English summary is original and written by us. Last verified July 3, 2026. ·
Official source
Also known as: joinder of claimsfraudulent conveyance claim