Unless the court otherwise directs and subject to the provisions of Rule 54 of these rules and Rule 23 of the Rules of the Circuit Courts, the prevailing party shall prepare and submit a proposed judgment. The filing of the judgment in the office of the clerk constitutes the entry of the judgment; and the judgment is not effective before such entry. The entry of the judgment shall not be delayed for the taxing of costs. Every judgment shall be set forth on a separate document.
Rule 58.Entry of Judgment.
Last amended July 1, 2010 · Last verified July 3, 2026
In one sentenceRule 58 says a judgment isn't effective until it's filed with the clerk, and that every judgment must stand as its own separate document.
Full Text of Rule 58
Amendment History
Amended July 26, 1990, effective September 1, 1990
further amended January 28, 2010, effective July 1, 2010
Plain-English Summary
Unless the court directs otherwise, and subject to Rule 54 and the Rules of the Circuit Courts, the prevailing party prepares and submits the proposed judgment. Filing it with the clerk is what enters the judgment, and the judgment has no legal effect before that filing happens.
Entering the judgment can't be held up just to wait on taxing costs, and every judgment must appear on its own separate document rather than folded into an opinion or order.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does a judgment become effective?
Only when it's filed in the clerk's office; the judgment is not effective before that entry.
Can entering a judgment be delayed to sort out costs first?
No. Rule 58 specifically says entry of the judgment shall not be delayed for the taxing of costs.
Does a judgment need to be its own document?
Yes. Every judgment must be set forth on a separate document.
Source & verification. The rule text and History are reproduced verbatim from the
official Hawaii Rules of Civil Procedure (Haw. R. Civ. P. 58). 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: entry of judgmentwhen is a judgment effectiveseparate judgment document