Each circuit court may recommend, from time to time, rules and amendments of rules governing its practice not inconsistent with these rules. Copies of rules and amendments, when promulgated by the supreme court shall be made available to each attorney licensed to practice law in the State. In all cases not provided for by rule, the circuit courts may regulate their practice in any manner not inconsistent with these rules.
Rule 83.Rules by Circuit Courts.
Last amended July 1, 1972 · Last verified July 3, 2026
In one sentenceRule 83 lets each circuit court recommend its own local rules, so long as they don't conflict with these statewide rules, and lets courts regulate practice case by case where no rule covers it.
Full Text of Rule 83
Amendment History
Amended May 15, 1972, effective July 1, 1972
Plain-English Summary
Each circuit court may recommend, from time to time, its own rules and amendments governing local practice, as long as they're not inconsistent with these statewide rules; once the supreme court promulgates them, copies go out to every attorney licensed to practice in Hawaii.
Where no rule covers a particular situation, a circuit court can still regulate its own practice in any way that doesn't conflict with these rules, giving courts room to manage gaps without waiting for a formal rule change.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can individual circuit courts adopt their own local rules?
Yes, so long as those rules don't conflict with the statewide Rules of Civil Procedure, and they take effect once promulgated by the supreme court.
What happens when no rule addresses a particular situation?
Rule 83 lets the circuit court regulate its own practice in any manner not inconsistent with these rules.
Source & verification. The rule text and History are reproduced verbatim from the
official Hawaii Rules of Civil Procedure (Haw. R. Civ. P. 83). 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: local rules of circuit courtspractice not covered by rule