ADR Law and Guidelines
HRS Section 658H: Uniform Mediation Act (“UMA”). The button below links to the UMA’s text. I hope to add Hawaii case annotations in the future.
Revised Guidelines for Mediation (2025). On 5/6/25, the Hawaii Supreme Court issued its Resolution Endorsing the Revised Guidelines for Mediation, replacing the previous set of guidelines endorsed in 2002.
Note: the Supreme Court stated in its Resolution: “The Guidelines are not meant as binding rules and are not intended to regulate the work of mediators.” Accordingly, HRS Section 658H, case law, and terms in the parties’ own mediation agreement will continue as the sources to enforce rules for mediation and mediators.
HRS 658A, Uniform Arbitration Act
DPR’s Arbitration Rules. Many cases arbitrated in Hawaii use DPR’s “ARBITRATION RULES, PROCEDURES & PROTOCOLS OF DISPUTE PREVENTION & RESOLUTION, INC.” The button below links to DPR’s rules that became effective 1/1/2020 (and were still effective when last checked on 8/28/25). Be sure to check DPR’s website for any recent revisions: https://dprhawaii.com.