§669-2 Defendants; unknown persons. (a) Any person may be made a defendant in the action who has or claims, or may claim, an interest in the property adverse to the plaintiff, or who is a necessary party to a complete determination or settlement of the issues involved therein.

(b) Unknown persons may be made parties as provided by the rules of court, if:

(1) It shall be shown by the complaint that there are or may be persons unknown, claiming by, through, or under any named person; or

(2) Other facts shall be shown by the complaint giving rise to an actual controversy between plaintiff and persons unidentified or whose names are unknown.

(1) There shall be joined as defendants, in addition to persons known to have an adverse interest, the adjoining owners and occupants so far as known.

(2) If all persons interested who are known or can be joined as provided by subsection (b) have been made parties, the summons in addition to being directed to such parties, may be directed to unknown persons generally and in such case, after service upon the persons summoned, known and unknown, the court shall have jurisdiction to proceed as though all persons interested were in being and personally served, but any adjudication shall, as regards a defendant served pursuant to section 669-3, affect only the property which is the subject of the action except as provided by section 634-23.

(d) In any action brought under section 669-1, the State may be joined as a defendant only when:

(1) It is an adjoining property owner and the same is alleged by the plaintiff; or

(2) The party asserting the claim can demonstrate, by a title search prepared at the party's own expense by an abstractor, that the State has a clear and specific interest in the subject matter of the suit which is adverse to the plaintiff's claim, and a copy of the title search is furnished to the State without cost, together with the complaint.

(e) In any action brought under section 669-1, the office of Hawaiian affairs shall be joined as a defendant, by service upon the office of Hawaiian affairs, when:

(1) The land claimed by the plaintiff is kuleana land; and

(2) The plaintiff has reason to believe that an owner of an inheritable interest in the kuleana land died intestate or died partially intestate and there is or was no taker under article II of the Hawaii uniform probate code.

For purposes of this subsection, "kuleana land" means that land granted to native tenants pursuant to L 1850, p. 202, entitled "An Act Confirming Certain Resolutions of the King and Privy Council, Passed on the 21st Day of December, A.D. 1849, Granting to the Common People Allodial Titles for Their Own Lands and House Lots, and Certain Other Privileges", as originally enacted and as amended. [L 1890, c 18, §2; RL 1925, §2758; RL 1935, §4391; RL 1945, §10452; am L Sp 1949, c 46, §1(b); RL 1955, §242-2; HRS §669-2; am L 1972, c 90, §12(b); am L 1977, c 154, §1; gen ch 1985; am L 1987, c 283, §63; am L 1991, c 177, §2]

Case Notes

Cases prior to adoption of the Hawaii Rules of Civil Procedure.

Not essential to make parties all persons who claim interest. 10 H. 507 (1896).

Cross-complaint against codefendants is doubtful pleading where defendant sets up defendant's own title and fails to ask affirmative relief against them. 25 H. 246, 250 (1919).

All necessary parties may be defendants and have jury trial. 28 H. 1 (1924). See also 4 H. 131 (1878).

Cited: 32 H. 323, 324 (1932).