Court System:

• Circuit Court:  The Circuit Court has jurisdiction over all civil cases where the amount in controversy exceeds the sum of $25,000. (HRS 603.)

  District Court:  The District Court has jurisdiction over all civil cases where the amount in controversy does not exceed the sum of $25,000.  (HRS 604.)

  Small Claims Court:  Small Claims Court is a division of the District Court and has jurisdiction over money claims involving an amount not more than $3,500 exclusive of interest and costs.
  (The website of The Office of Consumer Protection of the State of Hawaii has an excellent web page which outlines the Ins and Outs Of Small Claims Court.)

Statutes of Limitation:

Civil actions generally can be commenced only within certain time limitations.   The time generally runs from the date a cause of action accrues or from the date injury or damages are discovered or should have been discovered.   In an action is brought to recover any balance due upon a mutual, open and current account, the cause of action is generally deemed to have accrued from the time of the last item proved in the account.  (HRS 657-2.)

When a cause of action accrues is a critical issue and may be different on a case by case basis.  A creditor should always consult actual legal counsel to determine its right to action under the applicable statutes.  Some of the time limitations relevant to credit and collection matters are as follows: