Remedies Under the Hawaii Lemon Law

A successful Hawaii claim produces a refund or replacement — at the manufacturer’s election under HRS § 481I-3(b) — under the Lemon Law, amplified by the HRS § 480-13 UDAP, which adds automatic treble damages (or a $1,000 floor) plus mandatory attorney fees.

The remedy menu

1. Refund — full purchase price (undercoating, dealer prep, transportation, options, collateral/incidental charges) minus a 1%-per-1,000-mile use offset.
2. Replacement — comparable new vehicle.
3. UDAP damages — $1,000 or treble, whichever greater (automatic), plus the $5,000 elder enhancement.
4. Attorney fees — discretionary in SCAP arbitration; mandatory in court under § 480-13; plus Magnuson-Moss § 2310(d)(2).

Topics in this section

• Refund (buyback) — The full-price refund and the 1%-per-1,000-mile offset.
• Replacement — Comparable-vehicle replacement (manufacturer’s election).
• Cash-and-keep — Negotiated cash settlements where you keep the vehicle.
• UDAP damages — The automatic treble, $1,000 floor, and elder enhancement.
• Attorney fees — Discretionary in arbitration, mandatory in court.

What makes Hawaii’s remedies distinctive

• Manufacturer elects refund or replacement (§ 481I-3(b)) — like Idaho and New Mexico; press your preferred outcome through SCAP and the UDAP leverage.
• 1%-per-1,000-mile offset — a clear, predictable formula, capped at the triggering mileage.
• Automatic UDAP treble (no willfulness required) plus mandatory fees — among the stronger UDAP remedies in the country, and the real engine of Hawaii’s consumer-favorability.

The recovery picture

Between fast SCAP relief and the UDAP’s automatic treble, Hawaii consumers have both a quick path and a high ceiling. See attorney fees.

Related

Topic

Hawaii Lemon Law FAQ

Common questions about Hawaii lemon-law claims — qualifying, the SCAP arbitration, hiring a lawyer, cost, used vehicles, denied claims, repair shops, and deadlines.

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Hawaii Lemon Law Cases by Manufacturer

How the Hawaii Lemon Law and the HRS § 480 UDAP apply to specific manufacturers across the Oahu, Maui, Hawai'i Island, and Kauai markets.

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The Process: Filing a Hawaii Lemon Law Claim

Step by step through a Hawaii lemon-law claim — documented repair attempts, the written report, the State Certified Arbitration Program (SCAP), and court action.

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Qualifying Defects Under the Hawaii Lemon Law

Which defects qualify under Hawaii's lemon law — and which trigger the one-attempt serious-safety-defect rule. Transmission, engine, brakes, electrical, steering, infotainment, EV — with salt-air and parts-delay factors.

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The Law: Hawaii Lemon Law and the UDAP (HRS § 480)

The statutes behind a Hawaii lemon-law claim — the Motor Vehicle Express Warranty Enforcement Act (HRS § 481I), the State Certified Arbitration Program, the HRS § 480 UDAP, and Magnuson-Moss.

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Vehicle Types Under the Hawaii Lemon Law

How Hawaii's lemon law applies across vehicle types — used, leased, EV, motorcycles (covered), RVs, and commercial — under the 10,000-lb cap and personal-use rules.

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