Attending HOA Meetings in Hawaii

Hawaii opens the board's meetings to owners under both its condominium and planned-community laws, and even lets owners participate in the discussion. Knowing what the statute requires helps you press for it. For your specific situation, a licensed Hawaii attorney is the right resource. This is general information, not legal advice.

Are condo board meetings open to owners in Hawaii?

Yes. Under HRS § 514B-125, all board meetings other than executive sessions are open to all association members, and members not on the board may participate in deliberation or discussion under owner participation rules the board adopts. The board must meet at least once a year, with notice posted in prominent locations within the project 72 hours before a meeting.

Under § 514B-125, "[a]ll meetings of the board, other than executive sessions, shall be open to all members of the association," and members who are not on the board "shall be permitted to participate in any deliberation or discussion, other than executive sessions, pursuant to owner participation rules adopted by the board." So owners may not only watch but take part, within reasonable rules the board sets.

The board "shall meet at least once a year," and notice "shall be posted … in prominent locations within the project seventy-two hours prior to the meeting." Owners may also participate remotely where the board permits it.

Executive sessions are limited

The board may reconvene in executive session, but only "to discuss and vote upon matters concerning personnel, litigation … or as may be necessary to protect the attorney-client privilege," and "[t]he general nature of any business to be considered in executive session shall first be announced in open session." So owners are told, in open session, the general subject of anything the board takes behind closed doors.

Are Hawaii planned-community board meetings open to owners?

Yes. For planned communities under Chapter 421J, HRS § 421J-5 provides that board meetings other than executive sessions are open to all members, who may participate in any deliberation or discussion unless a majority of a quorum of the board votes otherwise. Separately, HRS § 421J-3.5 requires at least 14 days' notice of association meetings, but not of board meetings.

For planned communities under Chapter 421J, § 421J-5 provides a parallel rule: board meetings other than executive sessions "shall be open to all members," who "may participate in any deliberation or discussion … unless a majority of a quorum of the board of directors votes otherwise." Chapter 421J also sets notice requirements in § 421J-3.5: written notice "[n]ot less than fourteen days in advance of any regular, annual, or special meeting of an association," a rule that does not apply to board or committee meetings (§ 421J-3.5(a), (d)).

What the bylaws and corporation law add

Quorum, proxies, how directors are elected, and detailed voting procedures generally come from the declaration and bylaws and Hawaii's nonprofit corporation law, which fill in the mechanics around the statutory open-meeting floor. Where the bylaws call for cumulative voting, the statutes add rules of their own: since May 26, 2026 (Act 37, Session Laws of Hawaii 2026), a "candidate" in a cumulative-voting election "means a nominee or write-in candidate," and each condo owner may "give all of the votes to one candidate or distribute the votes among any or all of the candidates" (HRS § 514B-124.5; for planned communities, § 421J-3.2). A licensed Hawaii attorney can read the declaration and bylaws with you.

What people generally do

For owners who want a real voice in their Hawaii association, a few things commonly matter:

• Whether board meetings are posted 72 hours ahead (condos) and held open.
• The board's owner-participation rules, which govern how owners take part in deliberations.
• Whether executive-session topics are announced in open session first.
• Minutes and the financial statement show how decisions were made.
• If meetings fall short of § 514B-125 or § 421J-5, a licensed Hawaii attorney or the state's dispute-resolution options are the available resources.

Sources

• HRS § 514B-125 — Board meetings
• HRS § 421J-5 — Meetings of the board of directors
• HRS § 421J-3.5 — Notice required; regular, annual, and special meetings
• Act 37, Session Laws of Hawaii 2026 (HB 1678) — cumulative voting, HRS §§ 514B-124.5 and 421J-3.2