Castle Doctrine in Hawaii
State-specific overview · Criminal Law
Hawaii has no Castle Doctrine; duty to retreat applies even in your home if safe retreat is possible.
How Hawaii treats Castle Doctrine
Hawaii does not recognize a Castle Doctrine or Stand Your Ground law. Residents have a duty to retreat from their own homes if they can do so safely before using force in self-defense. This makes Hawaii unique among US states in applying the retreat requirement even to one's own dwelling. The state's self-defense laws focus on proportionality and reasonableness rather than a right to hold ground.
The general definition of Castle Doctrine
A law stating that a person's home is their castle and they can use force to defend it without duty to retreat.
The castle doctrine is a legal principle that treats a person's home as a safe place where they have the right to defend themselves and their family with force, including deadly force, without any duty to retreat. The doctrine applies specifically to your own home and sometimes extends to your vehicle or workplace. It's based on the idea that your home is your private sanctuary where you should feel secure. The castle doctrine is narrower than stand your ground laws because it applies only to your own property, not public spaces.
Read the full Castle Doctrine entry →This page is a plain-English reference and is not legal advice. State laws change frequently. For specific situations consult a licensed attorney in Hawaii.