What is the prescriptive period in Hawaii to acquire title to real property under adverse possession?

In Hawaii, the prescriptive period for acquiring title to real property through adverse possession is indeed 20 years. This means that if a person continuously and openly possesses a piece of property for a period of 20 years without the permission of the true owner, they may be able to claim ownership of that property through adverse possession.

Adverse possession laws are designed to encourage the productive use of land and to resolve disputes over ownership. The possession must be actual, open, hostile (without permission), and continuous during the entire 20-year period. This long duration is intended to reflect a strong level of commitment to the property and to ensure that the true owner has a reasonable amount of time to take action to reclaim the property if they wish to do so.

Other durations listed in the choices do not correspond with Hawaii's legal requirements for adverse possession. Each state varies in its prescriptive periods, but in the case of Hawaii, the 20-year requirement is critical for a successful adverse possession claim.