DEPOSITIONS

(a)Preparation and sealing by officer taking deposition. Unless an extension of time is granted by the court, the officer taking the deposition shall prepare and seal the deposition within 30 days after the taking of the deposition. (b)Production or filing of original deposition . Counsel or the unrepresented litigant who is responsible for the preservation and storage of the original transcript, tape, or other means of preservation of any deposition shall produce the original transcript, tape, or other means of preservation of such deposition if needed for court proceedings by any party, or when filing or using the same in court proceedings, or, if so ordered by the court, shall file only copies of the portion(s) thereof that are germane to the court proceedings. (c)Unsigned depositions. If the officer prepares and seals an unsigned deposition, the officer shall certify on the deposition the fact of waiver, illness, absence, or failure of the witness to appear, or the refusal to sign together with the reason, if any, given therefor. (d)Sealing. Once the officer has sealed a deposition it shall remain sealed unless opened temporarily by the officer or opened by the direction of a judge; provided that copies may be obtained pursuant to Rule 30(f)(2) of the Hawai‘i Rules of Civil Procedure. (Amended March 16, 1984, partly effective March 16, 1984, fully effective May 1, 1984; further amended October 4, 2019, effective October 28, 2019.)