Abatement is generally the temporary or permanent halting of a process (a lawsuit) or a situation (a nuisance).
In Hawaii, abatement refers to the legal process of stopping or suspending a situation or activity that is causing harm or nuisance. In the context of a lawsuit, abatement can occur when a case is temporarily put on hold or permanently dismissed. This can happen for various reasons, such as the death of a party involved, a settlement between the parties, or a jurisdictional issue. Regarding nuisances, Hawaii law allows for the abatement of conditions that are harmful to public health or safety, such as environmental hazards or property conditions that violate local ordinances. The state or local government may take action to halt the nuisance, and in some cases, affected individuals may seek a court order for abatement to stop the harmful activity or condition.