A Hawaii Settlement Conference Order is a document issued by the Hawaii court system to facilitate settlement negotiations between parties in a civil dispute. This order is typically issued in cases where parties are unable to reach an agreement through pre-trial negotiations, and is designed to provide a neutral forum for the parties to settle their differences without going to trial. There are three types of Hawaii Settlement Conference Order: Mandatory Settlement Conference Order, Voluntary Settlement Conference Order, and Pre-Trial Conference Order. A Mandatory Settlement Conference Order is issued when a court determines that the parties must attend a settlement conference to attempt to resolve their dispute. The conference is presided over by a court-appointed arbitration panel consisting of three to five members who are experienced in dispute resolution. The panel will facilitate negotiations between the parties and may issue a binding recommendation for a settlement if an agreement can be reached. A Voluntary Settlement Conference Order is generally issued when the parties have already submitted an offer of settlement and the court determines that a settlement conference would be beneficial. This type of order is also presided over by an arbitration panel, but the panel does not have the authority to issue binding recommendations. Lastly, a Pre-Trial Conference Order is issued when the court deems that a settlement conference is necessary to resolve issues prior to trial. The panel members will work to identify areas of agreement and disagreement between the parties, and may issue a binding recommendation for a settlement if an agreement is reached.