Rule 17 - Parties Plaintiff and Defendant; Capacity(a) Real party in interest. Every action shall be prosecuted in the name of the real party in interest. An executor, administrator, guardian, bailee, trustee of an express trust, a party with whom or in whose name a contract has been made for the benefit of another, or a party authorized by statute may sue in its own name without joining with it the party for whose benefit the action is brought. No action shall be dismissed on the ground that it is not prosecuted in the name of the real party in interest until a reasonable time has been allowed after objection for ratification of commencement of the action by, or joinder or substitution of, the real party in interest; and such ratification, joinder, or substitution shall have the same effect as if the action had been commenced in the name of the real party in interest.(c) Infants or incompetent persons. Whenever an infant or incompetent person has a guardian, whether appointed as to that person or property, such guardian appointed as to property, or if no guardian has been appointed as to property, then such guardian appointed as to that person, may sue or defend on behalf of the infant or incompetent person. If an infant or incompetent person does not have a duly appointed guardian that person may sue by that person's next friend or by a guardian ad litem. The court shall appoint a guardian ad litem for an infant or incompetent person not otherwise represented in an action or shall make such other order as it deems proper for the protection of the infant or incompetent person.(d) Unidentified defendant.(1) When it shall be necessary or proper to make a person a party defendant and the party desiring the inclusion of the person as a party defendant has been unable to ascertain the identity of a defendant, the party desiring the inclusion of the person as a party defendant shall in accordance with the criteria of Rule 11 of these rules set forth in a pleading the person's interest in the action, so much of the identity as is known (and if unknown, a fictitious name shall be used), and shall set forth with specificity all actions already undertaken in a diligent and good-faith effort to ascertain the person's full name and identity.(2) Subject to HRS section 657-22, the person intended shall thereupon be considered a party defendant to the action, as having notice of the institution of the action against that person, and as sufficiently described for all purposes, including services of process, and the action shall proceed against that person.(3) Any party may, by motion for certification, make the name or identity of the party defendant known to the court within a reasonable time after the moving party knew or should have known the name or identity of the party defendant. The motion shall be supported by affidavit setting forth all facts substantiating the movant's claim that the naming or identification has been made in good faith and with due diligence. When the naming or identification is made by a plaintiff, it shall be made prior to the filing of the pretrial statement by that plaintiff, or within such additional time as the court may allow. The court shall freely grant reasonable extensions of the time in which to name or identify the party defendant to any party exercising due diligence in attempting to ascertain the party defendant's name or identity.(4) When a party defendant has been named or identified in accordance with this rule, the court shall so certify and may make any order that justice requires to protect any party from undue burden and expense in any further proceedings involving the party defendant.(5) A party defendant who has been named or identified in accordance with this rule may have dismissal of one or more claims against the defendant if the defendant shows in a timely manner that the delay in naming or identifying that defendant has caused that defendant substantial prejudice and if the interests of justice so require.Amended May 15, 1972, effective 7/1/1972, further amended July 10, 1984, effective 7/10/1984; further amended July 26, 1990, effective 9/1/1990; further amended December 7, 1999, effective 1/1/2000.