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HRS §701-118

Definitions for the Hawaii Penal Code

This section explains the meanings of basic words used throughout the criminal code, such as act, omission, person, and state. It makes clear that these definitions apply unless the law says otherwise.

everyone

The statute, as written — General definitions

In this Code, unless a different meaning plainly is required: "Act" or "action" means a bodily movement whether voluntary or involuntary. "Acted" includes, where relevant, "omitted to act". "Actor" includes, a person who acts, or, where relevant, a person guilty of omission. "Another" means any other person and includes, where relevant, the United States, this State and any of its political subdivisions, and any other state and any of its political subdivisions. "Conduct" means an act or omission, or, where relevant, a series of acts or a series of omissions, or a series of acts and omissions. "Law enforcement officer" means any public servant, whether employed by the State or county or by the United States, vested by law with a duty to maintain public order or, to make arrests for offenses or to enforce the criminal laws, whether that duty extends to all offenses or is limited to a specific class of offenses. "Omission" means a failure to act. "Person", "he", "him", "actor", and "defendant" include any natural person, including any natural person whose identity can be established by means of scientific analysis, including but not limited to scientific analysis of deoxyribonucleic acid and fingerprints, whether or not the natural person's name is known, and, where relevant, a corporation or an unincorporated association. "State" means a state of the United States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and any territory or possession of the United States. "Statute" includes the Constitution of the State and a local law or ordinance of a political subdivision of the State.
Read the official text at capitol.hawaii.gov ↗as published Jan 6, 2026our copy taken Aug 20, 2026

LawTrove is not legal advice. The summary above is a computer-generated restatement — the authoritative text is the official version linked above.