← Back to search

HRS §91-1

What key legal terms mean in this chapter

This section defines important words used in the rest of this chapter, like agency, contested case, party, and rule. It explains who counts as a person and what counts as a rule. This helps you understand the rest of the law.

everyone

The statute, as written — Definitions

For the purpose of this chapter: "Agency" means each state or county board, commission, department, or officer authorized by law to make rules or to adjudicate contested cases, except those in the legislative or judicial branches. "Agency hearing" refers only to such hearing held by an agency immediately prior to a judicial review of a contested case as provided in section 91-14. "Contested case" means a proceeding in which the legal rights, duties, or privileges of specific parties are required by law to be determined after an opportunity for agency hearing. "Party" means each person named or admitted as a party, or properly seeking and entitled as of right to be admitted as a party, in any court or agency proceeding. "Persons" includes individuals, partnerships, corporations, associations, agencies, or public or private organizations. "Rule" means each agency statement of general or particular applicability and future effect that implements, interprets, or prescribes law or policy, or describes the organization, procedure, or practice requirements of any agency. The term does not include regulations concerning only the internal management of an agency and not affecting private rights of or procedures available to the public, nor does the term include declaratory rulings issued pursuant to section 91-8, nor intra-agency memoranda.
Read the official text at capitol.hawaii.gov ↗as published Jan 6, 2026our copy taken Aug 20, 2026

Sections this one refers to

§91-8 How to ask an agency for a declaratory order

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