M. Kakanilua v. Director - Supreme Court Accepts Certiorari

Hawaii Supreme Court

Filed March 12th, 2026

Detected March 13th, 2026

Summary

The Supreme Court of the State of Hawai'i has accepted a writ of certiorari for the case M. Kakanilua v. Director of the Department of Public Works, County of Maui. The court has limited the question on review to question 3 of the petitioners' application and will not hear oral arguments.

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What changed

The Supreme Court of the State of Hawai'i has accepted a writ of certiorari in the case of M. Kakanilua, an unincorporated association, et al. v. Director of the Department of Public Works, County of Maui, et al. The Court has specifically limited the scope of review to question 3 as presented in the petitioners' application and has also ordered that no oral arguments will be heard, though parties may move for retention of oral argument within ten days.

This acceptance of certiorari signifies a procedural step in the appellate process, indicating the Supreme Court will review a decision from the Intermediate Court of Appeals. For legal professionals involved, this means the case will proceed to further briefing and potential decision by the Hawai'i Supreme Court on the limited question presented. There are no immediate compliance actions required for regulated entities outside of the parties directly involved in the litigation.

Source document (simplified)

Electronically Filed Supreme Court SCWC-19-0000107 12-MAR-2026 02:55 PM Dkt. 58 OGAC SCWC-19-0000107 IN THE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF HAWAI‘I MĀLAMA KAKANILUA, an unincorporated association, CLARE H. APANA and KANILOA LANI KAMAUNU, Petitioners/Plaintiffs-Appellants, vs. DIRECTOR OF THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS, COUNTY OF MAUI; and MAUI LANI PARTNERS, a domestic partnership, Respondents/Defendants-Appellees. CERTIORARI TO THE INTERMEDIATE COURT OF APPEALS (CAAP-19-0000107; CIVIL NO. 2CC181000122) ORDER ACCEPTING APPLICATION FOR WRIT OF CERTIORARI (By: McKenna, Acting C.J., Eddins, Ginoza, and Devens, JJ., and Circuit Judge Morikawa, assigned by reason of vacancy) Petitioners’ Application for Writ of Certiorari, filed on January 15, 2026, is hereby accepted. Under Hawaiʻi Rules of Appellate Procedure (“HRAP”) Rule 40.1(i), this court “may limit the question on review.” Here, we limit the question on review to question 3 of Petitioners’ application for writ of certiorari.

IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that no oral argument will be heard in this case. Any party may, within ten days and pursuant to HRAP Rule 34(c), move for retention of oral argument. DATED: Honolulu, Hawai‘i, March 12, 2026. /s/ Sabrina S. McKenna /s/ Todd W. Eddins /s/ Lisa M. Ginoza /s/ Vladimir P. Devens /s/ Trish K. Morikawa