Rapozo v. State.

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Electronically Filed
Supreme Court
SCWC-XX-XXXXXXX
22-OCT-2021
09:44 AM
Dkt. 19 OP
IN THE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF HAWAIʻI

---o0o---
________________________________________________________________

RICHARD RAPOZO, Petitioner/Petitioner-Appellant,

vs.

STATE OF HAWAIʻI,Respondent/Respondent-Appellee.
________________________________________________________________

SCWC-XX-XXXXXXX

CERTIORARI TO THE INTERMEDIATE COURT OF APPEALS
(CAAP-XX-XXXXXXX; CASE NO. 1PR141000016)

OCTOBER 22, 2021

RECKTENWALD, C.J., NAKAYAMA, McKENNA, WILSON, AND EDDINS, JJ.

OPINION OF THE COURT BY McKENNA, J.

I. Introduction

Richard Rapozo (“Rapozo”) appeals pro se from the Circuit

Court of the First Circuit’s (“circuit court”)1 denial of his

1 The Honorable Richard K. Perkins presided over the eighth HRPP Rule 40
petition at issue in this certiorari proceeding.
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eighth Hawaiʻi Rules of Penal Procedure (“HRPP”) Rule 40 (2006)

petition for post-conviction relief.

Rapozo was convicted of murder by a jury on April 10, 1979.

On May 16, 1979, the trial court sentenced Rapozo to life

imprisonment with the possibility of parole and ordered

restitution “in the amount of $11,109.33, the manner of payment

to be determined and handled by the Department of Social

Services and Housing.” In an October 18, 1979 “Notice and Order

Fixing Minimum Term(s) of Imprisonment,” the Hawaiʻi Paroling

Authority (“HPA”) set Rapozo’s minimum sentence at thirty years,

with the condition that “[p]arole shall not be granted until

judg[]ment of restitution is satisfied” (“minimum term order”).

The HPA denied Rapozo’s parole requests from 2006 through 2013

on the grounds it was not convinced Rapozo could substantially

comply with the terms and conditions of parole, without stating

why it was not convinced, and recommended that Rapozo

participate in various programs.

Liberally construed,2 in summary, Rapozo argued in his

eighth HRPP Rule 40 petition that (1) the trial court erred by

ordering restitution without first determining whether Rapozo

could afford to pay it; (2) the trial court erred by delegating

2 See Villaver v. Sylva, 145 Hawaiʻi 29, 36, 445 P.3d 701, 708 (2019) (“A
fundamental tenet of Hawaiʻi law is that pleadings prepared by pro se
litigants should be interpreted liberally” (cleaned up)).

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payment of restitution to the Department of Social Services and

Housing (“DSSH”); and (3) the HPA erred by denying him parole

for nonpayment of restitution. The circuit court denied the

eighth HRPP Rule 40 petition without a hearing on June 21, 2016.

The Intermediate Court of Appeals (“ICA”) affirmed. The

ICA declined to address Rapozo’s argument on appeal that the

trial court erred by ordering restitution without determining

Rapozo’s ability to pay on the grounds Rapozo had not raised the

issue before the trial court in the eighth HRPP Rule 40

petition. The ICA also ruled that State v. Johnson, 68 Haw.

292, 297, 711 P.2d 1295, 1299 (1985), which held that “[w]ithout

express legislative authority, the court cannot delegate the

sentencing function to another person or entity,” did not

retroactively apply to Rapozo’s sentence.

In summary, we hold that Rapozo stated a colorable claim

that the HPA denied parole due to nonpayment of restitution due

to the condition in the minimum term order. We also hold that

Johnson clarified an existing legal principle, and therefore did

not create a “new rule.” Thus, Rapozo raised colorable claims

in his eighth HRPP Rule 40 petition.

Hence, we vacate the ICA’s April 5, 2021 judgment on appeal

and the circuit court’s June 21, 2016 order denying the eighth

HRPP Rule 40 petition, and we remand this case to the circuit

court for further proceedings consistent with this opinion.

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II. Background

A. Factual background

The ICA opinion on Rapozo’s direct appeal sets out the

factual background of the murder conviction:

On the evening of August 15, 1978, appellant [Rapozo]
was at the Waimanalo Gym. He purchased a pistol outside
the Gym and tucked it in his pants. He consumed some beer
during the course of the evening. A girls’ volleyball game
was in progress in the Gym and appellant had been in the
Gym playing with the girls for about an hour when he
allegedly became obnoxious and was asked to leave. As he
walked away, he was confronted by one Robert Lee, whom he
had never met. Lee was fatally wounded by the first bullet
fired from appellant’s gun which struck him in the stomach.
After Lee had fallen, the appellant shot him two more
times. On the question of whether the appellant drew his
gun and shot Lee the first time or whether the first shot
resulted from Lee’s attempt to seize the gun and the
resulting struggle, the evidence was conflicting.

State v. Rapozo (Rapozo I), 1 Haw. App. 255, 257, 617 P.2d 1235,

1236 (1980).

1. Indictment and sentence

On August 23, 1978, a grand jury indicted Rapozo for murder

in violation of Hawaiʻi Revised Statutes (“HRS”) § 707-701.3 On

April 10, 1979, a jury convicted Rapozo of the charged offense.

On May 16, 1979, the trial court filed its judgment

sentencing Rapozo to life imprisonment with the possibility of

3 HRS § 707-701 (1976) provided:

§ 707-701 Murder. (1) Except as provided in section
707-702, a person commits the offense of murder if [the
person] intentionally or knowingly causes the death of
another person.
(2) Murder is a class A felony for which the
defendant shall be sentenced to imprisonment as provided in
section 706-606.

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parole. The trial court also ordered “restitution in the amount

of $11,109.33, the manner of payment to be determined and

handled by the Department of Social Services and Housing.”

The HPA’s October 18, 1979 minimum term order set Rapozo’s

minimum sentence at thirty years, with the condition that

“[p]arole shall not be granted until judg[]ment of restitution

is satisfied.”4 (Emphasis added.)

B. Procedural background

Because HRPP Rule 40(a)(3)5 prohibits relief when “the

issues sought to be raised have been previously ruled upon or

were waived,” we summarize Rapozo’s previous appeals and

4
At the time of sentencing, HRS § 706-669 (1976) stated in relevant
part:
(1) When a person has been sentenced to an
indeterminate or an extended term of imprisonment, the
Hawaii paroling authority shall, as soon as practicable but
no later than six months after commitment to the custody of
the director of the department of social services and
housing hold a hearing, and on the basis of the hearing
make an order fixing the minimum term of imprisonment to be
served before the prisoner shall become eligible for
parole.
5
HRPP Rule 40(a)(3), which governs waiver of issues in HRPP Rule 40
proceedings, states:

(3) Inapplicability. Rule 40 proceedings shall not be
available and relief thereunder shall not be granted where
the issues sought to be raised have been previously ruled
upon or were waived. Except for a claim of illegal
sentence, an issue is waived if the petitioner knowingly
and understandingly failed to raise it and it could have
been raised before the trial, at the trial, on appeal, in a
habeas corpus proceeding or any other proceeding actually
conducted, or in a prior proceeding actually initiated
under this rule, and the petitioner is unable to prove the
existence of extraordinary circumstances to justify the
petitioner’s failure to raise the issue. There is a
rebuttable presumption that a failure to appeal a ruling or
to raise an issue is a knowing and understanding failure.

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petitions. We also summarize relevant proceedings before the

HPA.

1. Rapozo’s direct appeal, previous petitions, and parole
hearings

a. Direct appeal

Rapozo appealed from the original judgment of conviction to

the ICA, alleging ineffective assistance of counsel.6 Rapozo I,

1 Haw. App. at 257, 617 P.2d at 1236–37. The ICA affirmed

Rapozo’s conviction, holding the record insufficient to

establish ineffective assistance of counsel. Id.

b. First HRPP Rule 40 petition

On May 8, 1981, Rapozo filed his first HRPP Rule 40

petition, S.P. No. 5490, again alleging ineffective assistance

of counsel.7 The circuit court denied the petition. On appeal,

this court affirmed, concluding Rapozo’s ineffective assistance

of counsel claim was meritless. Rapozo v. State, No. 8573 (Haw.

June 26, 1984) (mem.).

6 Specifically, Rapozo argued trial counsel should have made the defense
of intoxication as precluding the state of mind required for murder the main
thrust of the defense, rather than the defense of accident. Rapozo I, 1 Haw.
App. at 257, 617 P.2d at 1237.

7 Rapozo again argued ineffective assistance of counsel, contending (1)
trial counsel did not adequately investigate his claim of intoxication and
resulting diminished capacity, and thus failed to present that defense and
improperly urged the defense of unintentional or accidental homicide, and (2)
trial counsel coached him to give perjured testimony.

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c. First habeas corpus petition

On June 3, 1988, Rapozo filed a habeas corpus petition in

the United States District Court for the District of Hawaiʻi

(“district court”) once again alleging ineffective assistance of

counsel.8 The district court dismissed the petition on December

18, 1991.

d. Second HRPP Rule 40 petition

On August 13, 1993, Rapozo filed his second HRPP Rule 40

petition, S.P.P. No. 93-0048, alleging different grounds for

relief.9 The circuit court denied the petition without a hearing

and Rapozo did not appeal.

e. Reduction of Rapozo’s minimum term sentence

On August 21, 1995, the HPA granted Rapozo’s application to

reduce his minimum term sentence from thirty years to twenty-

eight years. His minimum term sentence therefore expired on

August 10, 2006.

8 Rapozo argued (1) ineffective assistance from both trial and appellate
counsel because they failed to fully investigate a possible intoxication
defense, (2) trial counsel counseled Rapozo on what to testify to at trial,
thus causing Rapozo to commit perjury and neglect the intoxication issue, and
(3) the trial court judge was biased against him because the same judge had
convicted his brother of murdering a witness. See State v. Rapozo, No, 88-
0414DAE (D. Haw. Nov. 1, 1991) (report and recommendation).

9 Rapozo argued (1) the trial judge was biased against him, (2) the trial
judge had a conflict of interest and therefore neglected to instruct for
negligent homicide, (3) the police were negligent in their investigation, and
(4) his trial counsel was rewarded for his conviction with a position as a
judge.

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f. Third HRPP Rule 40 petition

On July 11, 1997, Rapozo filed his third HRPP Rule 40

petition, S.P.P. No. 97-0016, alleging ineffective assistance of

counsel and several other grounds for relief.10 The circuit

court denied the petition. On appeal, the ICA summarily

affirmed. Rapozo v. State, 90 Hawaiʻi 502, 979 P.2d 98 (SDO)

(App. Jan. 27, 1999).

g. HRPP Rule 35 motion to correct sentence

On January 12, 1999, Rapozo filed a “Brief in Support of

Motion to Correct Sentence” (“HRPP Rule 35 motion”).11 The

circuit court summarily denied the HRPP Rule 35 motion without a

hearing.12 This court dismissed Rapozo’s appeal after he failed

10 Rapozo argued (1) ineffective assistance of trial counsel because
counsel failed to object and move for an in camera hearing, (2) the State
misled the jury by withholding material evidence, and (3) he was denied the
right to confront potential witnesses/statements.

11 Rapozo argued that HRS § 707-701 had been amended since the time of his
sentence, and the crime of which he was convicted did not fall within the
scope of the then-current version of HRS § 707-701 (1993), first degree
murder. He also argued his sentence should be corrected to reflect the term
of imprisonment imposed by HRS § 706-656 (1993), the statute then governing
the penalty for second degree murder, HRS § 707-701.5 (1993).

12 The circuit court rejected the motion because (1) it was untimely under
HRPP Rule 35, and (2) HRS § 707-701.5 could not be retroactively applied. As
to the second basis, the circuit court, noting that HRS § 707-701 was amended
and HRS § 707-701.5 (second degree murder) was added by 1986 Haw. Sess. Laws
Act 314, § 50 at 616, stated:

In essence, Rapozo asks this court to correct his
sentence to reflect the sentence of an offense (Murder in
the Second Degree) that did not exist at the time Rapozo
was indicted, convicted and sentenced. Rapozo’s request
presents the issue of whether this court can retroactively
apply HRS § 707-701.5 (1993), which took effect on January
1, 1987, to correct Rapozo’s sentence, which was imposed on
May 16, 1979.
(continued. . .)

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to file an opening brief. See State v. Rapozo, No. 22327 (Haw.

Sept. 9, 1999) (order).

h. Fourth HRPP Rule 40 petition

On January 5, 2006, Rapozo filed a request for “Revocation

of Restitution Forms,” which did not contain any arguments. The

circuit court construed the request as a non-conforming petition

for post-conviction relief under HRPP Rule 40(c)(2)13 and filed

the request under S.P.P. No. 06-1-0040. Because Rapozo did not

(. . .continued)
HRS § 1-3 (1993) states that “[n]o law has any
retrospective operation, unless otherwise expressed or
obviously intended.” The general rule is that “[s]tatutes
or regulations which say nothing about retroactive
application are not applied retroactively if such a
construction will impair existing rights, create new
obligations or impose additional duties with respect to
past transactions.” Clark v. Cassidy, 64 Haw. 74, 77, n.6,
636 P.2d 1344, 1346, n.6 (1981). Because Act 314 took
effect on January 1, 1987 and because HRS § 707-701.5
(1993) does not mention retroactive application, this court
cannot correct Rapozo’s sentence to conform with the
provisions of HRS § 707-656 (1993), the sentence required
by HRS § 707-701.5 (1993).
On May 16, 1979, Rapozo was sentenced to life
imprisonment with the possibility of parole. This sentence
was correct according to the law as it existed at that
time.

(Alterations in original.)
13 HRPP Rule 40(c)(2) states:

(c) Form and Content of Petition.

. . . .

(2) Nonconforming Petition. Where a post-conviction
petition deviates from the form annexed to these
rules, it shall nevertheless be accepted for filing
and shall be treated as a petition under this rule
provided that the petition (i) claims illegality of a
judgment or illegality of “custody” or “restraint”
arising out of a judgment, (ii) is accompanied by the
necessary filing fee or by a well-founded request to
proceed without paying filing fees, and (iii) meets
minimum standards of legibility and regularity.

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supplement the non-conforming petition as required, the circuit

court dismissed the petition.

i. 2006 parole hearing

On October 23, 2006, the HPA denied Rapozo’s parole request

on the grounds it was “not convinced that [Rapozo] could

substantially comply with the terms and conditions of parole.”

The HPA recommended “[t]hat [Rapozo] participate in work

furlough.” A rehearing was scheduled for July 2007.

j. 2007 parole hearing

On July 24, 2007, the HPA again denied Rapozo’s parole

request on the grounds it was “not convinced that [Rapozo] could

substantially comply with the terms and conditions of parole.”

The HPA recommended “[t]hat [Rapozo] participate in all RAD

recommended programs.”14 A rehearing was scheduled for June

2008.

k. Fifth HRPP Rule 40 petition

On January 24, 2008, Rapozo filed his fifth HRPP Rule 40

petition, S.P.P. No. 08-1-0003, raising various grounds for

relief.15 The circuit court denied the petition without a

14 The record does not reflect what the acronym RAD means. However,
according to Rapozo, “RAD” means “Reception Assessment & Diagnostics.”

15 Rapozo argued (1) his First Amendment rights were violated by
application of ex post facto laws, (2) the HPA and Department of Public
Safety (“DPS”) refused to release him after the expiration of what should
have been his maximum term sentence, (3) he was falsely imprisoned, and (4)
ex post facto law changes “were applied without notification of change or
application.”

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hearing, and Rapozo appealed. The ICA affirmed, holding that

Rapozo was properly sentenced to life imprisonment with the

possibility of parole and he was not being held beyond the

expiration of his maximum sentence. Rapozo v. State, No. 29771,

2010 WL 2565125, at *1 (App. June 28, 2010) (SDO).

l. 2008 parole hearing

On June 26, 2008, the HPA again denied Rapozo’s parole

request on the grounds it was “not convinced that [Rapozo could]

substantially comply with the terms and conditions of parole.”

The HPA recommended “[t]hat [Rapozo] participate in all RAD

recommended programs.” A rehearing was scheduled for May 2009.

m. 2009 parole hearing

On May 20, 2009, the HPA once again denied Rapozo’s parole

request on the grounds it was “not convinced that [Rapozo could]

substantially comply with the terms and conditions of parole.”

The HPA recommended “[t]hat Rapozo participate in work

furlough.” A rehearing was scheduled for April 2010.

n. Sixth HRPP Rule 40 petition

On May 26, 2009, Rapozo filed a “Petition for Writ of

Habeas Corpus” in the circuit court.16 The circuit court treated

the petition as a non-conforming petition for post-conviction

relief and filed it under S.P.P. No. 09-1-0022. Rapozo again

16 Rapozo argued he was illegally imprisoned because he was sentenced to a
twenty-year imprisonment and ex post facto law changes were applied.

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did not timely supplement the non-conforming petition with the

required form, and the circuit court dismissed the petition.

o. 2010 parole hearing

On April 22, 2010, the HPA denied Rapozo’s parole request,

stating: “REASON FOR DENIAL: Your participation in work furlough

while incarcerated will significantly enhance your success on

parole.” A rehearing was scheduled for January 2011.

p. Second habeas corpus petition

On August 30, 2010, Rapozo filed an “Amended Petition Under

28 U.S.C. § 2254 for a Writ of Habeas Corpus by a Person in

State Custody” in the district court.17 The district court

transferred the petition to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals

on the grounds only the Ninth Circuit could authorize the

district court to consider a second or successive petition for

writ of habeas corpus. The Ninth Circuit then denied

authorization for a second habeas corpus petition.

q. 2011 parole hearing

On March 28, 2011, the HPA denied Rapozo’s parole request

on the grounds it was “not convinced that [Rapozo could]

substantially comply with the terms and conditions of parole.”

17 Rapozo argued (1) erroneous conviction and violation of the Fifth and
Sixth Amendments to the United States Constitution, (2) violation of article
1, section 10 of the United States Constitution (ex post facto clause), (3)
cruel and unusual punishment in violation of the Eighth Amendment to the
United States Constitution, and (4) illegal and improper detainment in
violation of the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution.

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The HPA recommended “[t]hat [Rapozo] participate in work

furlough.” A rehearing was scheduled for February 2012.

r. Seventh HRPP Rule 40 petition

On January 10, 2012, Rapozo filed an HRPP Rule 40 petition

that alleged fourteen points of error, initiating S.P.P. No. 12-

1-0003.18 The circuit court dismissed the petition, finding:

All fourteen grounds raised by Petitioner were in fact
already raised and ruled upon either in Petitioner’s direct
appeal, or in one of his four prior Rule 40 Petitions cited
above and their respective appeals.[19] Even assuming,
arguendo, that any of the fourteen grounds were not raised
in Petitioner’s prior Rule 40 Petitions or his direct
appeal, they are deemed waived as Petitioner has failed to
allege facts establishing the existence of extraordinary
circumstances to justify the failure to raise them in the
earlier proceedings.

The ICA dismissed Rapozo’s appeal after Rapozo failed to

file an opening brief. Rapozo v. State, No. CAAP-XX-XXXXXXX,

2013 WL 1490431 (App. Apr. 11, 2013) (order).

18 The fourteen points of error were: (1) application of ex post facto
laws to his sentence; (2) violation of the ex post facto clause; (3) the
State did not prove the elements of the charged offense beyond a reasonable
doubt; (4) the State used perjured testimony; (5) vindictive prosecution; (6)
error under Chapman v. California, 386 U.S. 18 (1967); (7) he was falsely
charged with charges stemming from a riot at Halawa Correctional Center; (8)
trial counsel’s conflict of interest as he was rewarded for Rapozo’s
conviction with a position as a judge; (9) ineffective assistance of
appellate counsel; (10) cruel and unusual punishment; (11) conviction on
different issues and facts than what he was charged with; (12)
“discriminatory enforcement of the law”; (13) he was held in prison because
he was unable to pay restitution; and (14) ineffective assistance of trial
counsel.

19 The circuit court took judicial notice of Rapozo I and the records and
files in S.P.P. Nos. 5490 (the first HRPP Rule 40 petition), 93-0048 (the
second HRPP Rule 40 petition), 97-0016 (the third HRPP Rule 40 petition), and
08-1-0003 (the fifth HRPP Rule 40 petition).

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s. 2012 parole hearing

On August 28, 2012, the HPA again denied Rapozo’s parole

request on the grounds it was “not convinced that [Rapozo could]

substantially comply with the terms and conditions of parole.”

The HPA recommended “[t]hat [Rapozo] participate in all RAD

recommended programs.” A rehearing was scheduled for July 2013.

t. 2013 parole hearing

On July 29, 2013, the HPA denied Rapozo’s parole request,

stating: “REASON FOR DENIAL: Your participation in work furlough

while incarcerated will significantly enhance your success on

parole.” A rehearing was scheduled for June 2014.

u. Instant eighth HRPP Rule 40 petition and
responses

On June 9, 2014, Rapozo filed “Defendant’s Motion for

Revocation of Restitution”20 (“motion for revocation of

restitution”). The circuit court construed the motion for

revocation of restitution as a non-conforming petition for post-

conviction relief and initiated S.P.P. No. 14-1-0016. On July

18, 2014, Rapozo filed a “Petition to Vacate, Set Aside, or

Correct Judgment or to Release Petitioner from Custody,” which

incorporated the motion. The July 18, 2014 petition is the

20 In a Motion for Assistance of Counsel, Rapozo also requested
appointment of counsel to represent him on the allegedly colorable claims in
his Motion for Revocation of Restitution.

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eighth HRPP Rule 40 petition, the subject of this certiorari

proceeding.

In his eighth HRPP Rule 40 petition, Rapozo raised the

following general claims for relief. First, based on the 1979

minimum term order, Rapozo argued the HPA violated his

constitutional rights by denying him parole due to nonpayment of

restitution; he also argued that his restitution was in any

event satisfied based on HRS §§ 706-644 (2014) and 706-645

(2014)21 and therefore should be deemed “revoked.” Second,

Rapozo argued his sentence was illegal because (1) he was

sentenced to an extended term of imprisonment when he received

21 HRS § 706-644 states in relevant part:

(3) The term of imprisonment for nonpayment of fee, fine,
or restitution shall be specified in the order of
commitment, and shall not exceed one day for each $250 of
the fee or fine, thirty days if the fee or fine was imposed
upon conviction of a violation or a petty misdemeanor, or
one year in any other case, whichever is the shorter
period. A person committed for nonpayment of a fee or fine
shall be given credit toward payment of the fee or fine for
each day of imprisonment, at the rate of $250 per day.

At the time Rapozo was sentenced and convicted, HRS § 706-644 did not
contain the word “restitution”; the legislature added the word “restitution”
to the statute in 1986. See 1986 Haw. Sess. Laws Act 314, § 36 at 610-11.
In 2021, the legislature amended the conversion rate in HRS § 706-644(3) from
$25 to $250. See 2021 Haw. Sess. Laws Act 81, § 4.

HRS § 706-645 states in relevant part:

(2) If it appears to the satisfaction of the court that the
circumstances which warranted the imposition of the fine or
restitution have changed, or that it would otherwise be
unjust to require payment, the court may revoke the fine or
restitution or the unpaid portion thereof in whole or in
part. Prior to revocation, the court shall afford the
prosecuting attorney an opportunity to be heard.

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life imprisonment with the possibility of parole instead of a

twenty-year imprisonment, (2) restitution was not an authorized

sentence for murder under HRS §§ 706-605 (1978) and 706-606

(1976),22 and (3) even if restitution was an authorized sentence

for murder, the trial court could not delegate the determination

of the manner of payment to the DSSH, citing to State v.

Gaylord, 78 Hawaiʻi 127, 890 P.2d 1167 (1995).23

22 HRS § 706-605 stated in relevant part:

(l) Except as provided in section 706-606 and subject to
the applicable provisions of this Code, the court may
suspend the imposition of sentence on a person who has been
convicted of a crime, may order [that person] to be
committed in lieu of sentence in accordance with section
706-607, or may sentence [that person] as follows:

. . . .

(e) To make restitution or reparation to the
victim or victims of [the] crime in an amount [the
defendant] can afford to pay, for loss or damage
caused thereby in addition to paragraphs (a), (b),
(c), or (d) above.

HRS § 706-606 stated in relevant part:

The court shall sentence a person who has been convicted of
murder to an indeterminate term of imprisonment. In such
cases the court shall impose the maximum length of
imprisonment as follows:

. . . .

(b) Life imprisonment with possibility of
parole or twenty years as the court determines, in
all other cases. The minimum length of imprisonment
shall be determined by the Hawaii paroling authority
in accordance with section 706-669.

23 Rapozo also asserted that the HPA raised his minimum term sentence to
thirty years without providing a reason; the record does not evidence this.

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Attached to the motion for revocation of restitution were

several documents, including an April 23, 2014 letter from then-

HPA administrator Tommy Johnson (“Johnson”) to Rapozo. In

relevant part, the letter stated:

Secondly, your assertion that you are being held in
custody as a result of not being able to pay the
restitution ordered by the court is without merit and
bo[]rders on being completely untrue. There is absolutely
no evidence to suggest that you were ever denied parole as
a result of any issue regarding restitution ordered by the
court.

. . . .

Finally, it is recommended that you continue to
participate in facility programs, remain misconduct free,
and participate in the Work Furlough programs as previously
recommended. Your next parole consideration hearing will
take place during September 2014, as previously ordered by
the parole board.

In response to the eighth HRPP Rule 40 petition, the State

argued HRPP Rule 40(a)(3) precluded the issues raised because

they were previously ruled upon or waived.24 The State, through

the Attorney General (“AG”), argued in relevant part that (1)

Rapozo’s claims were waived and/or previously ruled upon, (2)

Rapozo’s claims that his constitutional rights were being

violated should be dismissed or transferred because they did not

allege illegal custody or restraint, and (3) there was no

constitutional or statutory right to parole.

24 The State requested and received, over Rapozo’s objection, two
extensions of time to respond. Attached to the second September 15, 2014
extension motion was a declaration that stated: “Declarant was recently
informed of a policy change regarding restitution matters, an issue raised in
the Petition, which could affect the State’s response.” The State’s answer
did not mention any “policy change regarding restitution matters . . . .”

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On April 29, 2016, the AG also filed a declaration from

Johnson and additional documents in support of its answer to the

eighth HRPP Rule 40 petition, which included the HPA’s parole

denials in 2014, 2015, and 2016.25 Johnson declared he was the

HPA administrator from September 17, 2001, to June 12, 2007,

when he became the Deputy Director of Correction for the DPS

until December 6, 2010, when he returned to his HPA

administrator position. Johnson maintained that there was no

evidence the HPA denied Rapozo’s parole requests based on unpaid

restitution, notwithstanding the language in the 1979 HPA

minimum term order; that despite Rapozo’s claim that he was a

“model prisoner” and had “no misconduct for years,” Rapozo had

violated various prison rules and policies from 1983 to 2014;

that Rapozo had not participated in the recommended level II

substance abuse treatment program; that the work furlough

program is full at times and incarcerated people scheduled to

participate in it have to wait to be transported back to Hawaiʻi;

and that the DPS, not the HPA, controlled when and which inmates

were transported from Arizona to Hawaiʻi.26

25
On June 26, 2014; March 30, 2015; and February 24, 2016, the HPA denied
Rapozo’s parole requests on the grounds it was “not convinced that [Rapozo
could] substantially comply with the terms and conditions of parole.” The
HPA recommended “[t]hat [Rapozo] participate in all RAD recommended
programs.”
26 Johnson also incorrectly stated that Rapozo was “serving a concurrent
sentence for a federal offense at a federal prison when his minimum term
(continued. . .)

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On June 21, 2016, the circuit court denied the eighth HRPP

Rule 40 petition without a hearing.

The circuit court addressed Rapozo’s argument that the

trial court could not delegate the determination of the manner

of payment of restitution to the DSSH. The circuit court

indicated the premise set forth in Gaylord, that the trial court

must enter findings of fact and conclusions of law that the

manner of payment of restitution was reasonable and one the

defendant could afford, which Rapozo relied on in his arguments,

was based on Johnson. Noting Rapozo’s conviction became final

on or about November 15, 1980, the circuit court framed the

issue as whether Johnson retroactively applied to Rapozo’s

sentence. The circuit court cited to State v. Gomes, 107 Hawaiʻi

308, 113 P.3d 184 (2005), as the “controlling precedent,” in

which this court applied the Teague v. Lane, 489 U.S. 288 (1989)

framework to determine whether a new constitutional rule of

criminal procedure applied on collateral review.27

(. . .continued)
expired . . . .” Rapozo was instead transferred to a federal prison after he
was involved in a riot at the Halawa Correctional Facility.
27 In Gomes, this court stated:

In Teague v. Lane, the Supreme Court held that new
constitutional rules of criminal procedure that had not
been announced at the time the defendant’s conviction
became final cannot be applied retroactively on collateral
review unless they fit within one of two narrow exceptions.
These exceptions exist if a new rule (1) “places certain
kinds of primary private individual conduct beyond the
power of the criminal law-making authority to proscribe,”
or (2) “requires the observance of those procedures that
(continued. . .)

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The circuit court applied the Teague framework to Rapozo’s

argument. The circuit court reasoned that at the time of

Rapozo’s conviction, there were no cases interpreting the

language of HRS § 706-605(1)(e). The circuit court observed

that until Johnson, there were no Hawaiʻi cases that had

specifically interpreted the phrase “in an amount he can afford

to pay” to include the manner of payment. The circuit court

concluded that, therefore, Johnson’s prohibition on delegating

the manner of payment of restitution was a “new rule” created

after Rapozo’s conviction. The circuit court also concluded

that, because neither of the Teague exceptions applied, Johnson

did not retroactively apply to Rapozo’s sentence.

The circuit court also concluded: (1) Rapozo’s challenges

to the 2006 through 2011 HPA parole denials were previously

ruled upon or waived;28 (2) Rapozo’s argument that he had been

denied parole due to nonpayment of restitution was meritless,

patently frivolous, and without a trace of support in the

(. . .continued)
. . . are implicit in the concept of ordered liberty.”
Thus, in order to apply the rule of Apprendi retroactively,
we must determine that Apprendi is a new rule of criminal
procedure that fits into one of Teague’s exceptions.

107 Hawaiʻi at 313, 113 P.3d at 189 (ellipsis in original) (quoting United
States v. Sanchez-Cervantes, 282 F.3d 664, 667 (9th Cir. 2002)).
28 The circuit court ruled the 2006 and 2007 HPA parole denials were
previously raised and ruled upon in Rapozo’s 2008 HRPP Rule 40 proceeding;
and the 2008 through 2011 HPA parole denials were waived because Rapozo could
have raised those issues in his 2009 and/or 2012 HRPP Rule 40 petitions but
failed to do so, and he failed to prove the existence of extraordinary
circumstances justifying his failure to do so.

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record;29 (3) Rapozo’s argument that he was held in custody since

2006 for nonpayment of restitution was meritless, patently

frivolous, and without a trace of support in the record;30 (4)

Rapozo’s challenge to his extended term sentence had been raised

and ruled upon in his prior HRPP Rule 40 petitions and to the

extent any portion of that issue was not raised and ruled upon,

it was meritless, patently frivolous, and without a trace of

support in the record; and (5) Rapozo’s claim that restitution

was not an authorized sentence for murder under HRS §§ 706-605

and 706-606 was meritless, patently frivolous, and without a

trace of support in the record.

Rapozo appealed from the circuit court’s order denying the

eighth HRPP Rule 40 petition to the ICA.31

29 The circuit court ruled the HPA denied parole in 2012 and 2014 through
2016 because (1) notwithstanding the 1979 HPA minimum term order, it was not
convinced that Rapozo could substantially comply with the terms and
conditions of parole; and (2) the HPA indicated the reason for the 2013
parole denial was that participation in work furlough while incarcerated
would significantly enhance Rapozo’s success on parole.

30 The circuit court ruled that Rapozo’s reliance on HRS § 706-644 was
misplaced because the limitations on imprisonment for nonpayment and the
conversion rate of $25 per day of imprisonment then set out in HRS § 706-
644(3) plainly applied only to fees and fines. Further, the circuit court
stated that even if Rapozo’s default was not contumacious, he had not
presented any evidence of a change in circumstances, or that requiring
payment would be unjust, to revoke restitution.

31 Rapozo had also initiated proceedings that resulted in: Rapozo v.
State, No. 29047, 2008 WL 923291 (Haw. Mar. 24, 2008) (order); Rapozo v.
Hawaiʻi, Case 1:08-cv-00191-HG-BMK (D. Haw. May 2, 2008) (order); Rapozo v.
Perkins, No. 29667, 2009 WL 714308 (Haw. Mar. 13, 2009) (order); Rapozo v.
Frank, No. 29718, 2009 WL 990850 (Haw. Apr. 9, 2009) (order); Rapozo v.
State, No. 29949, 2009 WL 2477517 (Haw. Aug. 7, 2009) (order); Rapozo v.
State, No. 30604, 2010 WL 2844082 (Haw. July 15, 2010) (order).

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2. ICA proceedings

On appeal, Rapozo raised fourteen points of error.32

The ICA rejected Rapozo’s arguments and affirmed the

circuit court’s order denying the eighth HRPP Rule 40 petition.

Rapozo v. State, CAAP-XX-XXXXXXX, 2021 WL 945376 (App. Mar. 12,

2021) (mem.). The ICA ruled that under the Teague framework,

Johnson could not be retroactively applied, as Johnson had

announced a new rule—five years after Rapozo’s conviction and

32 The fourteen points of error were: (1) the trial court plainly erred by
ordering Rapozo to pay restitution without first determining that he could
afford to pay it, citing to State v. Murray, 63 Haw. 12, 621 P.2d 334 (1980),
Johnson, 68 Haw. 292, 711 P.2d 1295 (1985), and Gaylord, 78 Hawaiʻi 127, 890
P.2d 1167 (1995); (2) the trial court erred by delegating payment of
restitution to the DSSH; (3) the trial court erred by failing to address
Rapozo’s challenges to restitution brought under HRS § 706-645; (4) the
circuit court erred by determining the “afford to pay” requirement was not
available to Rapozo in 1979; (5) the HPA erred by disallowing Rapozo’s
possibility of parole for non-payment of a fee, fine, or restitution; (6) the
HPA erred by repeatedly denying Rapozo parole because of “RAD
recommendations,” as the DPS never returned him to Hawaiʻi to complete the
“Hawaii Program,” which did not exist before his removal from Hawaiʻi; (7) the
HPA erred by denying Rapozo parole repeatedly for his failure to complete the
work furlough program when it was only available in Hawaiʻi, and he was never
returned to Hawaiʻi; (8) the HPA erred by not returning Rapozo to Hawaiʻi to
participate in the work furlough program for the reasons that “no room”
existed on approximately forty plane flights to Hawaiʻi or that the program
was “too full” to accommodate Rapozo; (9) the circuit court erred by allowing
the AG to untimely respond to his petition; (10) the circuit court erred by
not addressing Johnson’s perjury in his sworn affidavit; (11) the trial court
erred by sentencing Rapozo under HRS § 706-606(b), which allowed “arbitrary
selection of multiple punishments without specific differentiating elements
of legislative instruction depicting separation of higher and lower degrees
of punishment”; (12) the trial court erred by determining Rapozo’s maximum
term sentence, and the HPA erred by determining Rapozo’s minimum term
sentence, when neither were the trier of fact; (13) the State erred by
keeping Rapozo away from Hawaiʻi and his family for nearly forty years,
preventing him from seeing his mother before her death, and distanced from
those who could offer him the most support and assistance in a successful
community re-entry; and (14) the circuit court erred by denying Rapozo a
hearing when he alleged federal and state constitutional violations, and by
failing to address his claims of illegal sentence under HRPP Rule 35 as
incorporated by HRPP Rule 40.

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sentence became final—that did not fall within either of the

Teague exceptions. Rapozo, mem. op. at 14. The ICA ruled the

circuit court therefore did not err by denying Rapozo’s request

for relief without a hearing. Id.

The ICA also ruled Rapozo’s argument that the “Hawaii

Paroling Authority, by Order, has committed error in disallowing

[Rapozo’s] possibility of parole for non-payment of a fee, fine

or restitution” was meritless and waived. Rapozo, mem. op. at

15-16. The ICA stated that notwithstanding the condition in the

1979 minimum term order, none of the eleven HPA parole decisions

in the record referenced payment of restitution as a condition

of parole.33 Rapozo, mem. op. at 15. Moreover, the ICA ruled

that argument had been waived, as it challenged an HPA parole

decision; it did not implicate an illegal sentence; it was not

raised in any of Rapozo’s previous HRPP Rule 40 petitions; and

Rapozo failed to show the existence of extraordinary

circumstances justifying his failure to raise the issue

previously. Rapozo, mem. op. at 15-16. Thus, the ICA concluded

the circuit court did not err by denying Rapozo’s request for

relief without a hearing. Rapozo, mem. op. at 16.

33 The ICA stated it could not consider the several documents attached to
Rapozo’s reply brief, which were not presented to the circuit court with his
eighth HRPP Rule 40 petition. Rapozo, mem. op. at 15 n.9 (citing Hawaiʻi
Rules of Appellate Procedure (“HRAP”) Rule 28(b)(10)).

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The ICA also ruled the 2010 and 2013 HPA parole denials

were not based on Rapozo’s failure to participate in the work

furlough program, but rather, were “consistent with a continuing

assessment by HPA that Rapozo is unable to ‘substantially comply

with the terms and conditions of parole[,]’ but that his

participation in work furlough programs would ‘significantly

enhance’ his ability to ‘substantially comply with the terms and

conditions of parole.’” Rapozo, mem. op. at 17.

As to Rapozo’s first, third, fourth, sixth, and eighth

through fourteenth points of error, the ICA concluded they were

either meritless, waived, or raised for the first time on

appeal. See generally Rapozo, mem. op. at 12-20.

3. Supreme court proceedings

On April 20, 2021, Rapozo filed a pro se certiorari

application, which does not contain any arguments or questions

presented.34

III. Standards of review

A. HRPP Rule 40 petitions

Review of orders denying HRPP Rule 40 petitions is de
novo:

34
Rapozo also filed an April 20, 2021 single-sentence “Request for
Appointment of Counsel.” On May 4, 2021, Rapozo filed a “Motion for
Appointment of Counsel,” asserting he has the constitutional right to have
effective assistance of counsel throughout his criminal proceedings, and
appears to ask for counsel to help him prepare a certiorari application. As
Rapozo stated colorable claims as discussed below, he must be appointed
counsel on remand.

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As a general rule, a hearing should be held on
a Rule 40 petition for post-conviction relief where
the petition states a colorable claim. To establish
a colorable claim, the allegations of the petition
must show that if taken as true the facts alleged
would change the verdict, however, a petitioner’s
conclusions need not be regarded as true. Where
examination of the record of the trial court’s
proceedings indicates that the petitioner’s
allegations show no colorable claim, it is not error
to deny the petition without a hearing. The question
on appeal of a denial of a Rule 40 petition without a
hearing is whether the trial record indicates that
Petitioner’s application for relief made such a
showing of a colorable claim as to require a hearing
before the lower court.

Dan v. State, 76 Hawaiʻi 423, 427, 879 P.2d 528, 532 (1994)
(citation omitted).

Stanley v. State, 148 Hawaiʻi 489, 500, 479 P.3d 107, 118 (2021).

B. Sentencing

“The authority of a trial court to select and determine the

severity of a penalty is normally undisturbed on review in the

absence of an apparent abuse of discretion or unless applicable

statutory or constitutional commands have not been observed.”

State v. Reis, 115 Hawaiʻi 79, 83-84, 165 P.3d 980, 984-85 (2007)

(cleaned up).

IV. Discussion

A. General HRPP Rule 40 principles

HRPP Rule 40, which governs post-conviction proceedings,

provides in relevant part:

(a) Proceedings and Grounds. . . . :

(1) From Judgment. At any time but not prior
to final judgment, any person may seek relief under
the procedure set forth in this rule from the
judgment of conviction, on the following grounds:

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(i) that the judgment was obtained or sentence
imposed in violation of the constitution of the
United States or of the State of Hawaiʻi;

. . . .

(iii) that the sentence is illegal;

. . . .

(v) any ground which is a basis for collateral
attack on the judgment.

. . . .

(2) From Custody. Any person may seek relief
under the procedure set forth in this rule from
custody based upon a judgment of conviction, on the
following grounds:

. . . .

(iii) any other ground making the custody,
though not the judgment, illegal.

HRPP Rule 40(a)(3) governs waiver of issues in HRPP Rule 40

proceedings, and provides:

(3) Inapplicability. Rule 40 proceedings shall not be
available and relief thereunder shall not be granted where
the issues sought to be raised have been previously ruled
upon or were waived. Except for a claim of illegal
sentence, an issue is waived if the petitioner knowingly
and understandingly failed to raise it and it could have
been raised before the trial, at the trial, on appeal, in a
habeas corpus proceeding or any other proceeding actually
conducted, or in a prior proceeding actually initiated
under this rule, and the petitioner is unable to prove the
existence of extraordinary circumstances to justify the
petitioner’s failure to raise the issue. There is a
rebuttable presumption that a failure to appeal a ruling or
to raise an issue is a knowing and understanding failure.

HRPP Rule 40(f), which governs hearings on HRPP Rule 40

petitions, states in relevant part:

(f) Hearings. If a petition alleges facts that if
proven would entitle the petitioner to relief, the court
shall grant a hearing which may extend only to the issues
raised in the petition or answer. However, the court may
deny a hearing if the petitioner’s claim is patently
frivolous and is without trace of support either in the
record or from other evidence submitted by the petitioner.

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The court may also deny a hearing on a specific question of
fact when a full and fair evidentiary hearing upon that
question was held during the course of the proceedings
which led to the judgment or custody which is the subject
of the petition or at any later proceeding.

In turn, HRPP Rule 40(i) provides that indigent petitioners

are entitled to representation by the public defender on their

HRPP Rule 40 petitions if the petition is not “patently

frivolous and without trace of support . . . .”

In sum, if an indigent petitioner raises a “colorable

claim” in an HRPP Rule 40 petition, they are entitled to

representation on the petition in an HRPP Rule 40(f) hearing. A

“colorable claim” is one that is not “patently frivolous and

without trace of support.” With the foregoing principles in

mind, we now turn to Rapozo’s arguments.

B. The circuit court erred by denying the eighth HRPP Rule 40
petition without a hearing because Rapozo stated colorable
claims

1. Rapozo stated a colorable claim that the trial court
erred by delegating the determination of the manner of
payment of restitution to the DSSH

We first address Rapozo’s second point of error that the

trial court erred by delegating the determination of the manner

of payment of restitution to the DSSH. If this claim does not

concern an illegal sentence, HRPP Rule 40(a)(3) bars relief, as

Rapozo could previously have raised this issue.

As the ICA noted, in Johnson, this court held that

“[w]ithout express legislative authority, the court cannot

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delegate the sentencing function to another person or entity.”35

Johnson, 68 Haw. at 297, 711 P.2d at 1299. In Johnson, which

35
Rapozo cited to Gaylord. In Gaylord, which was decided approximately
fifteen years after Rapozo’s conviction and sentence became final and
approximately ten years after Johnson, this court stated:

Although statutorily authorized by HRS § 706–
605(1)(d), a sentencing court’s discretion to order
restitution is not boundless. “Advocates of criminal
restitution are convinced [that] it is not necessarily
incompatible with the incarceration of offenders. And we
concur. However, even the supporters of the concept
acknowledge [that] its implementation is fraught with
difficulty, primarily because incarceration normally
entails a concomitant loss of earning capacity.” Murray,
63 Haw. at 24, 621 P.2d at 342 (citations omitted).
For this reason, among others, HRS § 706–605(1)(d)
limits restitution orders to “an amount the defendant can
afford to pay.” See State v. Johnson, 68 Haw. 292, 297,
711 P.2d 1295, 1299 (1985); Murray, 63 Haw. at 25, 621 P.2d
at 343. In this connection, and despite the fact that the
sentencing court “may delegate to the Adult Probation
Division the function of making recommendations . . . on
the amount of restitution and the manner of payment, the
court has the exclusive responsibility and function of
imposing a sentence.” Johnson, 68 Haw. at 297, 711 P.2d at
1299. Thus, “requisite specificity should be provided by
the sentencing court and ought not be left to subsequent
administrative determination,” Murray, 63 Haw. at 25, 621
P.2d at 343 (citations omitted), because “[w]ithout express
legislative authority, the court cannot delegate the
sentencing function to another person or entity.” Johnson,
68 Haw. at 297, 711 P.2d at 1299. Cf. United States v.
Porter, 41 F.3d 68, 71 (2d Cir. 1994) (sentencing court
cannot delegate to probation department, either as to
amount or scheduling of installment payments, judicial
functions inherent in grant of restitution); United States
v. Weichert, 836 F.2d 769, 772 (2d Cir. 1988) (sentencing
court may not authorize probation officer to make post-
sentencing decision as to amount of restitution), cert.
denied, 488 U.S. 1017, 109 S.Ct. 813, 102 L.Ed.2d 802
(1989); United States v. Ahmad, 2 F.3d 245, 248–49 (7th
Cir. 1993) (sentencing court may not authorize probation
officer to make post-sentencing decision as to scheduling
of installment payments). Accordingly, “it is incumbent
upon the [sentencing] court to enter into the record
findings of fact and conclusions that the manner of payment
is reasonable and one which [the defendant] can afford.”
Johnson, 68 Haw. at 297–98, 711 P.2d at 1299.

. . . .

(continued. . .)

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was decided approximately five years after Rapozo’s conviction

and sentence became final, this court explicitly held that the

trial court has the exclusive responsibility and function of

imposing a sentence, and could not delegate its sentencing

function to another entity without express legislative

authority:

Defendant contends that the trial court erred in
failing to consider Defendant’s ability to pay the
restitution amount ordered by the court. Defendant argues
that the trial court’s order did not comport with the
language, “in an amount . . . can afford to pay” in HRS §
706–605(1)(e) and HRS § 706–624(2)(i).
Although the trial court may delegate to the Adult
Probation Division the function of making recommendations
to the court on the amount of restitution and the manner of
payment, the court has the exclusive responsibility and
function of imposing a sentence. Without express
legislative authority, the court cannot delegate the
sentencing function to another person or entity. “The
requisite specificity should be provided by the sentencing
court and ought not be left to subsequent administrative
determination.” State v. Murray, [63 Haw.] at 25, 621 P.2d
at 343 (citations omitted).

(. . .continued)
In addition, we hold that the sentencing court’s
restitution order failed to comply with HRS § 706–605(1)(d)
and was illegally imposed. In disregard of Johnson, 68
Haw. at 297–98, 711 P.2d at 1299, the sentencing court
failed to make any finding that $122,248.95 was an amount
that Gaylord could afford to pay in restitution (indeed, as
noted, the sentencing court viewed Gaylord’s “sources of
restitution” as “highly unlikely and highly speculative and
unreliable”) and to prescribe the manner of payment. To
compound the error, in its December 13, 1991 judgment of
conviction, the sentencing court expressly and improperly
delegated the judicial function of determining the manner
of payment to an administrative body—the Hawaiʻi Paroling
Authority. Johnson, 68 Haw. at 297, 711 P.2d at 1299;
Murray, 63 Haw. at 25, 621 P.2d at 343.

78 Hawaiʻi at 151-53, 155, 890 P.2d at 1191-93, 1195 (alterations and ellipsis
in original) (footnote omitted).

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68 Haw. at 297, 711 P.2d at 1299 (ellipsis in original)

(footnotes omitted). Thus, the delegation was an illegal

sentence. See Gaylord, 78 Hawaiʻi at 155, 890 P.2d at 1195

(holding the sentencing court’s restitution order failed to

comply with HRS § 706-605(1)(d) and Johnson and was “illegally

imposed”).

Although the delegation constituted an illegal sentence,

because Johnson was decided after Rapozo’s conviction and

sentence became final, we must address whether its holding (that

the trial court has the exclusive responsibility and function of

determining the manner of payment and cannot delegate that

judicial function to an administrative body without express

legislative authority) (1) is a “new rule”; and, if so, (2)

whether it retroactively applies to Rapozo’s case. Thus,

whether Johnson created a “new rule” is the preliminary inquiry.

a. Retroactive application of new rules

Based on the reasoning that follows, we hold that Johnson

did not create a “new rule.” The ICA incorrectly applied the

Teague framework to conclude that the Johnson rule did not

retroactively apply to Rapozo’s sentence. Teague is

inapplicable to Johnson, as Johnson did not set out a “new

rule.”

“When questions of state law are at issue, state courts

generally have the authority to determine the retroactivity of

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their own decisions.” Schwartz v. State, 136 Hawaiʻi 258, 272,

361 P.3d 1161, 1175 (2015). “Although judicial decisions are

assumed to apply retroactively, such application is not

automatic,” State v. Ikezawa, 75 Haw. 210, 220, 857 P.2d 593,

597 (1993), as “the Constitution neither prohibits nor requires

retrospective effect.” State v. Santiago, 53 Haw. 254, 268, 492

P.2d 657, 665 (1971) (cleaned up). Thus, the threshold question

is whether Johnson created a new rule.

There are four guiding principles in determining whether a

“new rule” has been created. First, “[t]he prototypical manner

in which this court creates a new rule is when it overrules a

previous decision and announces a superseding principle of law.”

Schwartz, 136 Hawaiʻi at 272, 361 P.3d at 1175. Second,

“[a]nother classic situation in which this court establishes a

new rule is when it announces a new principle of constitutional

law, such as one applying to criminal prosecutions.” 136 Hawaiʻi

at 273, 361 P.3d at 1176. However, “in instances where this

court engages only in statutory construction to elucidate the

meaning and application of specific provisions of a statute, we

have held that a new rule does not arise.” 136 Hawaiʻi at 274,

361 P.3d at 1177. Finally, a new rule is not created “where

this court merely clarifies an existing legal principle . . . .”

Id.

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The holding in Johnson regarding the trial court’s

exclusive responsibility and function of determining the manner

of payment of restitution, which cannot be delegated to an

administrative body without express legislative authority,

“merely clarifie[d] an existing legal principle . . . .” See

id. Johnson actually clarified the legal principle this court

set out in Murray: that “[t]he requisite specificity should be

provided by the sentencing court and ought not be left to

subsequent administrative determination.” Murray, 63 Haw. at

25, 621 P.2d at 343.

Thus, the Johnson rule was based on Murray, which was

decided approximately two months after Rapozo’s conviction and

sentence became final and approximately five years before

Johnson. Murray was the first Hawaiʻi case to discuss HRS § 706-

605 and the status and function of restitution in Hawaiʻi’s

criminal system. Murray “careful[ly] examin[ed]” the

restitution statute, looking at the purpose, design, and policy

of the statute, which authorizes a trial court to order a

defendant to pay restitution in addition to imprisonment. See

63 Haw. at 17-19, 621 P.2d at 338-39. The Murray court then

discussed the “statutory and constitutional constraints” of

restitution orders, stating:

The prescription of penalties is a legislative
prerogative, State v. Freitas, 61 Haw. 262, 267, 602 P.2d
914, 919 (1979), but a sentencing court is nonetheless
afforded wide latitude in the selection of penalties from

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those prescribed and in the determination of their
severity. This authority is normally undisturbed on review
in the absence of an apparent abuse of discretion, State v.
Fry, 61 Haw. 226, 231, 602 P.2d 13, 17 (1979); State v.
Martin, 56 Haw. 292, 294, 535 P.2d 127, 128 (1975), or
unless applicable statutory and constitutional commands
have not been observed. The sentence here was subject to a
legislative declaration that restitution should be in an
amount the defendant “can afford to pay.” The record
indicates the sentencing court itself acknowledged
defendant's lack of capacity for actual compliance. Thus,
restitution could not have been in an amount defendant “can
afford to pay.” Moreover, a restitution order patently
beyond an offender’s capacity for compliance serves no
purpose, reparative or otherwise. See Commonwealth v.
Fuqua, 267 Pa.Super. 504, 508-509, 407 A.2d 24, 26 (1979);
People v. Kay, 36 Cal.App.3d 759, 763, 111 Cal.Rptr. 894,
896 (1973).
While we do not reach equal protection and due
process, they may be considerations on resentencing. The
principles enunciated in cases like Tate v. Short, 401 U.S.
395, 91 S.Ct. 668, 28 L.Ed.2d 130 (1971); Williams v.
Illinois, 399 U.S. 235, 90 S.Ct. 2018, 26 L.Ed.2d 586
(1970); and State v. Huggett, 55 Haw. 632, 638, 525 P.2d
1119, 1124 (1974), are often pertinent where a novel
sentencing alternative is selected. State v. Huggett, for
example, teaches us that some degree of specificity is an
essential element of a sentence. A defendant must be
apprised of “what is required of him, and when it is
required, so that he will know when he is in default.”
State v. Calderilla, supra, 34 Or.App. at 1010, 580 P.2d at
579. The requisite specificity should be provided by the
sentencing court and ought not be left to subsequent
administrative determination. See, for example, Mason v.
State, 46 Md. App. 1, 9, 415 A.2d 315, 319 (1980) and
Kroenke v. State, 366 So.2d 46 (Fla.App. 1979).

63 Haw. at 25, 621 P.2d at 342-43.

As Johnson “merely clarfie[d]” the legal principle set

forth in Murray, we must then actually address whether Murray

created a “new rule,” as Murray was decided approximately two

months after Rapozo’s conviction and sentence became final. It

is clear that Murray “engage[d] only in statutory construction

to elucidate the meaning and application of specific provisions

of a statute.” See Schwartz, 136 Hawaiʻi at 274, 361 P.3d at

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1177. Therefore, Murray did not create a “new rule.” See

Rivers v. Roadway Exp., Inc., 511 U.S. 298, 312-13 (1994) (“A

judicial construction of a statute is an authoritative statement

of what the statute meant before as well as after the decision

of the case giving rise to that construction.”). As such,

Johnson, which relied on Murray, also did not create a “new

rule.”

Further, HRPP Rule 40(a)(3) does not bar this claim.

Although Rapozo could have raised this claim in his previous

seven HRPP Rule 40 petitions or other proceedings, as explained

above, this is a claim of illegal sentence. The trial court’s

sentence that Rapozo pay “restitution in the amount of

$11,109.33, the manner of payment to be determined and handled

by the Department of Social Services and Housing” was illegal

because the trial court exceeded its authority by delegating the

manner of payment to the DSSH in sentencing Rapozo.

Thus, Rapozo’s second point of error raised a colorable

claim and the circuit court erred by denying Rapozo’s request

for relief without a hearing.36

36 To the extent Rapozo argued that the jury should have determined the
manner of payment of restitution, we conclude it is not a colorable claim.

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2. Rapozo stated a colorable claim that the trial court
erred by ordering him to pay restitution without first
determining whether he could afford to pay it

The ICA concluded it would not consider Rapozo’s first and

fourth points of error, that the trial court erred by ordering

restitution without first determining whether he could afford to

pay it, because it was raised for the first time on appeal.

However, construing Rapozo’s pleadings liberally, Rapozo raised

the “afford to pay” issue in his motion for revocation of

restitution, in which he argued:

Two other issues remain regarding sentencing and
restitution. One is, had it been legal for the sentencing
court to impose restitution in this case, it cannot
delegate the determination of the manner of payment of
restitution to another person or entity. State v. Gaylord,
78 Haw. 127, 153, 155, 890 P.2d 1167, 1193, 1195 (1995).
In Gaylord, the Hawaii Supreme Court stated that “it is
incumbent upon the [sentencing court] to enter into the
record findings of fact and conclusions that the manner of
payment is reasonable and one which [the defendant] can
afford.” Id. at 153, 890 P.2d 1191. No determination was
ever made in the instant case.

(Emphases added.) We therefore address this argument.

In Johnson, the trial court ordered restitution to be paid

“in a manner to be determined by the Adult Probation Division.”

68 Haw. at 297, 711 P.2d at 1299. This court held:

We view the clause, “in a manner to be determined by
the Adult Probation Division” to mean the manner of payment
of the restitution amount. The manner of payment must be
reasonable and one that Defendant can afford taking into
account Defendant’s financial circumstances. See State v.
Garner, 115 Ariz. 579, 566 P.2d 1055 (1977); State v.
Harris, [362 A.2d 32 (1976)].
The record indicates that Defendant was denied an
opportunity to challenge the reasonableness of the Adult
Probation Division’s recommendation relative to the manner
of payment of the restitution amount. This infringes on
Defendant’s right to due process as guaranteed under the
Fourteenth Amendment, section 1 of the United States

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Constitution. See Note, Victim Restitution in the Criminal
Process: A Procedural Analysis, 97 Harv.L.Rev. 931, 944 n.
92 (1984) (citing Boddie v. Connecticut, 401 U.S. 371, 377,
91 S.Ct. 780, 785–86, 28 L.Ed.2d 113 (1971)).
We hold that it is incumbent upon the trial court to
enter into the record findings of fact and conclusions that
the manner of payment is reasonable and one which Defendant
can afford. Here, the trial court failed to make such
findings and conclusion.

Id.

Then, in Gaylord, this court stated,

Presumably, the sentencing court’s conceded “exclusive
responsibility and function” derives from the statutory
phrase, “in an amount the defendant can afford to pay,” set
forth in HRS § 706-605(1)(d). It seems intuitively obvious
to us that a sentencing court cannot determine restitution
“in an amount the defendant can afford to pay” without
determining the manner of payment.

78 Hawaiʻi at 153 n.50, 890 P.2d at 1193 n.50.

As explained above, “in instances where this court engages

only in statutory construction to elucidate the meaning and

application of specific provisions of a statute, we have held

that a new rule does not arise.” Schwartz, 136 Hawaiʻi at 274,

361 P.3d at 1177. The Gaylord court interpreted the phrase

“determining the manner of payment” in HRS § 706-605(1) to

conclude that it included “in an amount the defendant can afford

to pay.” 78 Hawaiʻi at 153 n.50, 890 P.2d at 1193 n.50. This

interpretation “was not a departure from precedent but, rather,

confirmed the law as it existed” at the time of Rapozo’s

sentence and conviction. See Garcia, 125 Hawaiʻi 429, 443, 263

P.3d 709, 723 (2010).

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Further, like with Rapozo’s second point of error, HRPP

Rule 40(a)(3) does not preclude this claim because this was a

claim of illegal sentence because, as discussed above, the trial

court improperly delegated the manner of repayment of

restitution. Therefore, we hold Rapozo’s first and fourth

points of error stated a colorable claim that the trial court

erred by failing to determine whether the restitution was in an

amount he could afford to pay.

3. Rapozo stated a colorable claim that the HPA erred by
denying parole for nonpayment of restitution

In his fifth point of error, Rapozo argued the HPA erred by

“disallowing [Rapozo]’s possibility of parole for non-payment of

a fee, fine, or restitution.” The ICA concluded the circuit

court did not err in ruling this argument meritless, as none of

the HPA parole decisions in the record referenced payment of

restitution as a condition of parole; and this argument was

waived as it challenged an HPA parole decision and did not

implicate an illegal sentence imposed by the circuit court, and

Rapozo failed to prove extraordinary circumstances justifying

his failure to raise the issue. For the reasons discussed

below, we hold the ICA erred.

a. Rapozo stated a colorable claim that he was
denied parole due to nonpayment of restitution

“Parole is a matter of legislative grace, and the denial of

it to certain offenders is within legislative discretion.”

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Williamson v. Hawaiʻi Paroling Authority, 97 Hawaiʻi 183, 195, 35

P.3d 210, 222 (2001) (cleaned up).

In granting or denying parole, the statutory standard
to be applied by the HPA is that “[n]o parole shall be
granted unless it appears to the [HPA] that there is a
reasonable probability that the prisoner concerned will
live and remain at liberty without violating the law and
that the prisoner’s release is not incompatible with the
welfare and safety of society.”

Turner v. Hawaii Paroling Authority, 93 Hawaiʻi 298, 302, 1 P.3d

768, 772 (App. 2000) (alterations in original) (quoting HRS §

353-65 (2015)). Incarcerated people or parolees do not have a

right to parole. Hawaiʻi Administrative Rules (“HAR”) § 23-700-

37 (1992).

The HPA has the power to establish rules and regulations

“under which any prisoner may be paroled . . . .” HRS § 353-65.

The HPA established such rules in HAR §§ 23-700-31 to -37.

Under HAR § 23-700-33, the HPA uses the following guidelines to

determine parole eligibility:37

Parole shall not be granted unless it appears to the
Authority that there is a reasonable probability that the
inmate concerned will live and remain at liberty without
violating the law and that the inmate’s release is not
incompatible with the welfare and safety of society.
Parole is not a right of an inmate or parolee. Parole may
be denied to an inmate when the Authority finds:

(a) The inmate does not have a viable parole plan;
(b) The inmate has been a management or security
problem in prison as evidenced by the inmate’s
misconduct record;
(c) The inmate has refused to participate in
recommended prison programs;

37 See also HRS § 706-670 (2014) (establishing parole terms for a person
who is assessed as low risk for re-offending).

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(d) The inmate’s behavior in prison is a continuation
of the behavior that led to the inmate’s
imprisonment;
(e) The inmate has a pending prison misconduct;
(f) The inmate does not have the ability or
commitment to comply with conditions of parole;
(g) The inmate has pending criminal charges which
arose from inmate’s current incarceration or last
parole;
(h) The inmate has a parole plan for a state that has
not accepted the inmate for supervision; or
(i) The inmate has expressed little or no interest in
parole.

(Emphases added.)

HRS § 353-64 (2015) states in relevant part:

[T]o be eligible for parole, the committed person, if the
person is determined by the department to be suitable for
participation, must have been a participant in an academic,
vocational education, or prison industry program authorized
by the department and must have been involved in or
completed the program to the satisfaction of the
department; and provided further that this precondition for
parole shall not apply if the committed person is in a
correctional facility where academic, vocational education,
and prison industry programs or facilities are not
available. A grant of parole shall not be subject to
acceptance by the committed person.

(Emphasis added.)

HRS § 353-69 (2015) states:

Excepted as provided in section 706-670, no parole
shall be granted unless it appears to the Hawaii paroling
authority that there is a reasonable probability that the
prisoner concerned will live and remain at liberty without
violating the law and that the prisoner’s release is not
incompatible with the welfare and safety of society.

Whether to grant or deny parole is discretionary with the

HPA. See State v. Keohokapu, 127 Hawaiʻi 91, 112, 276 P.3d 660,

681 (2012) (“Whether the defendant will ever be paroled is pure

speculation since parole is dependent on circumstances in the

future and is discretionary with the Hawaiʻi Paroling

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Authority.”). Although “[t]he legislature did not expressly

provide a means to appeal HPA parole decisions,” Williamson, 97

Hawaiʻi at 189, 35 P.3d at 216, an incarcerated person may still

seek judicial review of the HPA’s denial of parole through an

HRPP Rule 40 petition. 97 Hawaiʻi at 194, 35 P.3d at 221 (citing

Turner, 93 Hawaiʻi at 307-08, 1 P.3d at 777-78). “HRPP Rule

40(a) clearly indicates that the post-conviction proceeding

under the rule was intended to ‘encompass all common law and

statutory procedures for the same purpose, including habeas

corpus and coram nobis.’” State v. Kaluna, 106 Hawaiʻi 198, 204,

103 P.3d 358, 364 (2004). “The chief use of habeas corpus has

been to seek the release of persons held in actual, physical

custody.” Id. (cleaned up) (quoting Turner, 93 Hawaiʻi at 307, 1

P.3d at 777). “[B]ecause a denial of parole continues physical

custody, such denial is a proper subject of a writ of habeas

corpus and, therefore, an inmate denied parole may be entitled

to relief through the mechanism of a[n] HRPP Rule 40 petition.”

Turner, 93 Hawaiʻi at 307, 1 P.3d at 777. An incarcerated person

seeking relief from an HPA decision to deny parole does so under

HRPP Rule 40(a)(2) as they are in “custody based upon a judgment

of conviction.” See HRPP Rule 40(a)(2); Turner, 93 Hawaiʻi at

306, 1 P.3d at 776 (“It is plain that Appellant is in ‘custody

based on a judgment of conviction.’” (quoting HRPP Rule

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40(a)(2)). Therefore, HRPP Rule 40 petitions challenging an HPA

decision to deny parole are subject to HRPP Rule 40(a)(3).

Here, under HRPP Rule 40(a)(3), Rapozo waived his

challenges to the HPA parole denials from 2006 through 2011.

Rapozo could have challenged these HPA parole denials in his

previous seven HRPP Rule 40 petitions or other proceedings

before his eighth HRPP Rule 40 petition, but he did not do so

and he did not prove extraordinary circumstances justifying his

failure to do so.38 Thus, we address only the 2012 and 2013 HPA

parole denials.39

Hawaiʻi courts may review “a decision denying parole in

situations where the parole board has failed to exercise any

discretion at all, or arbitrarily and capriciously abused its

discretion so as to give rise to a due process violation or has

otherwise violated any constitutional rights of the prisoner.”

Williamson, 97 Hawaiʻi at 195, 35 P.3d at 222 (cleaned up)

(quoting Turner, 93 Hawaiʻi at 308, 1 P.3d at 778).

The ICA concluded that notwithstanding the 1979 minimum

term order that stated, “Parole shall not be granted until

38 The 2006 and 2007 HPA parole denials were raised and ruled upon in
Rapozo’s 2008 HRPP Rule 40 proceeding.

39 The 2012 and 2013 HPA parole denials were not waived by Rapozo in his
eighth HRPP Rule 40 petition. The HPA denied Rapozo’s parole requests on
August 28, 2012, and July 29, 2013, after Rapozo’s January 10, 2012 seventh
HRPP Rule 40 petition and before the June 9, 2014 eighth HRPP Rule 40
petition.

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judg[]ment of restitution is satisfied,” none of the eleven HPA

parole decisions in the record referenced restitution payment as

a condition of parole, and therefore the circuit court did not

err by denying Rapozo’s request for relief without a hearing.40

We conclude otherwise.

The 2012 HPA parole decision stated parole was denied

because the HPA was “not convinced that [Rapozo could]

substantially comply with the terms and conditions of parole,”

and recommended “[t]hat [Rapozo] participate in all RAD

recommended programs.” The HPA denied parole in 2013 as

follows: “REASON FOR DENIAL: Your participation in work

furlough while incarcerated will significantly enhance your

success on parole.”

Yet, the 1979 HPA minimum term order expressly stated that

“[p]arole shall not be granted until judg[]ment of restitution

is satisfied.” Although Johnson asserted Rapozo’s parole

denials, including the 2012 and 2013 HPA parole denials, were

not based on nonpayment of restitution, he was not a member of

the three-member HPA that decides whether to grant parole.

Therefore, despite Johnson’s assertion that Rapozo’s parole was

not based on nonpayment of restitution, the record is unclear as

40 The ICA alluded to the HPA decisions to deny parole from 2014 to 2016.
The 2014 though 2016 HPA parole denials, which were decided after the eighth
HRPP Rule 40 petition, could not be raised, and were not raised, in the
eighth HRPP Rule 40 petition. Therefore, we decline to address those HPA
parole decisions.

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to whether the three HPA members considered the condition in the

1979 minimum term order in denying Rapozo’s parole. See

Williamson, 97 Hawaiʻi at 194-95, 35 P.3d at 221-22 (“It would be

impossible for a court to properly evaluate a parole denial

because of the many variables considered by the board, such as

record facts, personal observations and the experience of the

decision maker which leads to a ‘predictive judgment’ as to what

is best for both the inmate and the community.” (cleaned up)

(quoting Turner, 93 Hawaiʻi at 307-08, 1 P.3d at 777-78)).

Therefore, Rapozo’s claim that he was denied parole for

nonpayment of restitution cannot be said to be “patently

frivolous, and without a trace of support . . . .” Rapozo

raised a colorable claim that he was denied parole for

nonpayment of restitution and the circuit court erred by denying

Rapozo’s request for relief without a hearing.

4. Rapozo stated a colorable claim that the HPA erred by
denying him parole for failure to complete or
participate in the work furlough program

In his seventh point of error, Rapozo argued the HPA erred

by denying him parole for failure to complete or participate in

the work furlough program, when it was only available in Hawaiʻi

and he had never been returned to Hawaiʻi to participate in the

work furlough program. As discussed, only the 2012 and 2013 HPA

parole denials are properly before us; Rapozo’s seventh point of

error is therefore a challenge to the 2013 HPA parole denial.

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HRS § 353-64 states:

[T]o be eligible for parole, the committed person, if the
person is determined by the department to be suitable for
participation, must have been a participant in an academic,
vocational education, or prison industry program authorized
by the department and must have been involved in or
completed the program to the satisfaction of the
department . . . .

Thus, the HPA may properly deny an incarcerated person

parole based on their failure to participate in or complete a

“prison industry program,” which appears to include work

furlough programs.

Here, the 2013 HPA decision denied Rapozo’s parole request,

stating, “Your participation in work furlough while incarcerated

will significantly enhance your success on parole.” Rapozo

argued he had never been able to participate in the work

furlough program, which was located in Hawaiʻi, as he had never

been returned to Hawaiʻi. According to Johnson’s declaration,

however, the HPA did not control when and which incarcerated

people are transported from Arizona to Hawaiʻi to participate in

the work furlough program, and the DPS was responsible for the

work furlough program and transporting inmates.

Although the HPA recommended he participate in or complete

the work furlough program, Rapozo was never given the

opportunity to do so. It may be arbitrary and capricious to

deny an incarcerated person parole for failure to participate in

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a program while never giving them an opportunity to do so.41

Thus, Rapozo stated a colorable claim, and the circuit court

erred by denying this claim without a hearing.

5. Rapozo’s remaining claims are meritless, raised for
the first time on appeal, or waived

We agree with the ICA’s reasoning that Rapozo’s third,

tenth, eleventh, twelfth, and fourteenth points of error are

meritless. As the ICA also concluded, Rapozo’s ninth point of

error is deemed waived because his opening brief did not contain

an argument on this point. See HRAP Rule 28(b)(7) (“Points not

argued may be deemed waived.”).

41 In Regan v. Hawaii, Civ. No. 07-00029 JMS-BMK, 2007 WL 4440956 (D. Haw.
Dec. 19, 2007) (order), the petitioner moved for reconsideration of the
dismissal of four counts relating to his “right” to parole pursuant to HRS §
353-64, asserting he was unable to attend the programs needed to be eligible
for parole. 2007 WL 4440956, at *1-3. The court denied the motion,
concluding:

Plaintiff argues that because enrollment in some of
the programs that were required for his parole were
unavailable to him, he is eligible for parole without
attending any of these programs. He is mistaken. First,
simply because Plaintiff was unable to take part in these
programs prior to his parole hearing does not make them
“unavailable” at the prison. Plaintiff may not have been
eligible for these programs for various reasons (e.g., due
to his custody or housing status), but they are, by
Plaintiff’s own submission, offered at the prison. Second,
and more importantly, as the court has already found,
Plaintiff has no state-created liberty interest in parole.
Thus, even if Plaintiff completed the programs that were
required for parole, the Hawaii Paroling Authority may,
nonetheless, deny him parole.

2007 WL 4440956, at *3 (footnote omitted).

Regan is distinguishable. Here, Rapozo did not argue he had a right to
parole; rather, Rapozo argued the HPA erred by denying him parole.

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We do not consider Rapozo’s sixth, eighth, and thirteenth

points of error, which were raised for the first time on appeal.

See Dan, 76 Hawaiʻi at 431, 879 P.2d at 536.

V. Conclusion

For the reasons explained above, we vacate the ICA’s April

5, 2021 judgment on appeal and the circuit court’s June 21, 2016

order denying the eighth HRPP Rule 40 petition. We remand this

case to the circuit court for further proceedings consistent

with this opinion.

Richard Rapozo /s/ Mark E. Recktenwald
petitioner pro se
/s/ Paula A. Nakayama
Brian R. Vincent
for respondent /s/ Sabrina S. McKenna
Department of the
Prosecuting Attorney /s/ Michael D. Wilson

Lisa M. Itomura /s/ Todd W. Eddins
and Diane K. Taira
for respondent
Department of the
Attorney General

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