Alaka'i Na Keiki, Inc. v. Matayoshi

***FOR PUBLICATION IN WEST’S HAWAI#I REPORTS AND PACIFIC REPORTER***

Electronically Filed
Supreme Court
SCWC-29742
11-MAY-2012
11:29 AM

IN THE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF HAWAI#I

---o0o---

ALAKA#I NA KEIKI, INC., Petitioner/Plaintiff-Appellant,

vs.

KATHRYN MATAYOSHI,1 in her official capacity as
Superintendent of Education, Respondent/Defendant-Appellee.

NO. SCWC-29742

CERTIORARI TO THE INTERMEDIATE COURT OF APPEALS
(ICA NO. 29742; CIV. NO. 05-1-1658)
May 11, 2012

ACOBA, DUFFY, AND MCKENNA, JJ.; WITH RECKTENWALD, C.J.,
CONCURRING AND DISSENTING, WITH WHOM NAKAYAMA, J., JOINS

OPINION OF THE COURT BY ACOBA, J.

We hold that decisions of administrative officers of

the State of Hawai#i Department of Education (the DOE), headed by

1
Pursuant to Hawai#i Rules of Appellate Procedure (HRAP) Rule
43(c)(1), Kathryn Matayoshi, the current Superintendent of Education, has been
substituted for Patricia Hamamoto, the Superintendent of Education at the time
this case was decided by the circuit court of the first circuit.
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Respondent/Defendant-Appellant Kathryn Matayoshi, (Respondent),2

to reject the proposal of Petitioner/Plaintiff-Appellant Alaka#i

Na Keiki, Inc. (Petitioner) that responded to a request for

proposals (RFP) to provide health and human services under

contracts pursuant to Hawai#i Revised Statutes (HRS) chapter

103F, are subject to judicial review under the circumstances of

this case. In so holding, we conclude first that, as construed,
HRS chapter 103F is not unconstitutional for violating the

doctrine of separation of powers as Petitioner contends, because

although the DOE, in interpreting and applying provisions of HRS

chapter 103F and in deciding disputes to which it is a party,

exercises aspects of the judicial power, its decisions are

subject to judicial review under the declaratory judgment

statute, HRS § 632-1 (1993). Second, we conclude that

Petitioner’s request for a declaratory judgment is moot to the

extent the subject contracts have been awarded and their terms

expired. Third, we conclude that Petitioner’s claim for alleged
negligence by the DOE in evaluating Petitioner’s proposal and in

deciding the dispute with Petitioner is barred under HRS chapter

662, the State Tort Liability Act (STLA), because the DOE’s

conduct herein is not analogous to “a recognized claim for relief

against a private person.” Kaho#ohanohano v. State, 117 Hawai#i

262, 282, 178 P.3d 538, 558 (2008). Fourth, we conclude that

2
Respondent is sued in her official capacity as Superintendent of the
DOE.

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Petitioner’s claim for injunctive relief, premised on the DOE’s

alleged faulty administration of the contract process, is moot

inasmuch as we interpret such process in HRS chapter 103F as

subject to judicial review.

Accordingly, we vacate the June 16, 2011 judgment filed

herein by the Intermediate Court of Appeals (ICA)3 and the March

4, 2009 judgment of the circuit court of the first circuit (the
court).4 We remand this case to the court, with instructions, in

respect to the claims in Petitioner’s second amended complaint,

to enter judgment (1) denying the relief sought in Counts I, II

and IV as moot and (2) in favor of Respondent on Count III.

I.

A.

In October 2004, the DOE, as the purchasing agency,

issued an RFP “to solicit private providers to provide intensive

instructional support service to eligible students[.]” Services

would address the students’ educational, behavioral and
therapeutic needs. The contract term ran from July 1, 2005, to

June 30, 2006. Evaluation of proposals was to be conducted in

three phases. First, the proposal would be reviewed to ensure

proposal requirements were met. Second, the applicant would be

3
The published opinion was authored by Presiding Judge Daniel R.
Foley, and joined by Associate Judge Alexa D.M. Fujise and Circuit Judge
Patrick W. Border, in place of Chief Judge Craig H. Nakamura and Associate
Judge Katherine G. Leonard, both recused.

4
The Honorable Gary W.B. Chang presided.

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evaluated, and third, a recommendation of whether to grant an

award would be made.

The RFP established weighted evaluation criteria to

determine which proposals would qualify for contracts with the

DOE. “[I]n order to be eligible for the contract award,” the

proposal had to “receive a score of 70 points or better[.]” The

RFP explained that “[a]ny applicant may file a protest . . .
against the awarding of the contract[.]” Only the following

matters could be protested: “A state purchasing agency’s failure

to follow procedures established by [HRS] chapter 103F[,]” “[a]

state purchasing agency’s failure to follow any rules established

by [HRS c]hapter 103F[,]” or “[a] state purchasing agency’s

failure to follow any procedure, requirement or evaluation

criterion in a request for proposals issued by the state

purchasing agency.”

In January 2005, Petitioner submitted its proposal. On

March 31, 2005, Andrell Aoki, a “Fiscal Specialist,” notified the
applicants that a list of qualified providers had been selected.

Petitioner was informed that its proposal was rejected because

the DOE determined that it “failed to meet the minimum score of

70 to be entered into the pool of providers.” Petitioner

received 51.2 points out of 100 possible points.

On April 5, 2005, Petitioner filed a notice of protest

stating that the DOE failed to apply proposal evaluation criteria

fairly and competently, thereby violating HRS § 103F-402(b)

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(Supp. 2004),5 and Hawai#i Administrative Rules (HAR) § 3-143-

205(e)6 & (f)7 (2004). Petitioner also complained that the RFP

5
HRS § 103F-402 provides in its entirety as follows.

§103F-402 Competitive purchase of services. (a) State
agencies to which the legislature has appropriated funds for
the purchase of health and human services shall solicit
proposals to provide health and human services by purchase
of health and human services contracts, by publishing a
notice requesting the submission of health and human service
proposals. Notice of the request for proposals shall be
given a reasonable time before the date set forth in the
request for submission of proposals. The policy board shall
adopt rules which specify:
(1) The form of the notice;
(2) What constitutes a reasonable interim between
notice and the proposal submission deadline; and
(3) How the notice is to be published, including but
not limited to, whether the publication is to be
completed in a newspaper of general circulation, by
mail, through a public or private telecommunications
network, or any other method or combination of methods
which the board deems appropriate.
(b) The request shall state all criteria which will be used
to evaluate proposals, and the relative importance of the
proposal evaluation criteria.
(c) Any applicant who has a question regarding a request may
submit the question to the head of the purchasing agency, or
a designee, prior to the proposal submission deadline. The
head of the purchasing agency, or a designee, shall provide
a response in the form of a clarification, or an amendment
of the request, that shall be made available to all those
who picked up a request.
(d) Proposals shall be opened so as to avoid disclosure of
contents to competing applicants during the process of
proposal evaluation. A register of proposals shall be
prepared and available for public inspection after proposal
submission.
(e) If stated in the request, discussions, as provided by
rule, may be held with applicants for the purpose of
clarification to assure full understanding of, and
responsiveness to, the solicitation requirements.
Applicants shall be accorded fair and equal treatment with
respect to any opportunity for discussion and revision of
proposals, and revisions may be permitted after submissions
and prior to award for the purpose of obtaining best and
final offers. In conducting discussions, there shall be no
disclosure of any information derived from proposals
submitted by competing applicants.

(Emphases added.)

6
Petitioner cited HAR § 3-142-205 in its notice of proposal, but
such provision of the HAR does not exists. HAR chapter 3-140 through 3-147
and 3-149 were amended in January 2006, see
http://www4.hawaii.gov/spoh/har/hi_adminrulesch103f_bkgrd.htm HAR § 3-142-
(continued...)

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failed to explain any criterion for the consideration of multiple

award contracts, violating HAR § 3-143-206(d),8 and that the DOE,

as the purchasing agency, failed to follow RFP procedures and

requirements because the DOE made factual errors and drew

inaccurate inferences in evaluating the proposal, which

“materially prejudiced” Petitioner.

On April 29, 2005, the DOE informed Petitioner that
all awards had been “rescinded” and that all proposals were to be

rescored due to “concerns” raised in one or more pending

protests.

6
(...continued)
205(e), and, thus, the relevant section of HAR chapter 3-143 is the prior
version, which was in effect since June 1999. This version was attached to
Petitioner’s opening brief. HAR § 3-143-205(e) stated as follows:

The evaluation of proposals shall be based solely upon the
evaluation criteria and their relative priorities as
established in the request for proposals. A written
evaluation shall be made for each proposal based on either
written comments or a numerical rating system. After the
award and execution of a contract or contracts in the case
of multiple awards is awarded and executed, the written
evaluations for all proposals received shall be made
available for public inspection in the procurement file.

(Emphasis added.)

7
HAR § 3-143-205(f) provided that “[a]fter all of the proposals
have been evaluated, the proposals shall be ranked from most advantageous to
least advantageous, based on the evaluations each proposal received.”

8
HAR § 3-143-206(d) provided that:

“[a] multiple award contract may be made whenever the
purchasing agency deems that it is in the best interests of
the state. Only the providers whose proposals are evaluated
as the most advantageous over-all, by geographical area, or
by other criterion explained in the request for proposals,
shall be considered for a multiple award. If, for example,
a multiple award is to be made to two providers, then only
the providers with the two highest-ranked proposals may be
considered, and so on.”

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On May 12, 2005, the DOE informed Petitioner that its

proposal had been rescored, but that Petitioner had not been

selected. Petitioner’s score increased 14 points, to 65.2

points, but was still 4.8 points short of the 70-point score

necessary to be included in the qualified pool of providers.

B.

On May 18, 2005, Petitioner filed an amended Notice of
Protest,9 stating that the DOE “failed to promulgate and apply

evaluation criteria fairly and competently.” According to

Petitioner, the DOE did not adhere to RFP procedures and

requirements established by statute,10 rule,11 and the RFP12 by

making factual errors and drawing inaccurate references in

evaluating and re-scoring the proposal.

On May 31, 2005, a protest scheduling order was issued,

setting forth the time for Petitioner to file its written protest

and for the purchasing agency to respond. Pursuant to HAR §

9
Petitioner filed a Notice of Protest on May 17, 2005.

10
Petitioner contended that the purchasing agency failed to follow
procedures and requirements established by HRS §§ 103F-402(b) & (e) (Supp.
2005), 103F-411, and 104F-511.

11
Petitioner contended that the purchasing agency failed to follow
procedures and requirements established by HAR §§ 3-143-205, 3-143-206, 3-143-
302, 3-143-403, and 3-148-202.

12
Petitioner contended that the purchasing agency failed to follow
procedures and requirements established by sections II and IV of the RFP.
Section II listed the general requirements for a proposal (i.e., specific
qualification regarding licensure and accreditation) and section IV was the
procurement timetable.

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3-148-502 (2005),13 each party to the protest was entitled to ask

the opposing party for records and information. The scheduling

order also established deadlines for clarification requested by

either party. The contract award was suspended during the

protest.

On June 9, 2005, Petitioner requested clarification

under HAR § 3-148-502. Petitioner sought, inter alia, copies of
the proposals of all applicants, the evaluation forms for each

applicant, and the decisions as to all applicants. On June 24,

2005, the DOE responded by refusing to identify or produce the

requested information on the ground that the information had to

be kept confidential, until the contract was executed. (Citing

HAR §§ 3-143-60414 & 3-143-61615 (1999).)

On July 15, 2005, Petitioner sent a “notice of dispute”

to the DOE. Petitioner noted that HAR § 3-148-103(a) allows an

applicant to protest the “purchasing agency’s failure to follow

13
HAR § 3-148-502, entitled “Requests for Clarification,” provides
that “[t]he protestor may make a written request for access to the purchasing
agency's relevant procurement records, and the purchasing agency shall provide
such access except to the extent that information is required or permitted to
be withheld by law.” HAR § 3-148-502(b). Furthermore, both parties “may make
written requests for additional relevant information to each other[,]” and
“[p]arties from whom additional information is requested shall respond by
producing such additional information except to the extent that such
information is required or permitted to be withheld by law.” HAR § 3-148-
502(c).

14
HAR § 3-143-604, entitled “Access to Documents and
Confidentiality[,]” provided, inter alia, that “[a]fter submission to a
purchasing agency, the confidentiality of proposals, modifications to
proposals, and withdrawals of proposals” shall be kept confidential.

15
HAR § 3-143-616(a) provided that “[t]he procurement file for every
competitive purchase of service procurement shall be available for public
inspection after the execution of a contract[.]”

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any procedure, requirement, or evaluation criterion in a request

for proposals[,]” and that HRS § 103F-50416 provides that the

procedures and remedies under the administrative rules “shall be

the exclusive means available for persons aggrieved in connection

with the award of a contract to resolve their concerns.”

According to Petitioner, the “exclusivity of remedies”

provision in HRS § 103F-504, combined with the HAR, “set up a
catch-22” because, although “a protester is entitled to determine

whether evaluators properly followed evaluation criteria[,]”

under the HAR, a protester would have no access to this

information until after the contract was awarded. At this point,

“there would be no recourse because the agency decision on the

protest is purportedly final.” (Citing HAR § 3-148-306(c)(4).17)

On July 18, 2005, Petitioner filed its formal protest

alleging that the DOE, as the purchasing agency, failed to follow

the applicable procedures, to properly evaluate Petitioner’s

proposal, to provide the discovery requested, and to establish

criteria for justifying multiple award contracts. On July 27,
2005, the DOE responded to the protest, contending that

Petitioner’s proposals did not meet or were inconsistent with the

16
HRS § 103F-504, entitled “Exclusivity of remedies[,]” provides in
its entirety that “[t]he procedures and remedies provided for in this part,
and the rules adopted by the policy board, shall be the exclusive means
available for persons aggrieved in connection with the award of a contract to
resolve their concerns.” (Emphases added.)

17
HAR § 3-148-306(c)(4) provides that “[e]very decision issued in
resolution of a protest shall contain” “[a] statement that the decision is
final and conclusive, unless a timely request for reconsideration is made.”
(Emphasis added.)

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requirements in the RFP. Petitioner submitted a reply,

contending that its discovery was impeded by the DOE’s refusal to

provide documents regarding the proposals submitted by other

bidders.

On August 9, 2005, Christian H. Butt, a “Procurement &

Contracts Specialist” of the Office of Business Services of the

DOE, denied the protest. On August 17, 2005, Petitioner
submitted a request for reconsideration. On August 25, 2005, Rae

M. Louie, “assistant superintendent,” denied the request for

reconsideration, finding that the purchasing agency made no

error.

The contracts were then awarded.

C.

Petitioner subsequently filed an appeal to the court

under HRS chapter 91. The court dismissed the action for lack of

jurisdiction and entered judgment on October 10, 2005, which was

affirmed by this court on January 22, 2007.18

18
This court affirmed the court’s holding that “the [court] did not
err in ruling that it lacked HRS chapter 91 jurisdiction in the instant case.”
Alaka#i Na Keiki, Inc. v. Hamamoto (Alaka#i I), No. 27559, 2007 WL 158980, at
*1 (Jan. 22, 2007) (SDO). This court reasoned that inasmuch as HRS § 91-14(a)
(1993) allows a person aggrieved by a final decision and order in a contested
case to appeal that order, and a contested case is defined as “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[,]” HRS §
91-1(5) (1993), and an agency hearing “refers only to such hearing held by an
agency immediately prior to a judicial review of a contested case[,]” HRS §
91-1(6) (1993), HRS chapter 91 did not provide judicial review for Petitioner.
(Emphases added.) This was because “submission of [Petitioner’s] written
protest, the DOE’s written response, and [Petitioner’s] written reply did not
constitute a ‘hearing’ within the meaning of HRS chapter 91[.]” Id. at *2.
Additionally, this court noted that because neither HRS chapter 103F nor HAR
chapter 3-148 mandate a hearing prior to deciding a protest, the court lacked
jurisdiction. Id. (Citing Bush v. Hawaiian Homes Comm’n, 76 Hawai#i 128, 134,
870 P.2d 1272, 1278 (1994) (“If the statute or rule governing the activity in
(continued...)

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D.

On September 16, 2005, Petitioner filed its complaint

in the instant case against Hamamoto, and on September 20, 2005,

Petitioner filed its First Amended Complaint.19 Petitioner was

18
(...continued)
question does not mandate a hearing prior to the administrative agency's
decision-making, the actions of the administrative agency are not ‘required by
law’ and do not amount to ‘a final decision or order in a contested case’ from
which a direct appeal to circuit court is possible.” (Citations omitted.))

19
The contracts at issue expired on June 30, 2006. The contracts
were extended for one year, until June 30, 2007. The DOE then issued a new
request for proposals and entered into new contracts with various providers
for similar services, including Petitioner.
On appeal to the ICA, Petitioner argued, “Assuming the court based
its decision [as to Petitioner’s request for declaratory and injunctive
releif] in whole or in part on mootness, the court clearly erred.” The ICA
noted that “in its oral indication as to how it would rule, [the court] agreed
with [Petitioner] that the issue of constitutionality was not moot, stating
that ‘c]laims for declaratory relief regarding, one, the constitutionality of
chapter 103F and, number two, [Respondent’s] alleged failure to comply with
the applicable procedural law are not moot since the alleged violations are
capable of repetition.’” Alaka#i Na Keiki, Inc. v. Hamamoto, 125 Hawai#i 200,
209, 257 P.3d 213, 222 (App. 2011) (Hamamoto). The ICA concluded that the
“court properly considered [Petitioner’s] claims for declaratory and
injunctive relief and did not base its ruling on mootness.”
The ICA was correct. In Kaho#ohanohano v. State, 114 Hawai#i 302,
332, 162 P.3d 696, 726 (2007), it was explained that

“[a] case is moot if it has lost its character as a present,
live controversy of the kind that must exist if courts are
to avoid advisory opinions on abstract propositions of law.
The rule is one of the prudential rules of judicial
self-governance founded in concern about the proper--and
properly limited--role of the courts in a democratic
society. We have said the suit must remain alive throughout
the course of litigation to the moment of final appellate
disposition to escape the mootness bar.”

(Quoting Kona Old Hawaiian Trails Group v. Lyman, 69 Haw. 81, 87, 734 P.2d
161, 165 (1987).) (Emphasis omitted.) Because the multiple contracts at issue
in this case have been awarded and fully performed, there is no live
controversy. However, the instant case falls within an exception to the
mootness doctrine because it “involv[es] a legal issue which is capable of
repetition, yet evading review[.]” Id. at 333, 162 P.3d at 727 (internal
quotation marks and citation omitted). “The phrase, ‘capable of repetition,
yet evading review,’ means that a court will not dismiss a case on the grounds
of mootness where a challenged governmental action would evade full review
because the passage of time would prevent any single plaintiff from remaining
subject to the restriction complained of for the period necessary to complete
the lawsuit[.]” Id. (internal quotation marks and citations omitted). Here,
the instant legal issue is capable of repetition inasmuch as the State will
continue to award health and human services contracts. By the time the issue
(continued...)

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allowed to amend its First Amended Complaint, and on November 13,

2006, filed its Second Amended Complaint.

The Second Amended Complaint contained four counts.

In Count 1, Petitioner asserted that the denial of its request

for reconsideration must be vacated because the DOE’s actions

were unlawful, and the court may review and order appropriate

relief for the DOE’s unlawful actions pursuant to its express and

inherent powers under article VI, section 1 of the Hawai#i

Constitution20 and HRS § 603-21.9.21 In Count 2, Petitioner

sought a declaratory judgment pursuant to HRS § 632-122 that,

19
(...continued)
reaches this court, the contracts will most often have been awarded and fully
executed, as in this case.

20
Article VI, section 1 of the Hawai#i Constitution provides that
“[t]he judicial power of the State shall be vested in one supreme court, one
intermediate appellate court, circuit courts, district courts and in such
other courts as the legislature may from time to time establish. The several
courts shall have original and appellate jurisdiction as provided by law and
shall establish time limits for disposition of cases in accordance with their
rules.” (Emphasis added.)

21
HRS § 603-21.9(6) provides in pertinent part that circuit courts
have the power “[t]o make and award such judgments, decrees, orders, and
mandates, issue such executions and other processes, and do such other acts
and take such other steps as may be necessary to carry into full effect the
powers which are or shall be given to them by law or for the promotion of
justice in matters pending before them.” (Emphases added.)

22
HRS § 632-1 provides as follows:

Jurisdiction; controversies subject to. In cases of
actual controversy, courts of record, within the scope of
their respective jurisdictions, shall have power to make
binding adjudications of right, whether or not consequential
relief is, or at the time could be, claimed, and no action
or proceeding shall be open to objection on the ground that
a judgment or order merely declaratory of right is prayed
for[.] Controversies involving the interpretation of deeds,
wills, other instruments of writing, statutes, municipal
ordinances, and other governmental regulations, may be so
determined, and this enumeration does not exclude other
instances of actual antagonistic assertion and denial of
right.
(continued...)

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inter alia, (a) “to the extent” HRS § 103F-504 “preclude[s]

direct judicial review of the DOE’s final decision, it

unconstitutionally delegates judicial power to an administrative

agency and is thus void and invalid[,]” and (b) HRS chapter 103F

and its accompanying administrative rules are unconstitutional or

otherwise invalid because they “permit the DOE to adjudicate the

propriety of its own actions[.]” In Count 3, Petitioner alleged

that Respondent was negligent in preparing the RFP, evaluating

the proposals, and deciding Petitioner’s request for

reconsideration, and that Petitioner suffered damages as a result

of Respondent’s negligence. In Count 4, Petitioner sought a

preliminary and permanent injunction enjoining the DOE from

continuing to administer any and all health and human services

contracts, and urged the court to appoint a special master to

22
(...continued)
Relief by declaratory judgment may be granted in civil
cases where an actual controversy exists between contending
parties, or where the court is satisfied that antagonistic
claims are present between the parties involved which
indicate imminent and inevitable litigation, or where in any
such case the court is satisfied that a party asserts a
legal relation, status, right, or privilege in which the
party has a concrete interest and that there is a challenge
or denial of the asserted relation, status, right, or
privilege by an adversary party who also has or asserts a
concrete interest therein, and the court is satisfied also
that a declaratory judgment will serve to terminate the
uncertainty or controversy giving rise to the proceeding.
Where, however, a statute provides a special form of remedy
for a specific type of case, that statutory remedy shall be
followed; but the mere fact that an actual or threatened
controversy is susceptible of relief through a general
common law remedy, a remedy equitable in nature, or an
extraordinary legal remedy, whether such remedy is
recognized or regulated by statute or not, shall not debar a
party from the privilege of obtaining a declaratory judgment
in any case where the other essentials to such relief are
present.

(Emphases added.)

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oversee health and human services procurement “until such time as

defects in the statute and the administrative rules can be cured

legislatively and administratively.”

E.

In May 2008,23 Respondent moved for judgment on the

pleadings or, in the alternative, for summary judgment pursuant

to Hawai#i Rules of Civil Procedure (HRCP) Rules 7,24 12(c),25 and

5626 (2000) on all counts. Respondent argued, inter alia, that

Petitioner did not meet its burden of showing that HRS chapter

103F is unconstitutional. According to Respondent, Petitioner

“simply c[ould not] prove that the Hawai#i State Constitution

precludes the ability of the legislature to enact HRS § 103F-

504,” the “exclusivity of remedies” provision. In Respondent’s

view, “[a]rticle VI, section 1 concerning judicial power clearly

23
Between November 2006 and May 2008, there were discovery disputes.

24
HRCP Rule 7(b)(1) provides in pertinent part that “[a]n
application to the court for an order shall be by motion which, unless made
during a hearing or trial, shall be made in writing, shall state with
particularity the grounds therefor, and shall set forth the relief or order
sought.”

25
HRCP Rule 12(c) provides that,

“[a]fter the pleadings are closed but within such time as
not to delay the trial, any party may move for judgment on
the pleadings. If, on a motion for judgment on the
pleadings, matters outside the pleadings are presented to
and not excluded by the court, the motion shall be treated
as one for summary judgment and disposed of as provided in
Rule 56, and all parties shall be given reasonable
opportunity to present all material made pertinent to such a
motion by Rule 56.”

26
HRCP Rule 56(b) provides in pertinent part that “[a] party against
whom a claim . . . is asserted or a declaratory judgment is sought may move
with or without supporting affidavits for a summary judgment in the party's
favor as to all or any part thereof[.]”

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provides that the courts only have original and appellate

jurisdiction as provided by law[,]” and thus, “the legislature is

free to decide what power if any to invest in the judiciary

concerning the review of [HRS c]hapter 103F[.]” Respondent

argued that the legislature did not invest any power in the

judiciary inasmuch as the legislature decided that the procedure

under HRS chapter 103F was the “‘[e]xclusive means available for

persons aggriev[ed] in connection with the award of a contract to

resolve their concerns’.” (Quoting HRS § 103F-504). Regarding

Petitioner’s negligence claim, Respondent maintained, inter alia,

that HRS chapter 103F did not afford Petitioner a private right

of action to bring suit.

On May 9, 2008, Petitioner filed its motion for summary

judgment. Petitioner argued that HRS chapter 103F was facially

invalid on two grounds, that it “empowers a government agency to

determine the propriety and legality of its own procurement

actions, including the disposition of protests[, and] as applied

to the DOE, it erroneously designates the DOE superintendent to

serve as a neutral in deciding protests and to sit in judgment of

her protest decision on reconsideration.” Petitioner contended

that HRS chapter 103F is “invalid because it expressly requires

an agency head to determine with finality the propriety and

legality of her agency’s procurement agencies, including the

disposition of protests.” (Citing, inter alia, HOH Corp. v.

Motor Vehicle Indus. Licensing Bd., Dep’t. of Commerce & Consumer

Affairs, 69 Haw. 135, 143, 736 P.2d 1271, 1276 (1987)).

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On June 12, 2008, the court held a hearing on the

competing motions. As to Petitioner’s challenge to the

constitutionality of HRS chapter 103F, the court ruled, “the

finality of the chief procurement officer’s decision on a request

for reconsideration is not an unconstitutional delegation of

adjudicatory power of the judiciary.” However, the court said it

was “inclined” to grant Petitioner injunctive relief prohibiting

Respondent from having any individual other than the chief

procurement officer decide requests for reconsideration under HRS

§ 103F-502 (Supp. 2008). Additionally, the court gave its

“inclination” that “[t]here is no private right of action under

[HRS c]hapter 103F, no tort duty is imposed by [HRS c]hapter

103F, [and] therefore there is no cause of action for damages

under [c]hapter 662.” The court indicated it was also “inclined”

to deny all other claims of Petitioner, explaining “the court is

abiding by the legislature’s mandate that the decision made upon

reconsideration is final, so this [c]ourt is not going to be

tempted to start to look at the underlying merits [].”

On October 21, 2008, the court issued an order denying

Petitioner’s motion for summary judgment, without including any

language that only the chief procurement officer could decide the

motion for reconsideration. On October 29, 2008, the court

granted Respondent’s motion for summary judgment, “to the extent

that summary judgment is granted in favor of [Respondent] and

against [Petitioner].” On March 4, 2009, judgment was entered

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“in favor of [Respondent] and against [Petitioner], upon Counts

I, II, III, [and] IV of the Second Amended Complaint.” All other

claims were dismissed with prejudice.

II.

A.

Petitioner filed a notice of appeal on April 3, 2009.

On appeal to the ICA, Petitioner argued, inter alia, that (1) HRS

chapter 103F is unconstitutional because it delegates to an

agency judicial power to interpret the law27 and determine with

finality a protestor’s legal rights and the legality of an

agency’s conduct, (citing HOH, 69 Haw. at 143, 736 P.2d at 1276);

(2) under the separation of powers doctrine, the power to

determine with finality the meaning of the law and the legality

of an agency’s conduct resides with the judiciary, and the

legislature’s “clear[] inten[t] that the DOE would be the final

arbiter of the rights of aggrieved persons” violates the

separation of powers doctrine; (3) the court had authority to

review the validity of HRS chapter 103F pursuant to HRS § 632-1

or HRS § 603-21.9(6); (4) assuming, arguendo, HRS chapter 103F is

constitutional, the court still had authority to scrutinize the

DOE’s actions within the context of a declaratory judgment action

or in the context of the court’s general authority described in

HRS § 603-21.9(6); and (5) the DOE was negligent and the STLA,

27
In this regard, Petitioner maintained that HRS chapter 103F
“‘subverts a fundamental precept of American jurisprudence: that [i]t is
emphatically the province and the duty of the judicial department to say what
the law is[.]’” (Quoting Marbury v Madison, 5 U.S. 137, 177 (1803)).

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HRS § 662-15 (Supp. 2009), allowed Petitioner to bring a

negligence claim against the DOE.

B.

The ICA rejected Petitioner’s arguments. According to

the ICA, because HRS § 103F-504 provides that the protest

procedure “shall be the exclusive means available for persons

aggrieved in connection with the award of a contract to resolve

their concerns[,]” by its terms, HRS “[c]hapter 103F does not

allow for judicial review.” Hamamoto, 125 Hawai#i at 206, 257

P.3d at 219 (emphasis in original).

As to Petitioner’s second argument regarding separation

of powers, the ICA observed that Petitioner acknowledged HRS

chapter 103F indicated that “the Hawai#i Legislature . . .

clearly intended for DOE to be the final arbiter in contract

award protests.” Id. According to the ICA, “‘the legislature

has the power to establish the subject matter jurisdiction of our

state court system’,” id. (quoting Sherman v. Sawyer, 63 Haw. 55,

57, 621 P.2d 346, 348 (1980)), and “in enacting [HRS c]hapter

103F, [the legislature] determined that the judiciary had no

power to review procurement grievance procedures under [HRS

c]hapter 103F.” Id.

In addition, the ICA declared that, when a party

challenges the constitutionality of a statute, that party “has

the burden of showing unconstitutionality beyond a reasonable

doubt.” Id. at 207, 257 P.3d at 220 (internal quotation marks

and citation omitted). The ICA determined that Petitioner failed

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to meet its burden of proving that HRS chapter 103F violated the

separation of powers doctrine.

As to Petitioner’s third argument, that an

administrative agency could not adjudicate the propriety of its

own actions, the ICA determined that “an administrative agency

does not have the authority to decide if its actions are

constitutional[,] but [HRS c]hapter 103F does give an

administrative agency the authority to decide if its actions are

otherwise proper.” Id. The ICA distinguished HOH, reasoning

that there, the issue “was not the propriety of procedural

actions, but, rather, the constitutionality of a statute[.]” Id.

As to Petitioner’s fourth argument regarding the

court’s authority to review whether the DOE exceeded its

authority, the ICA reasoned that neither HRS § 632-1 nor HRS §

603-21.9(6) gave the court authority to review the DOE’s actions.

According to the ICA, HRS § 632–1 “‘generally endorses

declaratory relief in civil cases,’” but “‘disallows such relief

where a statute provides a special form of remedy for a specific

type of case.’” Id. (quoting Travelers Ins. Co. v. Hawaii

Roofing, Inc., 64 Haw. 380, 386, 641 P.2d 1333, 1337 (1982)

(internal quotation marks, ellipsis, brackets, and footnote

omitted)). In the ICA’s view, because HRS chapter 103F provided

a “‘statutory remedy’” for a “‘specific type of case[,]’”

“namely, the protest process under HRS §§ 103F–501 through

103F–504[,]” “declaratory relief under HRS § 632–1 is

unavailable[.]” Id. (citing Travelers Ins., 64 Haw. at 386–87,

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641 P.2d at 1337–38). As to HRS § 603–21.9(6), the ICA

determined that it “does not give the circuit court jurisdiction

to rule on a claim when the statute limits review exclusively to

an administrative body.” Id. at 207-208, 257 P.3d at 220-21.

As to Petitioner’s fifth argument alleging negligence

on Respondent’s behalf, the ICA determined that HRS chapter 103F

does not provide a private right of action. The ICA determined

that “‘[t]he legislative history supports the limitations on

court challenges’” where HRS chapter 103F intended a “‘simpler,

standardized process’” for the procurement of health and human

services. Id. at 207-208, 257 P.3d at 221-22 (quoting S. Stand.

Comm. Rep. No. 1465, in 1997 Senate Journal, at 1447–48).

According to the ICA, because the “statutory language

clearly indicates the intent of the [l]egislature to deny a

private right of action[,]” “there is no action in tort[,]” and

because “there is no private right of action under [HRS c]hapter

103F, there is also no cause of action for damages under HRS

[c]hapter 662.” Id.

On June 16, 2011, the ICA entered judgment affirming

the judgment of the court. On September 14, 2011, Petitioner

filed its Application for Writ of Certiorari (Application).

III.

Petitioner lists the following questions in its

Application:
1. Whether [HRS c]hapter 103F represents an
unconstitutional delegation of judicial power to an
executive agency and is therefore invalid under [a]rticle VI

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section 1 of the Hawai#i [C]onstitution.
2. Assuming [HRS c]hapter 103F is unconstitutional,
did the ICA err in affirming dismissal of [Petitioner]’s
tort action against the [DOE] for negligent administration
of the constitutionally defective law pursuant to the State
Tort Liability Act ([HRS] § 662-15(1)).
3. Assuming arguendo, that [HRS c]hapter 103F is
constitutional, did the ICA err in ruling that the legality
of the DOE’s actions in administering the statute [was] not
subject to judicial review pursuant to the [] court’s
inherent judicial powers?

(Emphasis added.)

Respondent filed a Response to Petitioner’s Application
(Response) on September 29, 2011.

IV.

A.

Regarding its first question, Petitioner raises a

constitutional question implicating Respondent’s actions.

Petitioner contends that (1) the presumption that statutes are

constitutional, as applied by the ICA, “does not apply to laws

which ‘. . . impinge on fundamental rights expressly or impliedly

granted by the constitution[,]’” (quoting Peroutka v. Cronin, 117

Hawai#i 323, 326, 179 P.3d 1050, 1053 (2008)), and because HRS
chapter 103F denies Petitioner the “fundamental right of judicial

review of an agency decision determining [its] legal rights[,]”

it is presumptively unconstitutional; and (2) the ICA erroneously

equated the concept of judicial review with the statutory concept

of a right to appeal, and, “[i]f left to stand, . . . the

separation of powers implicit in the Hawai#i [C]onstitution

c[ould] be nullified by legislative fiat[]” in that the

legislature “could endow any administrative agency with

unreviewable judicial power to interpret the law and finally

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adjudicate the legal rights of petitioners as well as whether the

agency acted unlawfully.”

In response to Petitioner’s first question, Respondent

counters that (1) Peroutka is inapplicable and the ICA applied

the correct standard to determine the constitutionality of a

statute, and (2) because it is well settled that the right to

appeal is purely statutory and exists only when constitutionally

or statutorily established, “[t]here is nothing wrong” with the

legislature foreclosing the ability “to appeal the determination

made by an agency under HRS chapter 103F.”28

B.

With respect to Petitioner’s first contention,

Petitioner does not cite any authority that would support the

proposition that there is a specific fundamental right to

judicial review of an agency decision that determines the legal

rights of a party. Inasmuch as HRS chapter 103F cannot be said

to deny such a specific right, it is not “presumptively

unconstitutional.”29 Therefore, the ICA applied the correct

28
Respondent also argues that Petitioner did not raise the argument
before the ICA that HRS chapter 103F violates the separation of powers
doctrine by delegating judicial authority, and, thus, cannot raise it now.
However, as related, Petitioner argued before the ICA that HRS chapter 103F
“delegate[d] to an agency . . . to determine with finality . . . the meaning
and application of the statute and administrative rules, and the legality and
propriety of its own conduct.” Inasmuch as Petitioner did raise the argument
to the ICA, Respondent’s assertion of waiver is wrong.

29
Additionally, Petitioner’s reliance on Peroutka is misplaced. As
Respondent contends, Petroutka quoted Child Support Enforcement Agency v. Doe,
109 Hawai#i 240, 246, 125 P.3d 461, 467 (2005), for the proposition that a
statute is presumptively unconstitutional when it classifies persons on the
basis of suspect categories or impinges on fundamental rights. Doe involved
an equal protection claim, and, in an equal protection challenge, the strict
(continued...)

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standard of review, that is, that HRS chapter 103F is

presumptively constitutional. However, if the legislature

delegates judicial power and precludes judicial review of the

agency’s decision, it may raise separation of powers questions,

as discussed infra.

C.

Although the ICA applied the correct standard of

review, respectfully, the ICA’s analysis regarding Petitioner’s

separation of powers challenge appears to be wrong. The ICA

relied on the fact that the legislature establishes the subject

matter jurisdiction of the courts in reasoning there was no

separation of powers issue. But, subject matter jurisdiction is

not determinative of whether a legislative act that delegates

judicial power30 to an agency violates the separation of powers

doctrine or not.

We recognize that “[t]he separation of powers doctrine

is not expressly set forth in any single constitutional

provision, but like the federal government, Hawaii’s government

is one in which the sovereign power is divided and allocated

29
(...continued)
scrutiny standard applies to classifications based on suspect categories or
that impinge on fundamental rights, while the rational basis test applies to
laws that do not. Inasmuch as Petitioner raises no equal protection
challenge, Peroutka is inapplicable.

30
It is said that “[t]he judicial power is an aspect of the power of
a sovereign over a certain geographic territory; it derives from a generally
recognized duty of the sovereign to regulate the relationship of individuals
to the sovereign and the relationship of individuals inter se.” Alamida v.
Wilson, 53 Haw. 398, 499, 495 P.2d 585, 588 (1972). The Hawai#i Constitution
vests judicial power in the courts pursuant to article VI section 1.

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among three co-equal branches.” Hawaii Insurers Council v.

Lingle, 120 Hawai#i 51, 69, 201 P.3d 564, 582 (2008) (internal

quotation marks and citation omitted). The separation of powers

doctrine is intended “to preclude a commingling of essentially

different powers of government in the same hands and thereby

prevent a situation where one department would be controlled by,

or subjected, directly or indirectly, to, the coercive influence

of either of the other departments.” Pray v. Judicial Selection

Comm’n of State, 75 Haw. 333, 353, 861 P.2d 723, 732 (1993)

(internal quotation marks and citation omitted).

Separation of powers concerns may arise when the

legislature vests administrative agencies with judicial power but

precludes judicial review of the determinations made by the

agency in exercising such power. State v. Bani, 97 Hawai#i 285,

291 n.4, 36 P.3d 1255, 1261 n.4 (2001) is relevant. In Bani, the

defendant challenged the constitutionality of Hawaii’s sex

offender registration and notification statute after he was

required to register as a sex offender. Id. at 286-87, 36 P.3d

at 1256-57. This court noted that a section of the statute

provided that “‘a sex offender shall have a diminished

expectation of privacy in the [registration] information.’” Id.

at 291 n.4, 36 P.3d at 1261 n.4.

It was declared by Bani that, although the legislature

attempted to exempt the statute from the constitutional right to

privacy, the framers of article I, section 6 of the Hawai#i

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Constitution[31] intended to entrust the definition of the right

to privacy ‘to both the legislature and the courts.’” Id.

According to Bani, this court has stated, “‘Our ultimate

authority is the Constitution; and the courts, not the

legislature, are the ultimate interpreters of the Constitution.’”

Id. (quoting State v. Nakata, 76 Hawai#i 360, 370, 878 P.2d 699,

709 (1994)).

It was further observed that “‘the question as to the

constitutionality of a statute is not for legislative

determination, but is vested in the judiciary, and a statute

cannot survive constitutional challenge based on legislative

declaration alone.’” Id. (quoting Del Rio v. Crake, 87 Hawai#i

297, 304, 955 P.2d 90, 97 (1998)). Thus, according to Bani,

“[t]o allow the legislature to exempt the statute from

constitutional requirements, without independent review by this

court and the judiciary, would effectively nullify article I,

section 6.” Id. In sum, Bani concluded that “the legislature’s

intent to preclude judicial review of [Hawai#i’s sex offender

registration and notification statute] violate[d] the doctrine of

‘separation of powers[.]’” Id.

The United State Supreme Court has similarly held that

if “Congress created a phalanx of non-Article III tribunals

equipped to handle the entire business of the Article III courts

31
Article I, section 6 of the Hawai#i Constitution provides that
“[t]he right of the people to privacy is recognized and shall not be infringed
without the showing of a compelling state interest. The legislature shall
take affirmative steps to implement this right.”

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without any Article III supervision or control and without

evidence of valid and specific legislative necessities[,]” such a

situation would violate the separation of powers doctrine.

Commodity Futures Trading Comm’n v. Schor, 478 U.S. 833, 855

(1986). Additionally, it has been said that when delegations of

quasi-judicial functions to an administrative agency allow for

“judicial review and full respect for due process[,]” “the

Constitution does not require that [federal courts] strike down

statutes, otherwise having a reasonable legislative purpose, that

invest administrative agencies with regulatory functions

previously filled by judge and jury.” Patlex Corp. v.

Mossinghoff, 758 F.2d 594, 604-05 (Fed. Cir. 1985) (emphasis

added); see also Northern Pipeline Constr. Co. v. Marathon Pipe

Line Co., 458 U.S. 50, 69 n.23 (1982) (“[W]hen Congress assigns

. . . matters to administrative agencies, . . . it has generally

provided, and we have suggested that it may be required to

provide, for . . . judicial review.”).32

32
These cases are cited for general separation of powers
propositions. The question of whether a claim involves private or public
rights was not dispositive in these cases. Under federal law, public rights
encompass “matters arising between the Government and persons subject to its
authority in connection with the performance of constitutional functions of
the executive or legislative departments.” Thomas v. Union Carbide
Agricultural Products Co., 473 U.S. 568, 585 (1985) (citation omitted).
Private rights generally involve “the liability of one individual to another
under the law as defined.” Id. (internal quotation marks and citation
omitted).
The Court has “rejected any attempt to make determinative for
[purposes of determining whether Congress can withdraw certain cases from
Article III courts] the distinction between public rights and private
rights[.]” Id. at 853-84. The “theory that the public rights/private rights
dichotomy . . . provides a bright-line test for determining the requirements
of Article III” has not commanded a majority of the Court. Id. at 585-586.
See also Commodity Futures, 478 U.S. at 853 (“[T]his Court has rejected any
attempt to make determinative for Article III purposes the distinction between
public rights and private rights . . . .) (internal citation omitted). In any
(continued...)

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Along the same lines, some state courts have held that,

although the legislature may delegate judicial power to a

legislative agency, it may not preclude final judicial review of

the agency’s decisions. See e.g., Ashbury v. Lombardi, 846

S.W.2d 196, 200 (Mo. 1993) (“[W]hile the legislature may allow

for judicial or quasi-judicial decision-making by legislative or

executive (administrative) agencies, it may not preclude judicial

review of those decisions[;] [n]or may the legislature alter the

principal power of the judiciary to make the final review.”).

McHugh v. Santa Monica Rent Control Bd., 777 P.2d 91, 102 (Cal.

1989), cogently explains the separation of powers doctrine when

an administrative agency is given judicial power:
Our constitutional provision confining “judicial
powers” to the courts . . . has counterparts in most other
state constitutions, as well as the federal Constitution.
. . . Modern courts, however, have not rigidly construed
these provisions. Instead, a more tolerant approach to the
delegation of judicial powers has emerged out of a perceived
necessity to accommodate administrative adjudication of
certain disputes and thereby to cope with increasing demands
on our traditional judicial system.
The accommodating view of modern courts, however,
generally has been conditioned by two limiting principles,
one procedural and the other substantive. First, our sister
state cases, like our own universally recognize the
constitutional necessity of the “principle of check.” They
hold the availability of judicial review of administrative
decisions is sufficient to satisfy the “principle of check.”
The substantive limitation is[, . . . w]hen an
executive board has regulatory functions, it may hear and
determine controversies which are incidental thereto, but if
the duty is primarily to decide questions of legal right
between private parties, the function belongs to the
judiciary . . . . The creation of an executive board is
justified if its service is to determine and maintain a
public right or interest. To accomplish its purposes
judicial powers may be necessarily exerted. But they must

32
(...continued)
event, strictures imposed by the United States Supreme Court with respect to
Article III courts as opposed to non-Article III tribunals and the case law
thereunder are not binding on Hawai#i courts with respect to judicial review
under the Hawai#i constitution.

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concern matters of an executive character. They are proper
if it may fairly be said that there is need of them in order
to produce an efficient and effective administrative
enforcement of the public interest.

(Citations and footnotes omitted.) (Emphases added).

It would appear from the foregoing that separation of

powers concerns may be implicated where the legislature vests an

administrative agency with adjudicatory power and precludes

judicial review of the determinations made by the agency in that

capacity.33 Without judicial review, there would be no “check”

on the propriety of the agency’s actions under the law and the

agency could be left to decide the legality of its own actions.

See id. at 107 (stating that “the ‘principle of check’” is

respected “by providing for judicial review of administrative

determinations”). Thus, if the legislature delegates judicial

power to an administrative agency and precludes judicial review

of the legality of the agency’s own actions, a separation of

powers issue would arise.

33
While “[t]he interpretation of the meaning of statutes, as applied
to justiciable controversies, is exclusively a judicial function[,]” United
States v. Am. Trucking Ass’ns, 310 U.S. 534, 544 (1940), “‘[t]he power to hear
and determine, or to ascertain facts decided by the application of rules of
law to the ascertained facts, is undoubtedly a part of the judicial power or a
judicial function[,]’” but it is not an exclusive judicial function, Great
Lakes Transfer, LLC v. Porter County Highway Dept., 952 N.E.2d 235, 242 (Ind.
App. 2011) (quoting 1 Am. Jr. Administrative Law § 168). As noted,

“Administrative agencies may hear and determine, or
ascertain facts and decide by the application of rules of law to
the ascertained facts, and even determine the facts upon which
their jurisdiction depends, and the power exercised by them is not
judicial in the sense of a violation of the principle of
separation of powers, but is administrative or quasi-judicial.”
Id.

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D.

The ICA and Respondent did not view the issue in such a

manner. According to the ICA and Respondent, because the

legislature has the power to establish the subject matter

jurisdiction of the courts and to create or deny appellate

review, the alleged prohibition against judicial review of

protest decisions under HRS chapter 103F per se cannot present a

separation of powers issue. See Hamamoto, 125 Hawai#i at 207,

257 P.3d at 220; see also Response at 7 (“Since the Hawai#i

Constitution authorizes the [l]egislature to determine the

jurisdiction of the courts, it cannot, as a matter of logic, pose

a separation of powers problem for the [l]egislature to exercise

this power.”). Contrary to the ICA’s and Respondent’s positions,

subject matter jurisdiction cannot be relied upon to determine

whether, in granting an administrative agency judicial power

without allowing for judicial review, the legislature violated

the separation of powers doctrine.34

It is well established that the legislature has the

power to set the subject matter jurisdiction of the courts.35

34
As noted supra, “the question as to the constitutionality of a
statute is not for legislative determination, but is vested in the judiciary,
and a statute cannot survive constitutional challenge based on legislative
declaration alone.” Del Rio, 87 Hawai#i at 304, 955 P.2d at 97. Accordingly,
a legislative “declaration” in a statute allegedly providing that a court
lacks judicial review of an agency decision is not immune from a challenge
that the “declaration” is itself unconstitutional because it vests judicial
power in an administrative agency and does not provide for judicial review.
Id.

35
Even if the legislature attempted to preclude judicial review of
an agency’s decisions, it has been said “that even where the intent of
Congress was to preclude judicial review, a limited jurisdiction exists in the
court to review actions which on their face are plainly in excess of statutory
(continued...)

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However, the ICA appears to have erred in deciding that, because

the legislature delineates the subject matter jurisdiction, the

legislature could automatically preclude judicial review of the

protest decision, without implicating the separation of powers

doctrine. Hamamoto, 125 Hawai#i at 206, 257 P.3d at 219. Under

the ICA’s approach, the legislature could give administrative

agencies judicial power, and prohibit any judicial review of

administrative decisions, all in an appropriate exercise of its

power to set subject matter jurisdiction.

V.

In order to determine whether there is a separation of

powers violation, it must be decided whether the legislature

delegated a judicial function to an administrative agency; here,

the DOE in its capacity as a procurement agency. It would seem

that, to the extent HRS chapter 103F delegates to the DOE

authority to interpret and to apply HRS chapter 103F and rules

promulgated thereunder in deciding disputes raised by protesting

parties, the legislature vested the DOE with judicial power.36

35
(...continued)
authority.” Briscoe v. Bell, 432 U.S. 404, 408 (1977) (internal quotation
marks and citation omitted). As discussed infra, Petitioners argue that
Respondent failed to follow the procedures delineated under HRS chapter 103F
and thus raise the argument that Respondent acted beyond its statutory
authority.

36
There is no doubt the DOE, as the purchasing agency, exercises
judicial power. To reiterate, HRS § 103F-501 (Supp. 2005) allows the
purchasing agency to decide a “protest” brought by a person aggrieved by an
award of a contract because of “a purchasing agency’s [alleged] failure to
follow procedures established by [HRS chapter 103F], rules adopted by the
policy board, or a request for proposals in selecting a provider and awarding
a purchase of health and human services contract[.]” HRS 103F-501(a).
Pursuant to HRS § 103F-501(c), the protest must be submitted to the purchasing
agency which “may settle and resolve the protest by” the means set forth
(continued...)

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For just as this court is the ultimate interpreter of our

constitution, Bani, 97 Hawai#i at 291 n.4, 36 P.3d at 1261 n.4,

this court is the final arbiter of our statutory law, see Rana v.

Bishop Ins. of Hawaii, Inc., 6 Haw. App. 1, 10, 713 P.2d 1363,

1369 (1985) (“The state courts are the final arbiters of the

State’s own law.”) (Brackets, quotation marks, and citation

omitted.). Morever, “[t]he quintessential power of the judiciary

is the power to make final determinations of questions of law”

and “[t]his power is nondelegable power resting exclusively with

the judiciary.” Ashbury, 846 S.W.2d at 200 (citing Marbury, 5

U.S. 137 (other citations omitted)) (emphasis added). Insofar as

the purchasing agency is charged with determining whether it

failed to “follow procedures established by [HRS § 103F-501,]”

HRS § 103F-501(a) and must decide whether the purchasing agency

itself violated the law, i.e. “fail[ed] to comply with section

103F-402 or 103F-403, rules[], or a [RFP],” HRS 103F-502, the

agency makes “. . . determinations of questions of law.” Id.

VI.

A.

Having decided that the DOE has been vested with

judicial power insofar as it interprets and applies the

36
(...continued)
thereunder.
Again, if the protest is not resolved by mutual agreement, the
head of the purchasing agency must promptly “issue a decision in writing[,]”
which becomes “final and conclusive” “unless a request for reconsideration is
submitted to the chief procurement officer[.]” HRS § 103F-501(d) & (e). “A
request for reconsideration may be made only to correct a purchasing agency’s
failure to comply with section 103F-402 or 103F-403, rules adopted to
implement the sections, or a request for proposal, if applicable.” HRS 103F-
502.

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provisions of HRS chapter 103F in protestors’ disputes, it must

be decided whether HRS chapter 103F precludes judicial review of

the agency’s decisions regarding its own actions in such

disputes.

This court has said that “there is a policy favoring

judicial review of administrative actions.” In re Matter of

Hawaii Gov’t Emps.’ Ass’n, Local 152, AFSCME, AFL-CIO, 63 Haw.

85, 87, 621 P.2d 361, 363 (1980) (HGEA); accord Ariyoshi v. Haw.

Pub. Emp’t Relations Bd., 5 Haw. App. 533, 538, 704 P.2d 917, 923

(1985). In that regard, a civil complaint, such as the one filed

by Petitioner, ostensibly falls within the prescribed

jurisdiction of our courts. In Sherman, 63 Haw. at 58, 621 P.2d

at 349, this court explained that the legislature established

subject matter jurisdiction of the courts in enacting HRS § 603-

21.5 and HRS § 633-27. HRS § 603-21.5 (Supp. 2005) provides in

pertinent part that the several circuit courts shall have

jurisdiction, “except as otherwise expressly provided by

statute,” of “[c]ivil actions and proceedings[.]”

According to Sherman, “the circuit court has

jurisdiction over all civil causes of action unless precluded by

the State Constitution or by statute.” 63 Haw. at 58, 621 P.2d

at 349. Thus, the courts have subject matter jurisdiction over

“civil actions and proceedings[,]” and it is presumed that the

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courts have jurisdiction, unless the legislature “expressly”

provides otherwise by statute. HRS § 603-21.5.37

B.

Consequently, the question is whether HRS chapter 103F

divests circuit courts of jurisdiction over appeals from an

agency decision. As indicated, HRS §§ 103F–501 and 103F–502 set

forth the steps for a party to protest a contract award. The

party submits a letter of protest to the head of the purchasing

agency. To reiterate, if the protest is denied, the party then

has the option of submitting a request for reconsideration to the

chief procurement officer, who can either confirm the previous

decision or reopen the protest. If a party does not file a

request for reconsideration, the decision of the head of the head

of the purchasing agency is “final and conclusive.” HRS § 103F-

501(e). If, however, a party does file a request for

reconsideration, the chief procurement officer may uphold the

decision of the head of the purchasing agency or reopen the

protest. HRS § 103F-502(c). The decision of the chief

procurement officer under HRS § 103F-502(c) is to be “final and

conclusive.” HRS § 103F-502(d).

Preliminarily, it may be noted that the “final and

conclusive” language in HRS § 103F-502(d) would not appear to

37
HRS § 661-1 (1993) gives the circuit courts and district courts,
“except as otherwise provided by statute or rule,” original jurisdiction to
determine “[a]ll claims against the State founded upon any statute of the
State[.]” This statute was not raised by the parties, and we need not reach
its applicability, if any, in these circumstances.

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decisively absolve the purchasing agency’s decision under HRS

chapter 103F from judicial review. See Schneider v. United

States, 27 F.3d 1327, 1331 (8th Cir. 1994) (noting that where the

statute states that the agency decision is “final,” it only

prevents further administrative review) (citing Shaughnessy v.

Pedreiro, 349 U.S. 48, 51–52 (1955)); see also Lindahl v. Office

of Personnel Mgmt., 470 U.S. 768, 778-79 (1985) (holding that the

phrase “final and conclusive” did not preclude judicial review

altogether); Meaney v. Sacramento Hous. & Redevelopment Agency,

13 Cal. App. 4th 566, 578-79 (Cal. Ct. App. 1993) (concluding

that “final and conclusive” did not “preclude judicial review of

the procedures followed by the agency and the local legislative

body in making the determinations or of the question whether the

determinations comply with [the statute]”).

Based on the foregoing authorities, the phrase “final

and conclusive,” HRS § 103F-502(d), is insufficient to evince

legislative intent to preclude judicial review of the purchasing

agency’s decision altogether. See Lindahl, 470 U.S. at 771, 779-

80 (stating that “Congress typically employs language far more

unambiguous and comprehensive” than “final and conclusive and []

not subject to review” when it “intends to bar judicial review

altogether[.]”); see also Heikkila v. Barber, 345 U.S. 229, 233

(1953) (noting that the term “final” is ambiguous inasmuch as “it

might refer to the doctrine requiring exhaustion of

administrative remedies before judicial process can be

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invoked”).38 It would appear from the foregoing cases that

courts generally require express language in addition to the

words “final and conclusive” to conclude that the legislature

intended to preclude judicial review of an agency’s decisions.

Therefore, under the views expressed supra, the “final and

conclusive” language in HRS § 103F-502(c) would not preclude

judicial review. Accordingly, nothing in HRS § 103F-502(c)

expressly excludes judicial review.

C.

Here, no dispute arose as to whether Petitioner’s

request for reconsideration was timely. Because Petitioner’s

request for reconsideration was denied by the DOE, Respondent

maintains HRS § 103F–504 declares that “[t]he procedures and

remedies . . ., and the rules adopted by the policy board, shall

be the exclusive means available for persons aggrieved . . . to

resolve their concerns” governs.

However, this language, on its face, does not

definitively settle the question of whether judicial review is

precluded. (Emphasis added.) The statute suggests that the

administrative procedure is the exclusive method to “resolve [the

parties’] . . . concerns,” id., relating to a contract award, but

38
Under federal law, there is a “strong presumption” that Congress
intends there to be judicial review of administrative agency action, see Bowen
v. Michigan Academy of Family Physicians, 476 U.S. 667, 670 (1986), and the
government bears a “heavy burden” when arguing that Congress meant to prohibit
all judicial review, see Dunlop v. Bachowski, 421 U.S. 560, 567 (1975).
Indeed, “only upon a showing of ‘clear and convincing evidence’ of a contrary
legislative intent should the [federal] courts restrict access to judicial
review.” Abbott Labs. v. Gardner, 387 U.S. 136, 141 (1967) overruled on other
grounds, Califano v. Sanders, 430 U.S. 99 (1977).

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it does not expressly exclude judicial review. The term

“concerns” is defined as, inter alia, “a care or trouble”;

“marked interest or regard”; “an uneasy state of blended

interest, uncertainty, and apprehension”; or “matter for

consideration[.]” Merriam Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary 238

(10th ed. 1989). Thus, the term “concerns” is general and

undifferentiating. It lacks the singular focus that would attach

to the gravity of excluding judicial review. The exclusivity of

remedy provision, then, would not compel the conclusion that

judicial review was abrogated.

Moreover, legislative history supports this view. See

State v. Entrekin, 98 Hawai#i 221, 227, 47 P.3d 336, 342 (2002)

(“Legislative history may be consulted to confirm an

interpretation of a statute.”) HRS chapter 103F was enacted in

1997 to create a procedure for the purchasing of health and human

services (chapter 103F), and a procedure governing the awards of

grants and subsidies (chapter 42F). According to the

legislature, this “simpler, standardized process” would ensure

the “fair and equitable treatment of all persons who apply to,

and are paid to provide those services on the agencies’ behalf”

and “optimize information-sharing, planning, and service delivery

efforts.” 1997 Haw Sess. Laws Act 190, § 1 at 351 (emphasis

added). Additionally, the purpose of the bill enacting HRS

chapter 103F “provid[ed] for a single source of public

procurement policy that will promote greater fairness,

efficiency, effectiveness, and accountability.” Stand. Comm.

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Report No. 940, in 1997 House Journal, at 1461 (emphases added);

see Stand. Comm. Report No. 1196, in 1997 Senate Journal, at 1348

(noting that the purpose of the bill is to improve the process

for expending funds for grants, subsidies, and purchases of

services by providing a process to be used for grants and

subsidies for public purposes, and a separate process for

purchase of health and human services).

The foregoing legislative expressions indicate that

proceedings were established to streamline the awarding of health

and human services contracts. But, nothing in the legislative

history expressly states that the legislature intended the chief

procurement officer’s protest decision be shielded from judicial

review. Rather, on its face, the legislative intent that “all

persons who apply to . . . provide [health] and human services”

be afforded “fair and equitable treatment” would countenance

against an intent to vest the purchasing agency with final,

unreviewable decision making power in its own disputes, with a

person who applied to provide services. Such a process would not

be perceived as fair or as equitable. Empowering one party to

the dispute to decide the outcome without recourse by the other

party would taint the protest procedure as partial and

inequitable. This would also undermine the legislature’s intent

to foster “accountability,” of the agency. Accordingly,

Respondent’s argument, that the legislative history constitutes

“clear and convincing evidence” that judicial review is

precluded, is unpersuasive, and judicial review would not be

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prohibited by the text of HRS §§ 103F-501 and 103F-504.39

D.

Significantly, judicial review of an administrative

decision may be available even in the face of language that

unambiguously precludes judicial review. For example, the Court

of Appeals of New York concluded that a statute providing that an

agency’s decision “shall be final and conclusive, and not subject

to further review in any court” precluded review of “the merits

39
At oral argument, it was noted that there is nothing in the
legislative history to indicate the legislature intended to prevent judicial
review under chapter 103F. Respondent responded that “in 1996 . . . the
legislature . . . request[ed] the state procurement office to prepare a report
. . . . The procurement office responded with a detailed report filed in 1996
. . . . Among [the] . . . recommendations was the state procurement office’s
recommendation that there not be any judicial review. . . . In 1997, the
legislature followed that recommendation and enacted what is now chapter
103F.” MP3: Oral Argument, Hawai#i Supreme Court, at 35:59-37:27, available
at http://www.courts.state.hi.us/courts/oral_arguments/archive/oasc29742.html.
However, the report referred to by Respondent at oral argument was
not made a part of the record in this case. In addition, the legislature did
reference the “recommendations by State Procurement Office” as follows, but
precluding judicial review is not among them:

(1) Deleting the definitions of “grants” and “subsidies”
from the new chapter on Purchases of Health and Human
Services;
(2) Amending the definition of “health and human services”
to mean services intended to maintain or improve
health or social well-being;
(3) Expanding the duties of the Chief Procurement Officer
to provide a statewide orientation and training
program for all parties on all matters relating to
carrying out the purposes of this chapter;
(4) Limiting the basis for reconsideration of the head of
a purchasing agency’s decision on a protest to non-
compliance with statute or rule;
(5) Requiring each recipient or provider of services to
indemnify and hold the State harmless; and
(6) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for
purposes of style and clarity.

Stand. Comm. Report No. 940, in 1997 House Journal, at 1461. Hence,
significantly absent from the legislature’s reference to the state procurement
office report is any recommendation to abolish judicial review. As noted, HRS
§ 103F does not expressly preclude judicial review. In addition to the other
reasons set forth supra, we decline to conclude, as Respondent suggests, that
the legislature enacted HRS chapter 103F with an intent to preclude judicial
review when there is nothing in the statute or its legislative history
expressly evincing such an intent.

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of the determination of the [agency].” New York City Dep’t. of

Envtl. Prot. v. New York City Civil Serv. Comm’n, 579 N.E.2d

1385, 1386 (N.Y. 1991). That court explained that “the

Legislature is permitted to restrict the availability of judicial

review” but that there must be “clear and convincing evidence” of

such intent. Id. at 1387. New York City Department concluded

that the language of the statute and legislative history

evidenced the legislature’s intent to preclude judicial review of

the agency’s decision. Id.

However, the New York City Department court stated that

the inquiry did not end there. Id. That court held that

judicial review is required even in the face of such legislative

intent to preclude judicial review in two instances. “First, if

a constitutional right is implicated, some sort of judicial

review must be afforded the aggrieved party.”40 Id. at 1387.

“Second, judicial review is mandated when the agency has acted

illegally, unconstitutionally, or in excess of its jurisdiction.”

Id. For example, “a court should step in if an agency acts in

violation of the [c]onstitution, statutes or its own

regulations.” Id. at 1388 (emphasis added). This statement

would apply to Petitioner’s claims in the instant case alleging

40
Similarly, in Johnson v. Robison, 415 U.S. 361, 367 (1974), the
Supreme Court’s holding that the language “shall be final and conclusive and
no . . . court of the United States shall have power or jurisdiction to review
any such decision[,]” “appear[ed] to be aimed at review only of those
decisions of law or fact that arise in the administration by the Veterans’
Administration of a statute providing benefits for veterans.” Johnson
concluded that such language did “not extend the prohibitions of that section
to actions challenging the constitutionality of laws providing benefits for
veterans.” Id. at 374.

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Respondent acted outside of its statutory authority. Thus,

assuming, arguendo, HRS chapter 103F did include language

expressly precluding judicial review of the agency’s decision, or

that could be deemed as such, it should not bar review of whether

the DOE violated the Constitution, statutes, or its own

regulations in awarding the contract, as alleged by Petitioner.

Id. Thus, judicial review would not be precluded in this

instance.

E.

Furthermore, to conclude that HRS chapter 103F

abrogates judicial review of whether the purchasing agency

interpreted the law correctly or complied with the law in the

instant circumstances may render the statute violative of the

separation of powers doctrine. As related before, where the

legislature delegates judicial power to an administrative agency,

there is a “necessity of the ‘principle of check.’” Monica Rent

Control Bd., 777 P.2d at 102. The “availability of judicial

review of administrative decisions is sufficient to satisfy the

‘principle of check.’” Id. This is persuasive inasmuch as it

would seem fundamentally unfair and inequitable, see 1997 Haw

Sess. Laws Act 190, § 1 at 351 (stating that HRS chapter 103F was

intended to facilitate “fair and equitable treatment of all

persons who apply to,” provide services), and contrary to “full

respect for due process,” Commodity Futures Trading Comm’n, 478

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U.S. at 855, for an agency to determine the propriety of its own

actions in a legal dispute with an adverse party.41 Because the

statute as construed does not exclude judicial review, it would

not implicate the separation of powers doctrine, and, thus, HRS

chapter 103F would not violate that doctrine, as Petitioner

suggests.

VII.

The availability of judicial review in this case is

also supported by constitutional imperative. Hawai#i’s multi-

tiered court system is a product of the Hawai#i Constitution.

Importantly, unlike in the federal court system, the Hawai#i

Constitution does not leave it to the legislative body to

establish courts other than the supreme court.42 Rather, the

mandate for a judiciary consisting of trial and appellate courts

proceeds from the constitution itself. The Consitution states in

pertinent part, that “[t]he judicial power of the State shall be

41
Respondent relies on Sifagaloa v. Bd. of Trustees, 74 Haw. 181,
188-92, 840 P.2d 367, 371-72 (1992) for the proposition that an agency may
determine the propriety of its own actions. In Sifagaloa this court
determined that the fact trustees of the employment retirement fund (ERS) have
purportedly conflicting obligations of awarding retirement benefits and
preserving the financial integrity of the ERS fund did not disqualify the
trustees from making decisions with respect to awarding benefits. However, in
Sifagaloa, the trustees’ decision with respect to the award of retirement
benefits was subject to judicial review. Id. at 185-86, 840 P.2d at 369-70.
Unlike in Sifagaloa, Petitioners do not assert the agency may not
preliminarily determine the propriety of its own actions, but rather, that it
would violate separate of powers to preclude judicial review of the agency’s
decision. Thus, Sifagaloa is inapposite.

42
Consequently, Hawai#i courts are not limited by the dichotomy
between “article III [of the United States Constitution] courts” and non-
article III courts, or decisions in respect thereof, that characterizes the
federal court system.

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vested in one supreme court, one intermediate appellate court,

circuit courts, [and] district courts . . . .” Haw. Const. art

VI, § 1 (1978).43 The Constitution also establishes the number

of justices that may serve on the supreme court, provides for the

appointment and removal of justices and judges, and delegates the

administration of the courts to the chief justice of the supreme

court. See id. In State v. Moriwake, 65 Haw. 47, 647 P.2d 705

(1982), this court explained that, although the exact nature of

the “judicial power” is not defined in the constitution, the

“‘inherent power of the court is the power to protect itself; the

power to administer justice whether any previous form of remedy

has been granted or not; the power to promulgate rules for its

practice; and the power to provide process where none exists.’”

Id. at 56, 647 P.2d at 712 (1982) (quoting In re Bruen, 172 P.

1152, 1153 (1918)).

Thus, the existence, structure, and composition of our

judiciary is established by the Hawai#i Constitution and cannot

be altered by the legislature. This indicates that the power to

administer justice and adjudicate disputes that is conferred upon

the courts is presumed and will be available to the people of the

state. The constitutional power to administer justice, see id.,

is implicated in this case. Inherent in that power is, by

corollary, that parties should have appropriate access to the

courts of this state in resolving disputes.

43
Article IV, section 1 goes on to authorize “such other courts” as
the legislature may from time to time establish.

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VIII.

A.

Inasmuch as judicial review is not prohibited, the

issue becomes what type of judicial review is allowed.44 HRS

chapter 103D, which regulates government procurement contracts,

except for health and human services contracts covered by chapter

103F, expressly provides that a party aggrieved by a final

decision of a hearings officer may apply for judicial review of

the agency’s decision through the procedures of HRS chapter 91,

cf. n.18, supra. HRS § 103D-710 (Supp. 2010).

Unlike HRS chapter 103D, HRS chapter 103F does not

delineate the nature of judicial review available. It may be

argued that the fact that HRS chapter 103D expressly provides for

judicial review while HRS chapter 103F does not, suggests that

the legislature intended to preclude judicial review under HRS

chapter 103F. However, as stated before, there is a policy

favoring judicial review of administrative agencies, see HGEA, 63

Haw. at 87, 621 P.2d at 363, and the courts of this state have

jurisdiction over all civil actions unless “expressly provided by

statute,” HRS § 603-21.5. To reiterate, HRS § 103F-502(c) and

HRS § 103F-504 do not expressly preclude judicial review. In

addition, the general and broad phrase “resolve their concerns”

in the exclusivity of remedies provision, HRS § 103F-504, does

44
It is plain that HRS § 91-14 would not provide a right to appeal
the agency decision. See Alaka#i I, 2007 WL 158980, at *1 (determining that
the protest under HRS chapter 103F was not an agency hearing, and, thus,
Petitioner could not appeal from that decision under HRS § 91-14).

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not convey the singular intent to bar judicial review. The

legislative intent to fairly and equitably treat persons who

apply to provide services under HRS chapter 103F and to ensure

accountability of the purchasing agency countenance against

construing the statute as vesting the agency with sole and

unreviewable authority to determine the propriety of its own

actions in a dispute with a protesting party. Furthermore, as

discussed supra, to construe the statute as precluding judicial

review would raise serious questions regarding the doctrine of

separation of powers and the potential contravention of the

judicial power vested in the courts by article VI, section 1 of

the Hawai#i Constitution. In light of the foregoing, it cannot

be concluded that judicial review is prohibited.

It would appear such review would be available, through

a declaratory judgment action brought pursuant to HRS § 632-1. A

declaratory judgment action is a necessary remedy under the

circumstances of this case. Thus, after the procurement decision

is “final” and not subject to further review by the

administrative officer, the protesting party should be able to

maintain a declaratory judgment action in the circuit court to

contest the decision.

B.

HRS § 632-1 provides that declaratory judgment relief

may be granted “where the court is satisfied that antagonistic

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claims are present between the parties involved[.]”45 In the

instant case, Petitioner timely brought a declaratory judgment

action against Hamamoto,46 in her official capacity as

Superintendent of Education, because there were “antagonistic

claims” between Petitioner and the DOE concerning the awarding of

contracts.

HRS § 632-1 additionally provides that, “[w]here,

however, a statute provides a special form of remedy for a

specific type of case, that statutory remedy shall be

followed[.]” HRS chapter 103F does contain a procedure for

resolving the concerns of a party. As discussed, however, the

procedure for resolving general “concerns” in HRS § 103F-504 is

not a special form of remedy that substitutes for judicial

review. See discussion supra. In sum, judicial review of HRS

chapter 103F should be available in this case by way of

declaratory action pursuant to HRS § 632-1.47

45
HRS § 91-14(a) provides an avenue for judicial review in a
“contested case[.]” As noted, this court previously held that this is not a
contested case. See Alaka#i I, 2007 WL 158980, at *1-2. Hence, HRS § 91-14
is inapplicable. In any event, HRS § 91-14 does not “prevent resort to other
means of review, redress, [or] relief[,]” such as pursuant to HRS § 632-1.

46
Thus, we are not faced with a question of timeliness with respect
to the filing of the instant declaratory action. Parties have an incentive to
seek judicial review expeditiously inasmuch as delay may render any challenge
to an agency’s award of a contract moot. The effect of any delay should be
decided by the circuit court based on the facts and circumstances of each
particular case.

47
HRS § 632-1 also provides that “the mere fact that an actual or
threatened controversy is susceptible of relief through a general common law
remedy, a remedy equitable in nature, or an extraordinary legal remedy,
whether such remedy is recognized or regulated by statute or not, shall not
debar a party from the privilege of obtaining a declaratory judgment in any
case where the other essentials to such relief are present.” That language
suggests that declaratory relief may be available even when other forms of
relief exist. HRS § 632-1 (emphasis added). This is consistent with
(continued...)

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IX.

The ICA relied on Travelers Ins. Co. v. Hawaii Roofing,

Inc., 64 Haw. 380, 385, 641 P.2d 1333, 1337 (1982), in concluding

that declaratory relief was unavailable because HRS chapter 103F

provides a specific statutory remedy that must be followed.

Hamamoto, 125 Hawai#i at 207, 257 P.3d at 220. But, Travelers

Ins. is distinguishable. In Travelers Ins., a dispute arose over

which of two insurance carriers was responsible for payments to a

workers’ compensation claimant. 64 Haw. at 381, 641 P.2d at

1334-35. In proceedings before the Disability Compensation

Division, it was determined that Travelers Insurance Company

(Travelers) was the responsible carrier. Id. at 382, 641 P.2d at

1335.

Travelers appealed to the Labor and Industrial

Relations Appeals Board (the Appeals Board) but at the same time,

sought relief in the circuit court by way of declaratory action.

Id. at 382-83, 641 P.2d at 1335. The other insurance carrier

(HIG) moved to dismiss the declaratory action for want of

jurisdiction. Id. That motion was denied, summary judgment was

granted in Travelers’ favor, and HIG appealed to this court. Id.

at 383, 641 P.2d at 1335-36. This court determined that

declaratory relief was not available because the law already

provides for judicial review in workers’ compensation cases, by

47
(...continued)
legislative intent, inasmuch as the legislature amended the act in 1945 to
“afford greater relief” by declaratory judgment. Dejetley v. Kaho#ohalahala,
122 Hawai#i 251, 268, 226 P.3d 421, 438 (2010) (quoting H. Stand. Com. Rep.
No. 76, in 1945 House Journal, at 566).

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way of HRS § 386-73.

Pursuant to HRS § 386-73 (Supp. 2007),”48 “‘the

director of labor and industrial relations [(director)] shall

have original jurisdiction over all controversies and disputes

arising under th[at] chapter.’” Id. at 383, 641 P.2d at 1336.

The statute additionally provided that “‘[t]here shall be a right

of appeal from the decisions of the director to the appellate

board and thence to the supreme court[.]’”49 Id. Because HRS §

386-73 already provided for an appeal to the supreme court,

Travelers should have followed this course rather than also

filing a declaratory action under HRS § 632-1.

Unlike in the instant case, the workers’ compensation

scheme in Travelers sets out an express and specific procedure by

which a party may obtain judicial review. HRS § 386-73. This

court would not allow the party in Travelers Ins. to circumvent

48
HRS § 386-73 provides as follows:

Unless otherwise provided, the director of labor and
industrial relations shall have original jurisdiction over
all controversies and disputes arising under this chapter.
The decisions of the director shall be enforceable by the
circuit court as provided in section 386-91. There shall be
a right of appeal from the decisions of the director to the
appellate board and thence to the intermediate appellate
court, subject to chapter 602, as provided in sections
386-87 and 386-88, but in no case shall an appeal operate as
a supersedeas or stay unless the appellate board or the
appellate court so orders.

49
At the time Travelers was decided, HRS § 386-73 provided for
appeals to the appellate board and “thence to the supreme court[,]” but not to
the intermediate appellate court. HRS § 386-73 now provides for appeals “to
the appellate board and thence to the intermediate appellate court.”

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that procedure by attempting to obtain judicial review through

the use of HRS § 632-1. Here, HRS chapter 103F, as construed,

does not expressly prescribe a form of judicial review. Hence,

Travelers Ins. does not prohibit declaratory relief in the

instant case. Travelers Ins., then, is not controlling.

X.

Next, it must be considered whether Petitioner may sue

to enforce HRS chapter 103F under the declaratory judgment

statute. In order for a party to sue for enforcement under HRS §

632-1, HRS chapter 103F must provide for an express or implied

private right of action. County of Hawaii v. Ala Loop

Homeowners, 123 Hawai#i 391, 407 n.20, 235 P.3d 1103, 1119 n.20

(2010) (“The private right of action inquiry focuses on the

question of whether any private party can sue to enforce a

statute, while the standing inquiry focuses on whether a

particular private party is an appropriate plaintiff.”) This

court applies “three factors in determining whether a statute

provides a private right of action[,]” with the “understanding

that legislative intent appears to be the determinative factor.”

Whitey’s Boat Cruises, Inc. v. Napali-Kauai Boat Charters, Inc.,

110 Hawai#i 302, 313, 132 P.3d 1213, 1224 (2006). This court

considers, first, whether “‘the plaintiff [is] one of the class

for whose especial benefit the statute was enacted; . . . that

is, does the statute create a . . . right in favor of the

plaintiff.’” Id. at 312, 132 P.2d at 1223 (quoting Reliable

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Collection Agency, Ltd. v. Cole, 59 Haw. 503, 507, 584 P.2d 107,

109 (1978)) (brackets omitted). Second, this court considers

whether there is “‘any indication of legislative intent, explicit

or implicit, either to create such a remedy or to deny one.’”

Id. (quoting Reliable Collection Agency, 59 Haw. at 507, 584 P.2d

at 109). Third, whether “‘it consistent with the underlying

purposes of the legislative scheme to imply such a remedy for the

plaintiff[.]’” Id. (quoting Reliable Collection Agency, 59 Haw.

at 507, 584 P.2d at 109).

Here, Petitioner’s claims are premised on the

allegation that there should be judicial review to ascertain

whether the agency correctly followed the law and regulations in

awarding contracts. HRS chapter 103F does create a right “in

favor” of Petitioner, inasmuch as it entitles Petitioner to a

contract award process that is in compliance with and not in

excess of HRS chapter 103F and applicable regulations. In other

words, HRS chapter 103F, by establishing the process in which a

protester can challenge whether the award abided by statutes,

regulations, or the RFP, creates a right of the protestor to have

the process comply with statutes, regulations, and the RFP.

As to legislative intent, the legislature expressed the

intent that the process in HRS chapter 103F “ensure the fair and

equitable treatment of all persons who apply to . . . provide

. . . services on the agencies’ behalf[,]” and “to promote . . .

fairness and accountability.” 1997 Haw Sess. Laws Act 190, § 1

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at 351. Again, it would be fundamentally unfair and inequitable

and counterproductive of promoting accountability to vest the

purchasing agency with final unreviewable power to determine

whether the agency itself complied with the law, in a dispute

with one of the protesting parties. See HOH, 69 Haw. at 143, 736

P.2d at 1276 (stating that the administrative agency is not

“qualified to adjudicate the propriety of its own action”).50

Thus, there is “indication of legislative intent, implicit[ly], .

. . to create [] a remedy” for the purchasing agency’s failure to

comply with HRS chapter 103F and, correlatively, nothing

expressly indicat[es] an intent to “deny one.” Whitey’s Boat

Cruises, 110 Hawai#i at 313, 132 P.3d at 1224 (2006) (internal

quotation marks and citation omitted). Based on the foregoing,

there is a private right of action allowed against the State

(i.e., the DOE) specifically challenging a decision made under

HRS chapter 103F, as to whether the relevant administrative

officers complied with the statutes, rules, and the RFP.

XI.

Regarding its second question, Petitioner asserts that

the ICA erred in determining that Petitioner could not maintain a

negligence claim with respect to Respondent’s decision under

50
Respondent argues that in HOH, this court considered whether an
agency may determine whether its actions were proper under the constitution.
Since the courts of this state are the final arbiters of statutes and of rules
having the force of law as well as our constitution, see supra, it would seem
apparent that an agency may not render the final unreviewable determination on
the propriety of its own actions under the law in a dispute with another
person.

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chapter 103F. According to Petitioner, the ICA erred inasmuch as

(1) the STLA, HRS Chapter 662, provides that the State51 can be

liable in tort where its employees fail to exercise due care “‘in

the execution of a statute or regulation, whether or not such

statute or regulation is valid[,]’” (citing Tseu v. Jeyte, 88

Hawai#i 85, 87, 962 P.2d 344, 347 (1998), and (2) although the

ICA dismissed its tort claim for lack of a private right of

action, the STLA, in and of itself, creates a private right of

action. Respondent counters that the STLA is a “waiver statute,

not a statute establishing private causes of action,” and that

the ICA properly concluded that because chapter 103F does not

create a private right of action, Petitioner could not sue under

the STLA.52

“The [STLA], enacted in 1957, is a specific waiver of

tort immunity.” Figueroa v. State, 61 Haw. 369, 383, 604 P.2d

1198, 1206 (1979). The State waives immunity for liability “in

the same manner and to the same extent as a private individual

under like circumstances[.]” HRS § 662-2 (1993). But, “[t]he

State[] . . . remains immune from liability based upon

governmental functions for which no private analog exists and

waives its immunity only to the extent a plaintiff’s claim for

relief is comparable to a recognized claim for relief against a

51
As Respondent points out, Hamamoto was sued “in her official
capacity as the only defendant” and “[a] suit against a state official acting
in his [or her] official capacity, is essentially a suit against the State.”
Kaho#ohanohano, 114 Hawai#i at 337, 162 P.3d at 731.

52
For the reasons discussed supra, HRS chapter 103F does provide for
a private right of action, and the ICA erred in concluding that it did not.

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private person.” Kaho#ohanohano, 117 Hawai#i at 282, 178 P.3d at

558. This proposition is dispositive of the second question.53

Here, there is no private analog to Petitioner’s claim

to support a waiver of the State’s immunity for purposes of the

STLA. Petitioner does not identify circumstances under which a

private party could be sued for negligently applying the law,

rules, or an RFP in awarding a government contract.

XII.

Regarding its third question, Petitioner urges that HRS

§§ 602-5(6)54 and 603-21.9 afford a court “inherent powers” to

review agency action, and the ICA erred in determining that no

inherent power exists. Respondent counters that a court must

have jurisdiction before it may provide a remedy. According to

Respondent, HRS § 603-21.9 is an “‘enumeration of the inherent

powers conferred on our circuit courts by the constitution[,]’”

and “does not, by itself, confer jurisdiction that does not

otherwise exist.” (Quoting Moriwake, 65 Haw. at 55, 647 P.2d at

53
Petitioner maintains that Jeyte decided there was a private right
of action found by this court pursuant to the STLA “for a landlord damaged due
to negligent investigation of a housing discrimination complaint by the Hawaii
Civil Rights Commission (HCRC).” In deciding that the landlord defendants’
counterclaim against the HCRC for negligent investigation should not be
dismissed, this court said that “the investigation of a complaint [by the
HCRC] does not entail a broad policy decision immune from suit under the
discretionary function exception,” 88 Hawai#i at 89, 962 P.2d at 348, and
“constru[ed] the counterclaim as a common law tort action for negligence.”
Id. at 91, 962 P.2d at 350. Hence, unlike in the instant case, this court
decided there was, in effect, a private analog in Jeyte by virtue of the
common law, for the tort action against the State.

54
Apparently, Petitioner is referring to HRS § 602-5(5) (Supp.
2005), which gives the supreme court jurisdiction to “make or issue any order
or writ necessary or appropriate in aid of its jurisdiction, and in such case,
any justice may issue a writ or an order to show cause returnable before the
supreme court[.]”

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712.) Respondent charges that Petitioner’s claim of “inherent”

power to review agency actions “is an invitation for a circuit

court to exceed its jurisdiction[,]” is contrary to the plain

language of HRS §§ 603-21.5 and 603-21.7, that do establish

jurisdiction.

As to Petitioner’s third question, respectfully, the

ICA erred in two respects. First, the ICA suggested that a court

cannot have inherent powers to review an agency decision under

HRS § 603-21.9(6) where a statute limits review exclusively to an

agency body. See Hamamoto, 125 Hawai#i at 221, 257 P.2d at 220-

21. But, as construed, HRS chapter 103F does not limit review

exclusively to an administrative body.

Second, the ICA determined that Kaina v. Gellman, 119

Hawai#i 324, 197 P.3d 776 (App. 2008), “clarified” that HRS §

603-21.9(6) “gives the courts ‘the inherent power and authority

to control the litigation process before them and to curb abuses

and promote fair process including, for example, the power to

impose sanctions for abusive litigation practices.’” Hamamoto,

125 Hawai#i at 208, 257 P.3d at 221 (quoting Gellman, 119 Hawai#i

at 330, 197 P.3d at 782.

To the extent the ICA’s opinion limits the inherent

powers of the courts “to controlling the litigation process

before them,” respectfully, the ICA opinion is incorrect. But,

inasmuch as this opinion concludes that HRS chapter 103F does not

prohibit judicial review, it need not be decided whether the

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court had the inherent power to review the DOE’s decision and the

legality of its actions.

XIII.

In conclusion, as to Petitioner’s first question, the

delegation of judicial power to an administrative agency raises

serious questions regarding the doctrine of separation of powers,

when the legislature precludes judicial review of the agency’s

decision in the agency’s own dispute with another party.

Inasmuch as HRS chapter 103F, namely HRS §§ 103F-502(c) and 103F-

504, as construed, does not prohibit judicial review, the

delegation of judicial power to the DOE did not violate the

doctrine of separation of powers. Accordingly, as to

Petitioner’s first question, HRS chapter 103F is not

unconstitutional. However, with respect to the second question

raised, Petitioner cannot maintain a negligence action against

Respondent for allegedly failing to exercise due care in applying

the statutes and regulations in awarding the government contract,

inasmuch as “no private analog exists” for Petitioner’s claim.

Therefore, “[t]he State[] . . . remains immune from liability”

under the STLA. Kaho#ohanohano, 117 Hawai#i at 282, 178 P.3d at

558. Finally, as to Petitioner’s third question, the ICA erred

in two respects, see supra, but it need not be decided whether

the courts of this state have the inherent power to review the

legality of the DOE’s actions since it has been determined that

HRS chapter 103F does not preclude judicial review. Therefore,

based on the foregoing, the ICA’s June 16, 2011 Judgment and the

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court’s March 4, 2009 Judgment are vacated and the case is

remanded to the court for further proceedings consistent with

this opinion.

Perry Confalone, /s/ Simeon R. Acoba, Jr.
(Carlsmith Ball LLP),
for petitioner /s/ James E. Duffy, Jr.

Deirdre Marie-Iha, deputy /s/ Sabrina S. McKenna
solicitor general,
for respondent

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