Opinion ID: 764970
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Applicability of HRUS Immunity to Business Invitees

Text: 53 Howard admits that there is no express exception in the HRUS for business invitees; she argues, however, that the legislative history indicates that the HRUS was not intended to immunize businesses from liability to their business invitees. 54 The language of the HRUS is unambiguous and clearly extends immunity to any landowner who allows any person to enter onto his or her land without charge for recreational purposes. Haw. Rev. Stat. 520-4. The only exceptions to this grant of immunity are also stated in unambiguous terms: (1) where injury is caused by the landowner's willful or malicious acts or omissions; (2) where the landowner charges the person to enter or go on the land; and (3) where the injured party is a house guest. Haw. Rev. Stat. 520-5. There is, therefore, no need to resort to the legislative history of the HRUS in search of an exception that is clearly not included. See United States v. Gonzales, 520 U.S. 1, 117 S. Ct. 1032, 1035, 137 L. Ed. 2d 132 (1997). 55