Opinion ID: 2562719
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Appeal from the ZBA

Text: The ZBA is the administrative agency designated to hear and determine appeals from the director's actions in the administration of the City and County of Honolulu zoning code. Price v. Zoning Bd. of Appeals of the City and County of Honolulu, 77 Hawai`i 168, 175, 883 P.2d 629, 636 (1994). Thus, the ZBA's order was an administrative decision subject to review by the circuit court. Hawai`i Revised Statutes (HRS) § 91-14(a). Windward Marine Resort, Inc. v. Sullivan, 86 Hawai`i 171, 177, 948 P.2d 592, 598 (App. 1997). Review of a decision made by the circuit court upon its review of an agency's decision is a secondary appeal. The standard of review is one in which this court must determine whether the circuit court was right or wrong in its decision, applying the standards set forth in HRS § 91-14(g) (1993) to the agency's decision. Citizens Against Reckless Dev. v. Zoning Bd. of Appeals, 114 Hawai`i 184, 193, 159 P.3d 143, 153 (2007) (citing Korean Buddhist Dae Won Sa Temple of Hawai`i v. Sullivan, 87 Hawai`i 217, 229, 953 P.2d 1315, 1327 (1998)). HRS § 91-14(g), Judicial review of contested cases, provides: (g) Upon review of the record the court may affirm the decision of the agency or remand the case with instructions for further proceedings; or it may reverse or modify the decision and order if the substantial rights of the petitioners may have been prejudiced because the administrative findings, conclusions, decisions, or orders are: (1) In violation of constitutional or statutory provisions; or (2) In excess of the statutory authority or jurisdiction of the agency; or (3) Made upon unlawful procedure; or (4) Affected by other error of law; or (5) Clearly erroneous in view of the reliable, probative, and substantial evidence on the whole record; or (6) Arbitrary, or capricious, or characterized by abuse of discretion or clearly unwarranted exercise of discretion. HRS § 91-14(g) (1993). `Under HRS § 91-14(g), conclusions of law are reviewable under subsections (1), (2), and (4); questions regarding procedural defects are reviewable under subsection (3); [findings of fact] are reviewable under subsection (5); and an agency's exercise of discretion is reviewable under subsection (6).' Paul v. Dep't of Transp., 115 Hawai`i 416, 426, 168 P.3d 546, 556 (2007) (internal brackets omitted) (quoting Konno v. County of Hawai`i, 85 Hawai`i 61, 77, 937 P.2d 397, 413 (1997)). A conclusion of law that presents mixed questions of fact and law is reviewed under the clearly erroneous standard because the conclusion is dependent upon the facts and circumstances of the particular case. Del Monte Fresh Produce (Hawaii), Inc. v. International Longshore and Warehouse Union, Local 142, AFL-CIO, 112 Hawai`i 489, 499, 146 P.3d 1066, 1076 (2006) (internal brackets and quotation marks omitted) (quoting Price v. Zoning Bd. of Appeals of City and County of Honolulu, 77 Hawai`i 168, 172, 883 P.2d 629, 633 (1994)).