Opinion ID: 2515085
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: Determination of Prevailing Party

Text: Our determination of who is the prevailing party involves interpretation of the [Hawai'i Administrative Rules (HAR)] and the (HRCP), both of which are rules promulgated by the court. When interpreting rules promulgated by the court, principles of statutory construction apply. Price v. Obayashi Hawaii Corp., 81 Hawai'i 171, 176, 914 P.2d 1364, 1369 (1996) (citing State v. Lau, 78 Hawai'i 54, 58, 890 P.2d 291, 295 (1995)). Interpretation of a statute is a question of law which we review de novo.  Price, 81 Hawai'i at 176, 914 P.2d at 1369 (citation omitted). Consequently, we interpret the HAR and the HRCP de novo. Molinar, 95 Hawai'i at 334-35, 22 P.3d at 981-82.