Opinion ID: 1133569
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: Our Foremost Obligation In Statutory Construction

Text: Absent constitutional obstacles, we have long recognized that our foremost obligation in construing a statute is to ascertain and give effect to the intention of the legislature to the fullest degree. See CARL Corp. v. State, Dept. of Educ., 85 Hawai`i 431, 459, 946 P.2d 1, 29 (1997); see also Kim v. Contractors License Bd., 88 Hawai`i 264, 269, 965 P.2d 806, 811 (1998) (quoting Korean Buddhist Dae Won Sa Temple of Hawai`i, 87 Hawai`i 217, 229-30, 953 P.2d 1315, 1327-28 (1998) (quoting State v. Cullen, 86 Hawai`i 1, 809, 946 P.2d 955, 963-64 (1997)); Kawamata Farms, Inc. v. United Agri Products, 86 Hawai`i 214, 255, 948 P.2d 1055, 1096 (1997) (quoting State v. Wells, 78 Hawai`i 373, 376, 894 P.2d 70, 73, reconsideration denied, 78 Hawai`i 474, 896 P.2d 930 (1995)); Macabio v. TIG Ins. Co., 87 Hawai`i 307, 311, 955 P.2d 100, 104 (1998) (citing State v. Aluli, 78 Hawai`i 317, 320, 893 P.2d 168, 171 (1995)); Richardson v. City and County of Honolulu, 76 Hawai`i 46, 68-69, 868 P.2d 1193, 1215-16 (Klein, J., dissenting), reconsideration denied, 76 Hawai`i 247, 871 P.2d 795 (1994) (citing Methven-Abreu v. Hawaiian Ins. & Guar. Co., Ltd., 73 Haw. 385, 392, 834 P.2d 279, 284, reconsideration denied, 73 Haw. 625, 838 P.2d 860 (1992) (citation omitted)). Indeed, although the established rules of statutory construction may be of aid in ascertaining and implementing legislative intent, they may not be used to deflect legislative purpose and design. State v. Murray, 63 Haw. 12, 18, 621 P.2d 334, 339 (1980) (citing State v. Smith, 59 Haw. 456, 461-62, 583 P.2d 337, 341-42 (1978) and State v. Prevo, 44 Haw. 665, 668-69, 361 P.2d 1044, 1047 (1961)). As this court has aptly stated in the past: In construing a statute the paramount guide is the intent of the legislature. While the established rules of construction, including that of ejusdem generis, are aids in ascertaining and giving effect to the legislative intent, these rules cannot be used in contravention of the purpose of the legislature by confining the operation of the statute within narrower limits than intended. They are neither final nor conclusive but must yield to the legislative will. Prevo, 44 Haw. at 668-69, 361 P.2d at 1047 (citing 50 Am.Jur., Statutes, § 224, p. 203). Therefore, notwithstanding the rules of statutory construction, our paramount objective in construing a statute is to ascertain and give effect to the intent of the legislature. Although it is true that we obtain the intent of the legislature primarily from the language of the statute itself, we have rejected an approach to statutory construction which limits our inquiry to the bare words of a statute. Four Star Ins. Agency, Inc. v. Hawai`ian Elec. Indus., Inc., 89 Hawai`i 427, 431, 974 P.2d 1017, 1021 (1999) (quoting Bragg v. State Farm Mut. Auto. Ins. Co., 81 Hawai`i 302, 306, 916 P.2d 1203, 1207 (1996)) (quoting Sato v. Tawata, 79 Hawai`i 14, 17, 897 P.2d 941, 944 (1995)). Instead, we must consider the words of a statute in the context of the entire statute and construe it in a manner consistent with its purpose. See Shipley v. Ala Moana Hotel, 83 Hawai`i 361, 364-65, 926 P.2d 1284, 1287-88 (1996) (quoting State v. Toyomura, 80 Hawai`i 8, 19, 904 P.2d 893, 904 (1995)); see also Mendes v. Hawai`i Ins. Guar. Ass'n, 87 Hawai`i 14, 17, 950 P.2d 1214, 1217 (1998) (citing Mathewson v. Aloha Airlines, Inc., 82 Hawai`i 57, 71, 919 P.2d 969, 983 (1996)). In considering the meaning of the words in a statute, [t]he legislature is presumed not to intend an absurd result, and legislation will be construed to avoid, if possible, inconsistency, contradiction[,] and illogicality. Kim, 88 Hawai`i at 270, 965 P.2d at 812 (quoting State v. Arceo, 84 Hawai`i 1, 19, 928 P.2d 843, 861 (1996) (citation and internal quotation marks omitted)); see also HRS § 1-15(3) (1993) (providing that [e]very construction which leads to an absurdity shall be rejected). To determine whether an interpretation of a statute will yield an absurd result, we may consider [t]he reason and spirit of the law, and the cause which induced the legislature to enact it . . . to discover its true meaning. HRS § 1-15(2) (1993). Further, [L]aws in pari materia, or upon the same subject matter, shall be construed with reference to each other. What is clear in one statute may be called upon in aid to explain what is doubtful in another. State v. Ake, 88 Hawai`i 389, 395, 967 P.2d 221, 227 (1998) (quoting HRS § 1-16 (1993)). Indeed, when aid to construction of the meaning of words, as used in the statute, is available, there certainly can be no rule of law which forbids its use, however clear the words may appear on superficial examination. Thus, the plain language rule of statutory construction, does not preclude an examination of sources other than the language of the statute itself even when the language appears clear upon perfunctory review. Were this not the case, a court may be unable to adequately discern the underlying policy which the legislature seeks to promulgate and, thus, would be unable to determine if a literal construction would produce and absurd or unjust result, inconsistent with the policies of the statute. Four Star, 89 Hawi`i at 431, 974 P.2d at 1021. (quoting Bragg, 81 Hawai`i at 306, 916 P.2d at 1207 (quoting Sato, 79 Hawai`i at 17, 897 P.2d at 944)) (emphasis added); see also Kahana Sunset Owners Ass'n v. Maui County Council, 86 Hawai`i 132, 134, 948 P.2d 122, 124 (1997) (quoting Cromption v. Tern Corp., 83 Hawai`i 1, 6, 924 P.2d 169, 175 (1996) (citation omitted)). In light of our foremost obligation to ascertain and give effect to the intent of the legislature, I disagree with the majority's use of the bare words of HRS § 709-906 to contravene the clear intent of the legislature.