Opinion ID: 1451125
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Source of Appellate Jurisdiction

Text: The circuit court was correct in identifying our concern about the barriers facing litigants in matters affecting the environment. Accordingly, in Pele Defense Fund v. Paty, 73 Haw. 578, 592, 837 P.2d 1247, 1257 (1992) and Mahuiki v. Planning Comm'n, 65 Haw. 506, 654 P.2d 874 (1982) we approved less restrictive standing requirements to enable courts as well as agencies to hear cases and determine issues based upon the merits. Where the interests at stake are in the realm of environmental concerns `we have not been inclined to foreclose challenges to administrative determinations through restrictive applications of standing requirements.' Mahuiki, 65 Haw. at 512, 654 P.2d at 878 (emphasis added) (citing Life of the Land v. Land Use Comm'n, 63 Haw. 166, 171, 623 P.2d 431, 438 (1981)). However broadly we may view a litigant's standing to pursue a legal issue in court or before an agency, every court must nevertheless determine as a threshold matter whether it has jurisdiction to decide the issue presented. Bush v. Hawaiian Homes Comm'n, 76 Hawai`i 128, 133, 870 P.2d 1272, 1277 (Sup.1994) (observing that a judgment rendered without jurisdiction is invalid). Standing is concerned with whether the parties have the right to bring suit. Subject matter jurisdiction is concerned with whether the court has the power to hear a case. Maryland Waste Coalition v. Maryland Dep't of Educ., 84 Md.App. 544, 581 A.2d 60, 61 (1990). Thus, we must examine the statutes and rules cited by Appellees, as well as constitutional due process considerations, in order to determine whether the circuit court had jurisdiction to entertain their appeal. See Bush, 76 Hawai`i at 134-36, 870 P.2d at 1278-80.