Opinion ID: 1192470
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: standard of review

Text: Under the provisions of HRS § 269-16(f) (1993), an appeal from a final order of the PUC is taken to the supreme court. In re Kaanapali Water Corp., 5 Haw.App. 71, 76, 678 P.2d 584, 588 (1984). In such an appeal, the standard of review is set forth in HRS § 91-14(g) (1993). [10] In re Miller and Lieb Water Co., Inc., 65 Haw. 310, 311, 651 P.2d 486, 488 (1982). In Outdoor Circle v. Harold K.L. Castle Trust Estate, 4 Haw.App. 633, 638, 675 P.2d 784, 789 (1983), the Intermediate Court of Appeals (ICA) said that HRS § 91-14(g) requires that, in order for the court to revise or modify an agency decision, it must find that an appellant's substantial rights may have been prejudiced by an agency under one of the six subsections of the statute. The ICA also held that, under HRS § 91-14(g), conclusions of law are reviewable under subsections (1), (2), and (4); questions regarding procedural defects under subsection (3); findings of fact under subsection (5); and an agency's exercise of discretion under subsection (6). Id. In In re Application of Hawaii Electric Light Co., 60 Haw. 625, 629, 594 P.2d 612, 617 (1979), the supreme court further limited judicial review of administrative decisions by stating: In order to preserve the function of administrative agencies in discharging their delegated duties and the function of this court in reviewing agency determinations, a presumption of validity is accorded to decisions of administrative bodies acting within their sphere of expertise and one seeking to upset the order bears the heavy burden of making a convincing showing that it is invalid because it is unjust and unreasonable in its consequences. Federal Power Commission v. Hope Natural Gas Co., 320 U.S. 591, 602 [64 S.Ct. 281, 288, 88 L.Ed. 333] (1944), quoted in In re Application of Kauai Electric Division, 60 Haw. [166, 187], 590 P.2d [524,] 538 (1978); Savannah Electric and Power Co. v. Georgia Public Service Commission, [239 Ga. 156] 236 S.E.2d 87 (1977); Louisiana Power & Light Co. v. Louisiana Public Service Commission, 343 So.2d 1040 (1977); Alabama Gas Corp. v. Wallace, [293 Ala. 594] 308 So.2d 674 (1975). (Brackets added.) Additionally, courts decline to consider the weight of the evidence to ascertain whether it weighs in favor of the administrative findings, or to review the agency's findings of fact by passing upon the credibility of witnesses or conflicts in testimony, especially the findings of an expert agency dealing with a specialized field. In re Hawaii Electric Light Co., 60 Haw. at 629, 594 P.2d at 617.