Terms Used In Hawaii Revised Statutes 84-3

  • Contract: A legal written agreement that becomes binding when signed.
  • Corporation: A legal entity owned by the holders of shares of stock that have been issued, and that can own, receive, and transfer property, and carry on business in its own name.
  • Dependent: A person dependent for support upon another.
  • Partnership: A voluntary contract between two or more persons to pool some or all of their assets into a business, with the agreement that there will be a proportional sharing of profits and losses.
  • Personal property: All property that is not real property.
  • Statute: A law passed by a legislature.

“Business” includes a corporation, a partnership, a sole proprietorship, a trust or foundation, or any other individual or organization carrying on a business, whether or not operated for profit.

“Compensation” means any money, thing of value, or economic benefit conferred on or received by any person in return for services rendered or to be rendered by oneself or another.

“Controlling interest” means an interest in a business or other undertaking which is sufficient in fact to control, whether the interest be greater or less than fifty per cent.

“Employee” means any nominated, appointed, or elected officer or employee of the State, including members of boards, commissions, and committees, and employees under contract to the State or of the constitutional convention, but excluding legislators, delegates to the constitutional convention, justices and judges.

“Employment” means any rendering of services for compensation.

“Financial interest” means an interest held by an individual, the individual’s spouse, or dependent children which is:

(1) An ownership interest in a business.

(2) A creditor interest in an insolvent business.

(3) An employment, or prospective employment for which negotiations have begun.

(4) An ownership interest in real or personal property.

(5) A loan or other debtor interest.

(6) A directorship or officership in a business.

“Official act” or “official action” means a decision, recommendation, approval, disapproval, or other action, including inaction, which involves the use of discretionary authority.

“Official authority” includes administrative or legislative powers of decision, recommendation, approval, disapproval, or other discretionary action.

“State agency” includes the State, the legislature and its committees, all executive departments, boards, commissions, committees, bureaus, offices, the University of Hawaii, and all independent commissions and other establishments of the state government but excluding the courts.

“Task force” means a group convened by resolution, statute, executive order, proclamation, or by invitation of the legislature, governor, or another state officer, to study a specific subject or issue, for a specific defined period of time, and to report to, offer a recommendation to, or advise the legislature, governor, or a state officer.