Part I Urban Redevelopment Act 53-1 – 53-39
Part II Urban Renewal 53-51 – 53-60
Part III Exercise of Urban Renewal Powers by a County Directly 53-81 – 53-85

Terms Used In Hawaii Revised Statutes Chapter 53 - Urban Renewal Law

  • Advice and consent: Under the Constitution, presidential nominations for executive and judicial posts take effect only when confirmed by the Senate, and international treaties become effective only when the Senate approves them by a two-thirds vote.
  • Affidavit: A written statement of facts confirmed by the oath of the party making it, before a notary or officer having authority to administer oaths.
  • Amendment: A proposal to alter the text of a pending bill or other measure by striking out some of it, by inserting new language, or both. Before an amendment becomes part of the measure, thelegislature must agree to it.
  • Amortization: Paying off a loan by regular installments.
  • Answer: The formal written statement by a defendant responding to a civil complaint and setting forth the grounds for defense.
  • Appeal: A request made after a trial, asking another court (usually the court of appeals) to decide whether the trial was conducted properly. To make such a request is "to appeal" or "to take an appeal." One who appeals is called the appellant.
  • Appellate: About appeals; an appellate court has the power to review the judgement of another lower court or tribunal.
  • Appropriation: The provision of funds, through an annual appropriations act or a permanent law, for federal agencies to make payments out of the Treasury for specified purposes. The formal federal spending process consists of two sequential steps: authorization
  • Articles pyrotechnic: means pyrotechnic devices for professional use similar to consumer fireworks in chemical composition and construction but not intended for consumer use that meet the weight limits for consumer fireworks but are not labeled as such, and that are classified as UN0431 or UN0432 by the United States Department of Transportation. See Hawaii Revised Statutes 132D-2
  • Authority: means the Hawaii green infrastructure authority as established under section 196-63. See Hawaii Revised Statutes 196-61
  • Beneficiary: A person who is entitled to receive the benefits or proceeds of a will, trust, insurance policy, retirement plan, annuity, or other contract. Source: OCC
  • Bond: means any bond, note, and other evidence of indebtedness that is issued by the State pursuant to part of chapter 269. See Hawaii Revised Statutes 196-61
  • Chambers: A judge's office.
  • Committee: means the access Hawaii committee. See Hawaii Revised Statutes 27G-1
  • committee: means the legislative advisory committee. See Hawaii Revised Statutes 23-62
  • Common law: The legal system that originated in England and is now in use in the United States. It is based on judicial decisions rather than legislative action.
  • Complaint: A written statement by the plaintiff stating the wrongs allegedly committed by the defendant.
  • Concurrent resolution: A legislative measure, designated "S. Con. Res." and numbered consecutively upon introduction, generally employed to address the sentiments of both chambers, to deal with issues or matters affecting both houses, such as a concurrent budget resolution, or to create a temporary joint committee. Concurrent resolutions are not submitted to the President/Governor and thus do not have the force of law.
  • Consumer fireworks: include firework items commonly known as firecrackers that are single paper cylinders not exceeding one and one-half inches in length excluding the fuse and one-quarter of an inch in diameter and contain a charge of not more than fifty milligrams of pyrotechnic composition, snakes, sparklers, fountains, and cylindrical or cone fountains that emit effects up to a height not greater than twelve feet above the ground, illuminating torches, bamboo cannons, whistles, toy smoke devices, wheels, and ground spinners that when ignited remain within a circle with a radius of twelve feet as measured from the point where the item was placed and ignited, novelty or trick items, combination items, and other fireworks of like construction that are designed to produce the same or similar effects. See Hawaii Revised Statutes 132D-2
  • Continuance: Putting off of a hearing ot trial until a later time.
  • 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.
  • county: includes the city and county of Honolulu. See Hawaii Revised Statutes 1-22
  • Damages: Money paid by defendants to successful plaintiffs in civil cases to compensate the plaintiffs for their injuries.
  • Deed: The legal instrument used to transfer title in real property from one person to another.
  • Department: means the department of business, economic development, and tourism, or any successor by law. See Hawaii Revised Statutes 196-61
  • Dependent: A person dependent for support upon another.
  • Devise: To gift property by will.
  • Director: means the director of commerce and consumer affairs. See Hawaii Revised Statutes 26H-3
  • Dismissal: The dropping of a case by the judge without further consideration or hearing. Source:
  • Display: means the use of aerial devices, display fireworks, or articles pyrotechnic for any activity, including such activities as movie or television production. See Hawaii Revised Statutes 132D-2
  • Display fireworks: means any fireworks designed primarily for exhibition display by producing visible or audible effects and classified as display fireworks or contained in the regulations of the United States Department of Transportation and designated as UN0333, UN0334, or UN0335, and includes salutes containing more than two grains (one hundred and thirty milligrams) of explosive materials, aerial shells containing more than forty grams of pyrotechnic compositions, and other display pieces which exceed the limits of explosive materials for classification as "consumer fireworks". See Hawaii Revised Statutes 132D-2
  • Energy: means work or heat that is, or may be, produced from any fuel or source whatsoever. See Hawaii Revised Statutes 196-2
  • Escrow: Money given to a third party to be held for payment until certain conditions are met.
  • Evidence: Information presented in testimony or in documents that is used to persuade the fact finder (judge or jury) to decide the case for one side or the other.
  • Ex officio: Literally, by virtue of one's office.
  • Fee simple: Absolute title to property with no limitations or restrictions regarding the person who may inherit it.
  • Fiduciary: A trustee, executor, or administrator.
  • Financing order: means the same as defined in section 269A-161. See Hawaii Revised Statutes 196-61
  • Fireworks: means any combustible or explosive composition, or any substance or combination of substances, or article prepared for the purpose of producing a visible or audible effect by combustion, explosion, deflagration, or detonation and that meets the definition of aerial device or consumer or display fireworks as defined by this section and contained in the regulations of the United States Department of Transportation as set forth in Title 49 Code of Federal Regulations. See Hawaii Revised Statutes 132D-2
  • Fiscal year: The fiscal year is the accounting period for the government. For the federal government, this begins on October 1 and ends on September 30. The fiscal year is designated by the calendar year in which it ends; for example, fiscal year 2006 begins on October 1, 2005 and ends on September 30, 2006.
  • Foreclosure: A legal process in which property that is collateral or security for a loan may be sold to help repay the loan when the loan is in default. Source: OCC
  • Government agency: means any government agency that stores, gathers, or generates public information, including all branches of government, all executive departments, boards, and commissions of the State or counties, and all public corporations created by the legislature. See Hawaii Revised Statutes 27G-1
  • Green infrastructure bond fund: means the special fund created pursuant to section 196-67. See Hawaii Revised Statutes 196-61
  • Green infrastructure fee: means the same as defined in section 269-161. See Hawaii Revised Statutes 196-61
  • Green infrastructure property: means the same as defined in section 269-161. See Hawaii Revised Statutes 196-61
  • Green infrastructure special fund: means the special fund created pursuant to section 196-67. See Hawaii Revised Statutes 196-61
  • Impeachment: (1) The process of calling something into question, as in "impeaching the testimony of a witness." (2) The constitutional process whereby the House of Representatives may "impeach" (accuse of misconduct) high officers of the federal government for trial in the Senate.
  • Injunction: An order of the court prohibiting (or compelling) the performance of a specific act to prevent irreparable damage or injury.
  • Internet: means the global information system that is logically linked together by a globally unique address space based on the internet protocol (IP), or its subsequent extension; and that is able to support communications using the transmission control protocol/internet protocol (TCP/IP) suite, or its subsequent extension, or other IP-compatible protocols; and that provides, uses, or makes accessible, either publicly or privately, information to users. See Hawaii Revised Statutes 27G-1
  • Internet portal: means the centralized electronic information system by which public information is provided via dial-in modem or continuous link to the public through subscriptions. See Hawaii Revised Statutes 27G-1
  • Joint session: When both chambers of a legislature adopt a concurrent resolution to meet together.
  • Jurisdiction: (1) The legal authority of a court to hear and decide a case. Concurrent jurisdiction exists when two courts have simultaneous responsibility for the same case. (2) The geographic area over which the court has authority to decide cases.
  • Lease: A contract transferring the use of property or occupancy of land, space, structures, or equipment in consideration of a payment (e.g., rent). Source: OCC
  • Liabilities: The aggregate of all debts and other legal obligations of a particular person or legal entity.
  • License: means a nontransferable, formal authorization, valid for a period not to exceed one calendar year from the date of issuance and which the department is hereby authorized to issue under this chapter, to engage in the act or acts specifically designated herein. See Hawaii Revised Statutes 132D-2
  • Lien: A claim against real or personal property in satisfaction of a debt.
  • month: means a calendar month; and the word "year" a calendar year. See Hawaii Revised Statutes 1-20
  • Mortgage: The written agreement pledging property to a creditor as collateral for a loan.
  • Mortgagee: The person to whom property is mortgaged and who has loaned the money.
  • Obligation: An order placed, contract awarded, service received, or similar transaction during a given period that will require payments during the same or a future period.
  • Outlays: Outlays are payments made (generally through the issuance of checks or disbursement of cash) to liquidate obligations. Outlays during a fiscal year may be for payment of obligations incurred in prior years or in the same year.
  • Oversight: Committee review of the activities of a Federal agency or program.
  • 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.
  • Permit: means a nontransferable, formal authorization, valid for a period not to exceed one calendar year from the date of issuance and which a county is hereby authorized to issue under this chapter, to engage in the act or acts specifically designated herein. See Hawaii Revised Statutes 132D-2
  • Personal property: All property that is not real property.
  • Political subdivision: means and includes all counties and municipalities of the State insofar as they are supported by or handle state or public funds. See Hawaii Revised Statutes 23-1
  • Portal manager: means the entity or person engaged to manage and operate the internet portal on behalf of the State. See Hawaii Revised Statutes 27G-1
  • Precedent: A court decision in an earlier case with facts and law similar to a dispute currently before a court. Precedent will ordinarily govern the decision of a later similar case, unless a party can show that it was wrongly decided or that it differed in some significant way.
  • Presiding officer: A majority-party Senator who presides over the Senate and is charged with maintaining order and decorum, recognizing Members to speak, and interpreting the Senate's rules, practices and precedents.
  • Prosecute: To charge someone with a crime. A prosecutor tries a criminal case on behalf of the government.
  • Public law: A public bill or joint resolution that has passed both chambers and been enacted into law. Public laws have general applicability nationwide.
  • Quorum: The number of legislators that must be present to do business.
  • Real property: Land, and all immovable fixtures erected on, growing on, or affixed to the land.
  • Recess: A temporary interruption of the legislative business.
  • Remainder: An interest in property that takes effect in the future at a specified time or after the occurrence of some event, such as the death of a life tenant.
  • Repeal date: means the effective date of repeal established for various chapters by § 26H-4. See Hawaii Revised Statutes 26H-3
  • Statute: A law passed by a legislature.
  • Subpoena duces tecum: A command to a witness to produce documents.
  • Testify: Answer questions in court.
  • Testimony: Evidence presented orally by witnesses during trials or before grand juries.
  • Trial: A hearing that takes place when the defendant pleads "not guilty" and witnesses are required to come to court to give evidence.
  • Trustee: A person or institution holding and administering property in trust.
  • urban renewal plan: means a plan, as it exists from time to time, for an urban renewal project, which plan (1) shall conform to the master plan for the county as a whole; or if there is no master plan for the county as a whole, then to the master plan for the urban area as a whole of which the urban renewal project area constitutes a part; and (2) shall be sufficiently complete to indicate such land acquisition, demolition, and removal of structures, redevelopment, improvements, and rehabilitation as may be proposed to be carried out in the area of the urban renewal project, zoning and planning changes, if any, land uses, maximum densities, building requirements, and the plan's relationship to definite local objectives respecting appropriate land uses; improved traffic, public transportation, public utilities, recreational and community facilities, and other public improvements. See Hawaii Revised Statutes 53-52