Hawaii Revised Statutes

Haw. Rev. Stat. § 480-9 (2026)

  Monopolization

✓ current as of July 2026
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     §480-9  Monopolization.  No person shall monopolize, or attempt to monopolize, or combine or conspire with any other person to monopolize any part of the trade or commerce in any commodity in any section of the State. [L 1961, c 190, §7; Supp, §205A-7; HRS §480-9]

 

Case Notes

 

  Mentioned in discussing availability of estoppel as defense in private antitrust action.  296 F. Supp. 920.

  One element of conspiracy to monopolize is specific intent to control prices or destroy competition in any line of trade or commerce.  Test for specific intent is the same, whether applied to conspiracy or attempt to monopolize.  491 F. Supp. 1199.

  Defendants lacked necessary market share and hence monopoly power in service jobbing of all tobacco products in Hawaii.  513 F. Supp. 726.

  Mere formality of separate incorporation is not, without more, sufficient to provide the capability for conspiracy.  Parent corporation controlled subsidiary to such a degree that the two entities in substance constitute a single entity incapable of conspiring with itself.  513 F. Supp. 726.

  Action by shopping center tenant against shopping center owner.  530 F. Supp. 499.

  Large landowner's monopoly power over own lands not illegal where not used to injure competitors.  594 F. Supp. 1480.

  Mentioned, where plaintiff alleged that defendants' practice of imposing maximum price restrictions in rebate program for the installation of solar water heaters violated state and federal antitrust law, and summary judgment granted for defendants on plaintiffs' claims based on Sections 1 and 2 of the Sherman Act and state antitrust claims.  409 F. Supp. 2d 1206.

  Elements of offense of monopoly.  63 H. 289, 627 P.2d 260.

  Federal statutes and decisions are to be used as guides.  63 H. 289, 627 P.2d 260.

  Where appellants failed to adduce evidence of a causal connection  between appellees' "anticompetitive" conduct and appellees' alleged monopoly power, trial court properly concluded that there was insufficient evidence to sustain appellants' attempt to monopolize claim under this section; thus, as appellants failed to prove a violation of chapter 480, appellants had no standing to bring claim for relief under §480-13(a).  91 H. 224, 982 P.2d 853.

  Where economic interest of corporation's officer/majority shareholder's was the same as that of corporation's two wholly-owned subsidiaries, officer/majority shareholder could not conspire with the corporation for purposes of §480-4 or this section.  91 H. 224, 982 P.2d 853.

  Where the two companies were wholly-owned subsidiaries of the same parent corporation and shared a singular economic interest, they could not constitute a plurality of actors for purposes of a conspiracy under §480-4 or this section.  91 H. 224, 982 P.2d 853.

 

 

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 12 cases (1 in the last 5 years), 1978–2025 · leading case: Island Tobacco Co. v. R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Co., 627 P.2d 260 (Haw. 1981).
Island Tobacco Co. v. R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Co., 627 P.2d 260 (Haw. 1981). · cites it 17× “On February 24, 1977, the circuit court awarded summary judgment to defendants on the cause of action grounded on alleged violations of HRS § 480-9; the motions were denied in all other respects.”
Kapunakea Partners v. Equilon Enter. LLC, 679 F. Supp. 2d 1203 (D. Haw. 2009). · cites it 8× “These allegations seem to be alluding to a monopolization claim under HRS § 480-9. The statute provides that “[n]o person shall monopolize, or attempt to monopolize, or combine or conspire with any other person to monopolize any part of the trade or commerce in any commodity in…”
Robert's Waikiki U-Drive, Inc. v. Budget Rent-A-Car Sys., Inc., 491 F. Supp. 1199 (D. Haw. 1980). · cites it 4× “§ 2 (1976), and under the Hawaii equivalent, Haw.Rev. Stat. § 480-9 (1976). There are four essential elements of a § 2, attempt to monopolize claim: 1) specific intent to control prices or destroy competition with respect to a part of commerce; 2) predatory or anticompetitive…”
Caraang v. PNC Mortg., 795 F. Supp. 2d 1098 (D. Haw. 2011). · cites it 4× “§ 480-13, and the Hawaii Monopolization Act, Haw.Rev.Stat. § 480-9. Plaintiffs make general allegations that Defendant/Defendants engaged in anti-competitive conduct and attempted to monopolize the mortgage lending and servicing market.”
Island Tobacco Co. v. R. J. Reynolds Indus., Inc., 513 F. Supp. 726 (D. Haw. 1981). · cites it 5× “§ 480-9 (monopolization and attempt to monopolize).”
Bartleys Town & Country Shops, Inc. v. Dillingham Corp., 530 F. Supp. 499 (D. Haw. 1982). · cites it 7× “§ 480-6 (refusal to deal); Counts X and XI, Haw.Rev.Stat. § 480-9 (monopolization); and Count XII, Haw.”
Oahu Gas Serv., Inc. v. Pac. Resources, Inc., 460 F. Supp. 1359 (D. Haw. 1978). · cites it 2× “§ 2 , and Haw.Rev.Stat. § 480-9. Certain arrangements, contracts and combinations between Gaseo and its customers are alleged to constitute unreasonable restraints of trade and commerce, in violation of § 1 of the Sherman Act, 15 U.”
Souza v. Est. of Bishop, 594 F. Supp. 1480 (D. Haw. 1984). · cites it 2× “§ 480-9 reads: “No person shall monopolize, or attempt to monopolize, or combine or conspire with any other person to monopolize any part of the trade or commerce in any commodity in any section of the State.”
Hawaii Ex Rel. Anzai v. Gannett Pac. Corp., 99 F. Supp. 2d 1241 (D. Haw. 1999). “§ 480-4 and § 480-9 traces the language of Section 1 and Section 2 of the Sherman Act).”
Robert's Hawaii Sch. Bus, Inc. v. Laupahoehoe Transp. Co., 982 P.2d 853 (Haw. 1999). · cites it 8× “21 Similarly, HRS § 480-9 (1985 & Supp. 1992) provides that “[n]o person shall monopolize, or attempt to monopolize, or combine or conspire with any other person to monopolize any part of the trade or commerce,” tracing Section 2 of the Sherman Antitrust Act, 15 U.”
Kiep v. Turner, 80 B.R. 521 (D. Haw. 1987). “) § 480-9; (2) unlawful use of interlocking directorates in violation of H.”
Hu Honua Bioenergy, LLC v. Hawaiian Elec. Indus., Inc. (D. Haw. 2025). · cites it 2× “Count V alleges that Defendants engaged in unfair methods of competition (HRS § 480-2), restraints of trade (HRS § 480-4), and monopolization (HRS § 480-9). See ECF No. 268 at PageID.7593.”
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