Hawaii Revised Statutes

Haw. Rev. Stat. § 701-118 (2026)

  General definitions

✓ current as of July 2026
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     §701-118  General definitions.  In this Code, unless a different meaning plainly is required:

     "Act" or "action" means a bodily movement whether voluntary or involuntary.

     "Acted" includes, where relevant, "omitted to act".

     "Actor" includes, a person who acts, or, where relevant, a person guilty of omission.

     "Another" means any other person and includes, where relevant, the United States, this State and any of its political subdivisions, and any other state and any of its political subdivisions.

     "Conduct" means an act or omission, or, where relevant, a series of acts or a series of omissions, or a series of acts and omissions.

     "Law enforcement officer" means any public servant, whether employed by the State or county or by the United States, vested by law with a duty to maintain public order or, to make arrests for offenses or to enforce the criminal laws, whether that duty extends to all offenses or is limited to a specific class of offenses.

     "Omission" means a failure to act.

     "Person", "he", "him", "actor", and "defendant" include any natural person, including any natural person whose identity can be established by means of scientific analysis, including but not limited to scientific analysis of deoxyribonucleic acid and fingerprints, whether or not the natural person's name is known, and, where relevant, a corporation or an unincorporated association.

     "State" means a state of the United States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and any territory or possession of the United States.

     "Statute" includes the Constitution of the State and a local law or ordinance of a political subdivision of the State. [L 1972, c 9, pt of §1; am L 2001, c 91, §2; am L 2005, c 112, §3]

 

Revision Note

 

  Numeric designations deleted and definitions rearranged pursuant to §23G-15.

 

Cross References

 

  Other definitions, see specific chapters of this Code.

 

COMMENTARY ON §701-118

 

  Act 91, Session Laws 2001, amended this section by providing a definition of "law enforcement officer."  The term "peace officer," as used in the Penal Code, caused the Intermediate Court of Appeals to question whether the term meant "law enforcement officer."  Act 91 resolved the ambiguity by providing a definition of "law enforcement officer" and substituting that term for "peace officer" [in the Penal Code].  Conference Committee Report No. 23.

  Act 112, Session Laws 2005, established a statewide deoxyribonucleic acid database and data bank identification program for all convicted felons.  Conference Committee Report No. 184.  Act 112 amended this section by amending the definition of "person," "he," "him," "actor," and "defendant."

 

Case Notes

 

  A dolphin is not "another" within the meaning of paragraph (8).  1 H. App. 19, 613 P.2d 1328 (1980).

 

 

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 20 cases (2 in the last 5 years), 1980–2022 · leading case: State v. Woodfall, 206 P.3d 841 (Haw. 2009).
State v. Woodfall, 206 P.3d 841 (Haw. 2009). · cites it 20× “) Similarly, we apply the HRS § 701-118 (Supp.2006) definition of “another” to HRS § 708-839.”
State v. Wheeler, 219 P.3d 1170 (Haw. 2009). · cites it 4× “HRS § 702-205 (1993) (the material elements of an offense are “conduct,” “attendant circumstances,” and “results of conduct”); 10 HRS § 701-118(4) (1993) (defining *392 “conduct” as “an act or omission, or, where relevant, a series of acts or a series of omissions, or a series…”
State v. Murray, 169 P.3d 955 (Haw. 2007). · cites it 6× “]" Furthermore, an act is defined under § 701-118(2) (1993) as a "bodily movement whether voluntary or involuntary[.”
State v. Feliciano, 115 P.3d 648 (Haw. 2005). · cites it 10× “]" [6] Hawai`i Revised Statutes (HRS) § 701-118(2) (1993). "Conduct," as defined in HRS § 701-118(4) (1993), constitutes an act or omission or "a series" thereof.”
State v. Arceo, 928 P.2d 843 (Haw. 1996). · cites it 4× “) Thus, a discrete offense may consist of "a series of acts" when "[t]he offense is defined as a continuing course of conduct" that is "uninterrupted," as distinguished from statutes providing "that specific periods of conduct constitute separate offenses.”
State v. Moser, 111 P.3d 54 (Haw. App. 2005). · cites it 8× “(a) The Conduct Element As noted above, HRS § 701-118 defines “[c]onduct[,]” as used in the Hawaii Penal Code, as “an act or omission, or, where relevant, a series of acts or a series of omissions, or a series of acts and omissions[.”
State v. Aiwohi, 123 P.3d 1210 (Haw. 2005). · cites it 4× “" HRS § 701-118(7) (1993). Furthermore, for the purposes of HRS chapter 707, HRS § 707-700 defines "person" as "a human being who has been born and is alive.”
State v. Buch, 926 P.2d 599 (Haw. 1996). · cites it 4× “" Thus, "compulsion" may be "conduct," an "attendant circumstance," a "result of conduct," or a combination thereof.”
United States v. Scott, 990 F.3d 94 (2d Cir. 2021). “11, §§ 233 , 242; Haw. Rev. Stat. §§ 701-118 , 702- 203; 720 Ill.”
State v. Apao, 24 P.3d 32 (Haw. 2001). · cites it 2× “Thus, a discrete offense may consist of “a series of acts” when 'Tt]he offense is defined as a continuing course of conduct” that is "uninterrupted,” as distinguished from statutes providing “that specific periods of conduct constitute separate offenses.”
State v. Bovee., 394 P.3d 760 (Haw. 2017). · cites it 2× “” HRS § 701-118 (1993). The “conduct” element of second-degree methamphetamine trafficking is to “distribute[ ]” an object.”
State v. Jardine, 61 P.3d 514 (Haw. App. 2002). · cites it 4× “]” “Person” is defined in HRS § 701-118(7) as including “any natural person and, where relevant, a corporation or an unincorporated association!;.”
— Haw. Rev. Stat. § 701-118(1) — 2 cases
State v. Carroll, 627 P.2d 776 (Haw. 1981).
State v. Keawemauhili, 157 P.3d 539 (Haw. App. 2007).
— Haw. Rev. Stat. § 701-118(2) — 4 cases
State v. Wheeler, 219 P.3d 1170 (Haw. 2009). “HRS § 702-205 (1993) (the material elements of an offense are “conduct,” “attendant circumstances,” and “results of conduct”); 10 HRS § 701-118(4) (1993) (defining *392 “conduct” as “an act or omission, or, where relevant, a series of acts or a series of omissions, or a series…”
State v. Murray, 169 P.3d 955 (Haw. 2007). “]" Furthermore, an act is defined under § 701-118(2) (1993) as a "bodily movement whether voluntary or involuntary[.”
State v. Moser, 111 P.3d 54 (Haw. App. 2005). “(a) The Conduct Element As noted above, HRS § 701-118 defines “[c]onduct[,]” as used in the Hawaii Penal Code, as “an act or omission, or, where relevant, a series of acts or a series of omissions, or a series of acts and omissions[.”
State v. Feliciano, 115 P.3d 648 (Haw. 2005). “]" [6] Hawai`i Revised Statutes (HRS) § 701-118(2) (1993). "Conduct," as defined in HRS § 701-118(4) (1993), constitutes an act or omission or "a series" thereof.”
— Haw. Rev. Stat. § 701-118(3) — 1 case
State v. Moser, 111 P.3d 54 (Haw. App. 2005). “(a) The Conduct Element As noted above, HRS § 701-118 defines “[c]onduct[,]” as used in the Hawaii Penal Code, as “an act or omission, or, where relevant, a series of acts or a series of omissions, or a series of acts and omissions[.”
— Haw. Rev. Stat. § 701-118(4) — 10 cases
State v. Arceo, 928 P.2d 843 (Haw. 1996). “) Thus, a discrete offense may consist of "a series of acts" when "[t]he offense is defined as a continuing course of conduct" that is "uninterrupted," as distinguished from statutes providing "that specific periods of conduct constitute separate offenses.”
State v. Feliciano, 115 P.3d 648 (Haw. 2005). “]" [6] Hawai`i Revised Statutes (HRS) § 701-118(2) (1993). "Conduct," as defined in HRS § 701-118(4) (1993), constitutes an act or omission or "a series" thereof.”
State v. Murray, 169 P.3d 955 (Haw. 2007). “]" Furthermore, an act is defined under § 701-118(2) (1993) as a "bodily movement whether voluntary or involuntary[.”
State v. Wheeler, 219 P.3d 1170 (Haw. 2009). “HRS § 702-205 (1993) (the material elements of an offense are “conduct,” “attendant circumstances,” and “results of conduct”); 10 HRS § 701-118(4) (1993) (defining *392 “conduct” as “an act or omission, or, where relevant, a series of acts or a series of omissions, or a series…”
State v. Buch, 926 P.2d 599 (Haw. 1996). “" Thus, "compulsion" may be "conduct," an "attendant circumstance," a "result of conduct," or a combination thereof.”
— Haw. Rev. Stat. § 701-118(7) — 5 cases
State v. Aiwohi, 123 P.3d 1210 (Haw. 2005). “" HRS § 701-118(7) (1993). Furthermore, for the purposes of HRS chapter 707, HRS § 707-700 defines "person" as "a human being who has been born and is alive.”
State v. Woodfall, 206 P.3d 841 (Haw. 2009). “) Similarly, we apply the HRS § 701-118 (Supp.2006) definition of “another” to HRS § 708-839.”
State v. Jardine, 61 P.3d 514 (Haw. App. 2002). “]” “Person” is defined in HRS § 701-118(7) as including “any natural person and, where relevant, a corporation or an unincorporated association!;.”
State v. Le Vasseur, 613 P.2d 1328 (Haw. App. 1980).
State v. LeVasseur, 613 P.2d 1328 (Haw. App. 1980).
— Haw. Rev. Stat. § 701-118(8) — 4 cases
State v. Woodfall, 206 P.3d 841 (Haw. 2009). “) Similarly, we apply the HRS § 701-118 (Supp.2006) definition of “another” to HRS § 708-839.”
State v. Le Vasseur, 613 P.2d 1328 (Haw. App. 1980).
State v. Jardine, 61 P.3d 514 (Haw. App. 2002). “]” “Person” is defined in HRS § 701-118(7) as including “any natural person and, where relevant, a corporation or an unincorporated association!;.”
State v. LeVasseur, 613 P.2d 1328 (Haw. App. 1980).
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