Hawaii Revised Statutes

Haw. Rev. Stat. § 702-223 (2026)

  Liability for conduct of another; complicity with respect to the result

✓ current as of July 2026
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     §702-223  Liability for conduct of another; complicity with respect to the result.  When causing a particular result is an element of an offense, an accomplice in the conduct causing the result is an accomplice in the commission of that offense, if the accomplice acts, with respect to that result, with the state of mind that is sufficient for the commission of the offense. [L 1972, c 9, pt of §1; gen ch 1993]

 

COMMENTARY ON §702-223

 

  This section is intended to make clear that a defendant charged, on the basis of the defendant's complicity in the conduct of another, with causing a particular result will not be allowed to escape accountability for the result because the defendant solicited or aided, etc., a different or more limited result if the defendant had the requisite state of mind with respect to the actual result.

  Thus, for example, one who urges a driver to increase the speed of an automobile, disregarding known risks to pedestrians, would stand in the same position as the driver on a charge of reckless homicide and would not be allowed to defend on the ground that one solicited the violation of the traffic law and not the homicide law.

 

Case Notes

 

  Instruction on law of principals and accomplices was not erroneous.  59 H. 625, 586 P.2d 250 (1978).

  Accomplice in commission of robbery.  62 H. 25, 608 P.2d 855 (1980).

 

 

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 8 cases (1 in the last 5 years), 1978–2022 · leading case: State v. Kaiama, 911 P.2d 735 (Haw. 1996).
State v. Kaiama, 911 P.2d 735 (Haw. 1996). · cites it 8× “The first sentence of the prosecution’s proffered instruction tracks the exact language of HRS § 702-223 (1985). 31 Thus, as Kaiama concedes, the first sentence “is a correct statement of the law.”
State v. Scott., 319 P.3d 252 (Haw. 2013). · cites it 4× “] 10 HRS § 702-223 (1993) provides: When causing a particular result is an element of an offense, an accomplice in the conduct causing the result is an accomplice in the commission of that offense, if the accomplice acts, with respect to that result, with the state of mind that…”
State v. Apao, 586 P.2d 250 (Haw. 1978). · cites it 2× “HRS § 702-223 states: When causing a particular result is an element of an offense, an accomplice in the conduct causing the result is an accomplice in the commission of that offense, if he acts, with respect to that result, with the state of mind that is sufficient for the…”
State v. Churchill, 664 P.2d 757 (Haw. App. 1983). · cites it 4× “Defendants also argue that the court should have instructed the jury on the provisions of HRS § 702-223 (1976). [3] However, defendants did not request such an instruction, did not object to the failure of the court so to instruct the jury, and will not be heard on appeal.”
State v. Churchill, 664 P.2d 757 (Haw. App. 1983). · cites it 4× “Defendants also argue that the court should have instructed the jury on the provisions of HRS § 702-223 (1976). 3 *285 However, defendants did not request such an instruction, did not object to the failure of the court so to instruct the jury, and will not be heard on appeal.”
State v. Duk Won Lee, 925 P.2d 1091 (Haw. 1996). · cites it 2× “] HRS § 702-223 (1993) provides: Liability for conduct of another; complicity with respect to the result.”
Sanders v. City & Cnty. of Honolulu (D. Haw. 2022). · cites it 2× “Under Haw. Rev. Stat. § 702-223 , a person is liable as an accomplice to an offense when she knowingly or intentionally causes the commission of that offense.”
State v. Toma (Haw. 2015). · cites it 2× “” The circuit court 7 The commentary to HRS § 702-223 gives the following example: [O]ne who urges a driver to increase the speed of an automobile, disregarding known risks to pedestrians, would stand in the same position as the driver on a charge of reckless homicide and would…”
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