Hawaii Revised Statutes

Haw. Rev. Stat. § 842-1 (2026)

  Definitions

✓ current as of July 2026
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     §842-1  Definitions.  As used in this chapter:

     "Enterprise" includes any sole proprietorship, partnership, corporation, association, and any union or group of individuals associated for a particular purpose although not a legal entity.

     "Organized crime" means any combination or conspiracy to engage in criminal activity as a significant source of income or livelihood, or to violate, aid, or abet the violation of criminal laws relating to prostitution, gambling, loan sharking, drug abuse, illegal drug distribution, counterfeiting, extortion, labor trafficking, unlicensed sale of liquor, or corruption of law enforcement officers or other public officers or employers.

     "Person" includes any individual or entity capable of holding a legal or beneficial interest in property and includes nonresident aliens.

     "Racketeering activity" means any act or threat involving but not limited to murder, kidnapping, gambling, criminal property damage, robbery, bribery, extortion, labor trafficking, unlicensed sale of liquor, theft, or prostitution, or any dealing in narcotic or other dangerous drugs that is chargeable as a crime under state law and punishable by imprisonment for more than one year.

     "Unlawful debt" means a debt incurred or contracted in an illegal gambling activity or business or which is unenforceable under state law in whole or in part as to principal or interest because of the law relating to usury. [L 1972, c 71, pt of §2; am L 1990, c 27, §2; am L 1991, c 175, §1; am L 2011, c 146, §4; am L 2019, c 15, §4]

 

 

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 12 cases (4 in the last 5 years), 1991–2026 · leading case: State v. Ontai, 929 P.2d 69 (Haw. 1996).
State v. Ontai, 929 P.2d 69 (Haw. 1996). · cites it 14× “According to the prosecution, the court should have applied the statutory definition found in HRS § 842-1 5 rather than the definition found in United States v.”
State v. Richie, 960 P.2d 1227 (Haw. 1998). · cites it 2× “HRS § 842-1 (1993) provides in relevant part: "Racketeering activity” means any act or threat involving but not limited to murder, kidnapping, gambling, criminal property damage, robbery, bribery, extortion, theft or prostitution, or any dealing in narcotic or other dangerous…”
Ryan v. Salisbury, 380 F. Supp. 3d 1031 (D. Haw. 2019). · cites it 6× “HRS § 842-1 [.]"). Therefore, and in light of the differences between 18 U.”
Derosa v. Ass'n of Apt. Owners of the Golf Villas, 185 F. Supp. 3d 1247 (D. Haw. 2016). · cites it 2× “Haw. Rev. Stat. § 842-1 . Plaintiff argues that Defendants’ actions constituted extortion, as defined in Haw.”
State v. Bates, 933 P.2d 48 (Haw. 1997). · cites it 2× “Since the term “enterprise” is defined broadly in Haw.Rev.Stat. § 842-1, to include “any group of individuals associated for a particular purpose although not a legal entity,” the Defendant is again notified that the State intends to proceed on the theory that the three named…”
Nakamoto v. Hartley, 758 F. Supp. 1357 (D. Haw. 1991). · cites it 3× “§§ 842-1, et seq. Roberts and VLBMH argue that plaintiffs’ first (federal RICO), second (SEA), third (Hawaii Securities Act), fifth (Hawaii *1361 antitrust statute), and eighth (Hawaii RICO) claims for relief are barred by the applicable statutes of limitation.”
State v. Park., 495 P.3d 392 (Haw. App. 2021). · cites it 14× “We distinguish Ontai, which involved an alleged associated-in-fact enterprise; we hold that a limited liability company qualifies as a legal-entity "enterprise" as defined by HRS § 842-1. We also hold, however, that the State failed to present evidence that Park "conduct[ed] or…”
Moore v. MC Architects Inc. (D. Haw. 2025). · cites it 4× “” HRS § 842-1. A group “associated for a particular purpose although not a legal entity,” id.”
Agena v. Cleaver-Brooks, Inc. (D. Haw. 2020). · cites it 2× “Nonetheless, Plaintiffs may establish their RICO claims and their fraudulent inducement claims by presenting the same evidence. See Living Designs, 431 F.3d at 361–70 (involving claims of fraudulent inducement under Hawaii law and federal RICO violations based upon alleged…”
Nicol v. Ka'anapali Golf Estates Cmty. Ass'n, Inc. (D. Haw. 2021). · cites it 2× “” HRS § 842-1. Plaintiffs allege that Defendants engaged in racketeering activity under both state and federal law by committing “extortion” in violation of HRS § 707-764.”
Moore (D. Haw. 2026). · cites it 2× “Existence of an enterprise The FAC alleges that Defendants were part of an “association-in-fact” enterprise.”
Sciotto v. Ass'n of Apt. Owners of Hanalei Bay Resort, The (D. Haw. 2019). “Section 842-1 et seq. (6) Bad Faith (7) Violation of Governing Documents and Haw.”
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