NOVA BURNES, et al., Plaintiffs-Appellees, vs. HAWAIIAN ELECTRIC COMPANY, Inc. dba HAWAIIAN ELECTRIC, et al., Defendants-Appellees, and ACE AMERICAN INSURANCE COMPANY, et al., Intervenor Subrogation Plaintiffs-Appellants.

Listen to the audio recording

The above-captioned case has been set for oral argument on the merits at:

Supreme Court Courtroom
Ali‘iōlani Hale, 2nd Floor
417 South King Street
Honolulu, HI 96813

The oral argument will also be live streamed for public viewing via the Judiciary’s YouTube channel at YouTube.com/hawaiicourts and ‘Ōlelo at olelo.org/tv-schedule/.

Attorneys for the Intervenor Subrogation Plaintiffs-Appellants ACE AMERICAN INSURANCE COMPANY, et al.:
     Vincent G. Raboteau of Grotefeld Hoffmann, LLP, Normand R. Lezy of Cox Wootton Lerner Griffin & Hansen LLP, Mark S. Anderson of Cozen O’Connor, David R. Denton of Denenberg Tuffley, and Michael F. O’Connor and Richard A. Ing of Ogawa Lau Nakamura & Jew

Attorneys for Plaintiffs-Appellees NOVA BURNES, et al.:
     Patrick Kyle Smith of Law Office of Kyle Smith, Terrance M. Revere and Paul V. Smith of Revere & Associates, LLC Richard E. Wilson of Law Offices of Richard E. Wilson, LLC, Kenneth S. Kasdan and Christopher K. Hikida of Kasdan Turner Thomson Booth LLLC, Graham B. LippSmith, MaryBeth LippSmith, Celene Chan Andrews, and Jaclyn L. Anderson of LippSmith LLP

Attorneys for Defendants-Appellees HAWAIIAN ELCECTRIC COMPANY, INC. dba HAWAIIAN ELECTRIC, et al.:
     Joachim P. Cox and Randall C. Whattoff of Cox Fricke LLP

Attorneys for Defendants-Appellees TRUSTEES OF THE ESTATE OF BERNICE PAUAHI BISHOP:
     Paul Alston, Nickolas A. Kacprowski, Wendy F. Hanakahi, Nathan P. Shimodoi, and Catelin K. Aiwohi of Dentons US LLP

Attorneys for Defendant-Appellee COUNTY OF MAUI:
     Thomas Kolbe, Deputy Corporation Counsel and David J. Minkin, Jordan K. Inafuku, Micah H. Miyasato, and Sabrina N. Gouveia of McCorriston Miller Mukai MacKinnon LLP

Attorneys for Defendant-Appellee STATE OF HAWAI‘I:
     Michael L. Lam, Steven E. Tom, Kaonohiokala J. Aukai, IV, and Kenneth V. Go of Case Lombardi and Amanda J. Weston, Deputy Attorney General

Attorneys for Defendant-Appellee HAWAIIAN TELCOM, INC.:
     Eric H. Tsugawa, Alan K. Lau, and Tedson H. Koja of Tsugawa Lau & Muzzi LLLC

Attorneys for Defendant-Appellee SPECTRUM OCEANIC, LLC:
     Gregory K. Markham, Keith K. Kato, and Michael H. Tsuchida of Chee Markham & Kato

Attorneys for Defendant-Appellee WEST MAUI LAND COMPANY, INC.:
     Wesley H.H. Ching and Dara Nakagawa of Fukunaga Matayoshi Ching & Kon-Herrera

Self-Represented Defendant-Appellee PETER KLINT MARTIN

Self-Represented Defendant-Appellee PETER KLINT MARTIN REVOCABLE TRUST

Self-Represented Defendant-Appellee HOPE BUILDERS HOLDING LLC

Self-Represented Defendant-Appellee HOPE BUILDERS INC.

Self-Represented Defendant-Appellee HOPE BUILDERS LLC

Self-Represented Defendant-Appellee KAUAULA LAND COMPANY LLC

Self-Represented Defendant-Appellee KIPA CENTENNIAL, LLC

Self-Represented Defendant-Appellee JAMES C. RILEY TRUST

Self-Represented Defendant-Appellee JEANNE A. RILEY TRUST

Self-Represented Defendant-Appellee WAINEE LAND & HOMES, LLC

Self-Represented Defendant-Appellee MAKILA RANCHES INC.

Self-Represented Defendant-Appellee MAKILA LAND CO., LLC

Self-Represented Defendant-Appellee MAKILA RANCHES HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION, INC.

NOTE: Certificate of Recusal, by Associate Justice Vladimir P. Devens, filed 10/02/25.

NOTE: Order assigning Circuit Judge Kevin T. Morikone, in place of Devens, J., recused, filed 10/13/25.

NOTE: Order assigning Circuit Judge Taryn R. Tomasa, due to a vacancy, filed 10/13/25.

NOTE: Order granting Application for transfer, filed 10/22/25.

COURT: McKenna, Acting C.J., Eddins, Ginoza, JJ., and Circuit Judge Morikone, in place of Devens, J., recused and Circuit Judge Tomasa, due to a vacancy.

Brief Description:
This transfer case involves an appeal from a motion to intervene in the preliminary approval of the Maui fires class settlement agreement and appointment of settlement class counsel.

In March 2025, Class Plaintiffs moved for preliminary approval of its class settlement agreement with Defendants releasing all claims related to the Maui fires. Non-party insurers (Subrogating Insurers) moved to intervene. The Subrogating Insurers claimed that they were entitled to intervention as of right and permissive intervention per Hawai‘i Rules of Civil Procedure (HRCP) Rule 24(a)(2) and (b)(2).

The circuit court denied the motion to intervene.

Regarding HRCP Rule 24(a)(2) intervention by right, the court held that the motion was untimely, and that the Subrogating Insurers failed to establish a legally protectable interest that would be impaired by the settlement approval. Because In re Maui Fire Cases , 155 Hawai‘i 409, 565 P.3d 754 (2025), held that the insurers’ exclusive remedy when their insureds settle is reimbursement via the Hawai‘i Revised Statutes (HRS) § 663-10 lien process, the circuit court reasoned, the Subrogating Insurers do not have subrogation rights with respect to class members who have agreed to settle their claims pursuant to the class settlement agreement.

The court also denied permissive intervention. It held that the Subrogating Insurers did not establish a common question of law or fact as required by HRCP Rule 24(b)(2) because they did not establish a legally protectable interest. The court further denied permissive intervention for untimeliness and prejudice to the existing parties.

Upon the Subrogating Insurers’ appeal to the Intermediate Court of Appeals, this court accepted the Class Plaintiffs’ transfer application pursuant to HRS § 602-58(b).