§641-2  Review on and disposition of appeal.
[L 2004, c 202, §67 amendment repealed June 30, 2010.  L 2006, c 94,
§1.]  In case of appeal from a judgment, order, or decree of a circuit or
district court or the land court, in a civil matter, the appellate court shall
have power to review, reverse, affirm, amend, or modify such judgment, order,
or decree, in whole or in part, as to any or all of the parties.  It may enter
an amended or modified judgment, order, or decree, or may remand the case to
the trial court for the entry of the same or for other or further proceedings,
as in its opinion the facts and law warrant.  Any judgment, order, or decree
entered by the appellate court may be enforced by it or remitted for
enforcement by the trial court.



Every appeal shall be taken on the record, and
no new evidence shall be introduced in the supreme court.  The appellate court
may correct any error appearing on the record, but need not consider a point
that was not presented in the trial court in an appropriate manner.  No
judgment, order, or decree shall be reversed, amended, or modified for any
error or defect, unless the court is of the opinion that it has injuriously
affected the substantial rights of the appellant. [L 1892, c 57, §70; RL 1925,
§2511; RL 1935, §3503; RL 1945, §9505; RL 1955, §208-5; HRS §641-4; am L 1970,
c 188, §39; am L 1972, c 89, pt of §5; ren HRS §641-2; am L 2004, c 202, §67]



 



Note



 



  L 2004, c 202, §82 provides:



  "SECTION 82.  Appeals pending in the supreme court as of
the effective date of this Act [July 1, 2006] may be transferred to the
intermediate appellate court or retained at the supreme court as the chief
justice, in the chief justice's sole discretion, directs."



 



General Note



 



Disposition of cause.



  See appended chapter note, pt. I A10.



 



Scope of review.



  In general, see appended chapter note, pt. I A9; also pt. I
A7e.  Review of factual issues, see 42 H. 250, 256; 42 H. 264, 267; 45 H. 83,
86-7, 363 P.2d 964.  To extent governed by Hawaii Rules of Civil Procedure, see
HRCP rule 52(a), construed in 42 H. 111, 116; 42 H. 286, 297; 43 H. 76, 82; 43
H. 119, 124; 44 H. 327, 342, 359 P.2d 164; 44 H. 582, 358 P.2d 53, den'g reh'g
of 44 H. 464, 355 P.2d 25; 45 H. 128, 139, 363 P.2d 969; 45 H. 232, 233-34, 364
P.2d 646; 45 H. 445, 452, 370 P.2d 463; 45 H. 521, 550-551, 371 P.2d 379; 46 H.
233, 238, 377 P.2d 708; 46 H. 353, 364, 380 P.2d 488; 46 H. 475, 513-514, 382
P.2d 920; 47 H. 145, 147, 384 P.2d 300; 47 H. 220, 225, 386 P.2d 855; 47 H.
577, 585, 393 P.2d 89; 48 H. 152, 168, 397 P.2d 593; 48 H. 193, 202, 397 P.2d
552, reh'g den. 48 H. 391, 402 P.2d 678; 49 H. 62, 68, 412 P.2d 326; 49 H. 160,
180, 413 P.2d 221; 49 H. 661, 667, 426 P.2d 816.



 



Preservation of error, prejudicial error as requisites.



  See HRCP rules 46, 61, and see note to §641-16.



 



Cases decided before adoption of the Hawaii Rules of Civil
Procedure.



  Newly discovered evidence, admissibility of, effect:  3 H.
64; 7 H. 573; 14 H. 204; 33 H. 98; 38 H. 605.  Review generally on the record: 
14 H. 204; 23 H. 571, 572.



  In equitable actions, findings of trial judge not binding on
supreme court and may make its own findings.  15 H. 526; 22 H. 291; 28 H. 590,
662; 29 H. 638; 33 H. 701; 34 H. 363; 34 H. 228, 303; 39 H. 185; 158 F.2d 122;
see also 23 H. 646, 649.  In equity case, presumption correctly decided.  22 H.
391.  In the case of conflicting evidence, findings entitled to great weight. 
10 H. 308; 15 H. 526; 22 H. 17; 22 H. 391; 25 H. 22, 33; 26 H. 137; 29 H. 638;
29 H. 698; 30 H. 446; 32 H. 659; 32 H. 751; 33 H. 745; 33 H. 846; 34 H. 87, 91;
38 H. 616; 40 H. 279; 40 H. 386.  Even though the evidence be meager, if
sustains findings, will not be disturbed.  24 H. 277.  But where evidence is of
slight weight and doubtful character, findings not followed.  33 H. 701; 35 H.
689.  In divorce cases; supreme court will draw its own conclusions; in cases
turning wholly or largely on credibility of witnesses or weight of evidence,
findings of trial judge accorded much weight.  21 H. 339; 22 H. 189; 29 H. 866;
30 H. 240; 34 H. 312; 36 H. 49; 37 H. 512.  And should control unless the
evidence clearly requires the contrary conclusion.  32 H. 177.



 



Case Notes



 



  Under certain conditions, judgment can be reversed on legal
theory not raised before.  56 H. 466, 540 P.2d 978.



  Supreme court cannot disregard jurisdictional defects in an
appeal.  57 H. 61, 549 P.2d 477.



  Appellate court was not precluded from considering equity
defense of unclean hands raised for the first time on appeal.  57 H. 215, 553
P.2d 733.



  Evidence outside trial record may not be referred to in
appellate brief unless approved by trial court pursuant to HRCP Rule 75(c).  57
H. 405, 557 P.2d 125.



  Court's power to render final judgment on reversal should be
exercised where the result would be foreordained on remand.  58 H. 345, 569
P.2d 884.



  Trial court's possible error in granting directed verdict
found to be harmless in light of subsequent jury instructions.  60 H. 214, 587
P.2d 1229.



  Denial of motion for new trial is within discretion of trial
court and will not be upset unless clear abuse of discretion.  60 H. 259, 588
P.2d 438.



  Where surviving spouse failed to show how family court's
erroneous finding of fact affected the court's decision, the erroneous finding
did not affect surviving spouse's substantial rights and did not constitute
reversible error.  100 H. 397, 60 P.3d 798.



  Mentioned:  74 H. 210, 847 P.2d 652.