Investigations
HRS §353C-14
in effect353C-14. Investigations
(a) The director shall investigate alleged violations of the law when directed to do so by the governor or when the director determines that an investigation would be in the public interest.
(b) The director, when conducting a civil,
administrative, or criminal investigation, may, subject to the privileges
enjoyed by all witnesses in the State, subpoena witnesses, examine them under
oath, and require the production of any books, papers, documents, or other
objects designated therein or any other record however maintained, including
those electronically stored that are relevant or material to the investigation.
(c) A subpoena issued under subsection (b):
(1) Shall state the name of the issuing authority and
command each person to whom it is directed to attend and give testimony at the
time and place specified therein, and may also command the person to whom it is
directed to produce books, papers, documents, or other objects specifically
designated therein;
(2) May be served by any law enforcement officer as
defined in section 139-1 at any place within the State but subject to the
jurisdiction of the issuing law enforcement officer serving the subpoena;
(3) Shall require attendance of the witness only in
the county wherein the witness is served with the subpoena or at any other
place as is agreed upon by the witness and department; provided that, if the
subpoena is served in a county other than that in which the witness resides, is
employed, or transacts the witness' business in person, the department shall
bear the expense of travel by the witness to and attendance at the place named
in the subpoena to the same extent as provided by the rules of court; and
(4) Shall contain a short, plain statement of the
recipient's rights and the procedure for enforcing and contesting the subpoena.
(d) The department shall pay to a financial
institution that is served a subpoena issued under this section a fee for
reimbursement of the costs as are necessary and that have been directly
incurred in searching for, reproducing, or transporting books, papers,
documents, or other objects designated by the subpoena. Reimbursement shall be
paid at the rate of $15 per hour for research time and 50 cents per page for
reproduction.
(e) Upon application by the attorney general
on behalf of the department, a circuit court of the county wherein the witness
resides or is found may compel obedience to the subpoena; provided that the
court, on motion promptly made, may quash or modify the subpoena if compliance
would be unreasonable, oppressive, or violate any privilege the witness may be
entitled to exercise in a court proceeding.
(f) Compliance with a subpoena issued pursuant
to this section shall not give rise to a civil action for damages by an
individual or entity as to whom testimony has been given or books, papers,
documents, or other objects provided in compliance with the subpoena.
[L 2024,
c 132, §2]
Source: Hawaii State Legislature (capitol.hawaii.gov), via Internet Archive capturesURL: http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/hrscurrent/Vol07_Ch0346-0398/HRS0353C/HRS_0353C-0014.htmFetched: 11/10/2026