Administrative law

Regulatingparadise University of Hawaii lawprof David L. Callies needs no introduction to the readers of this blog. He’s one of the deans of the national and international land use bar and professoriate, but those of us who practice land use law in Hawaii consider him our special mentor (dare I say guru?) when the topic of Hawaii land use law is raised. Virtually every dirt lawyer practicing here has studied under or with him.

Those of us who consider this area of law our calling have for years looked forward to an update of Regulating Paradise, his seminal book on Hawaii’s complex and multi-layered system of land use and regulation.

Well wait no further. The University of Hawaii Press has published the second edition of Professor Callies’ essential work. Purchase your copy here (a mere $22). Here’s the Introduction.

We haven’t had an opportunity to pore through the nearly 400 pages of text (illustrated with the irreplaceable Corky Trinidad‘s editorial cartoons), so a more complete review will follow once we’ve had a chance to do so. In the meantime, voices more eminent than our own have weighed in:

“A masterful analysis of [Hawai‘i’s] land use laws.” —Daniel R. Mandelker, Stamper Professor of Law, Washington University, St. Louis

“Essential reading for all who seek to understand how land use is regulated in Hawai‘i or to apply the lessons learned there to other states.” —Dan Tarlock, Distinguished Professor of Law, Chicago-Kent College of Law

“A must-read for both neophyte and veteran legal practitioners. Callies’ in-depth and insightful explanations and commentaries on Hawai‘i’s complex land use and planning laws provide a road map for understanding the state’s multi-layered regulatory scheme.” —Benjamin A. Kudo, Ph.D.

“With this magnificent new work, and its far ranging, comprehensive analysis – from the feudal land holdings of the monarchy to regulating McMansions – Professor Callies teaches and entertains us with tales of success and failure in Hawaiian land use and development law. There are lessons here for every one of us, all across this country.” —Dwight Merriam, Robinson & Cole

If the second edition is anything like the first, Regulating Paradise will occupy an frequently-used spot on our back bookshelf. More to follow.
Continue Reading New Book: Callies, Regulating Paradise – Land Use Controls In Hawaii (2d ed. 2010)

The Hawaii Supreme Court in an opinion authored by Chief Justice Moon and joined by Justices Nakayama and Duffy (Justices Acoba and Recktenwald concurred separately), held that an administrative appeal regarding the disinterment of Native Hawaiian burial remains discovered at the Ward Village shops site in Honolulu was moot, but that the “public interest” exception…

In County of Hawaii v. Ala Loop Homeowners, No. 27707 (July 9, 2010), the Hawaii Supreme Court held that certain state zoning laws are “environmental” laws that may be enforced by private plaintiffs. The court held “[w]e further conclude that article XI, section 9 of the Hawai’i Constitution creates a private right of action…

In County of Hawaii v. Ala Loop Homeowners, No. 27707 (July 9, 2010), the Hawaii Supreme Court held that certain state zoning laws are “environmental” laws that may be enforced by private plaintiffs. The court held “[w]e further conclude that article XI, section 9 of the Hawai’i Constitution creates a private right of action…

In Kauai Springs struggling, The Garden Island (the Kauai daily newspaper) writes about

The Kauai Planning Commission (Planning Commission) asks this Court to validate a remarkable theory: that in the course of reviewing whether Kauai Springs, Inc. (Kauai Springs) was entitled to three simple zoning permits for its agriculturally-zoned land, the public trust doctrine…

In Hines v. California Coastal Commission, No. A125254 (decided June 17, 2010, ordered published July 13, 2010), the California Court of Appeal (First District) held that the California Coastal Commission properly refused to hear the appeal of a neighbor who opposed the grant of a use permit because the appeal did not present a…

Today, we filed an amicus brief in Leone v. County of Maui, No. 29696, an appeal in the Hawaii Intermediate Court of Appeals which is considering, among other issues, the question of when a regulatory takings claim is ripe for review under Williamson County Regional Planning Comm’n v. Hamilton Bank of Johnson City…

My colleague Mark Murakami who blogs at hawaiioceanlaw.com will be covering today’s oral argument in the Hawaii Supreme Court case Dupree v. Hiraga, No 29464, the appeal regarding whether the State Board of Registration (County of Maui)correctly concluded that a Maui County councilperson who registered tovote as a Lanai resident is actually a …

The Supreme Court of Hawaii will hear oral arguments on Thursday, August 20, 2009, from 9:00-10:00 in Dupree v. Hiraga, No 29464, the appeal regarding whether the State Board of Registration (County of Maui)correctly concluded that a Maui County councilperson who registered tovote as a Lanai resident is actually a resident of Maui.

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