Ho'omoana Foundation v. Land Use Commission ( 2022 )


Menu:
  •   NOT FOR PUBLICATION IN WEST'S HAWAI#I REPORTS AND PACIFIC REPORTER
    Electronically Filed
    Intermediate Court of Appeals
    CAAP-XX-XXXXXXX
    23-MAY-2022
    08:40 AM
    Dkt. 61 MO
    NOS. CAAP-XX-XXXXXXX and CAAP-XX-XXXXXXX
    IN THE INTERMEDIATE COURT OF APPEALS
    OF THE STATE OF HAWAI#I
    CAAP-XX-XXXXXXX
    HO#OMOANA FOUNDATION, Appellant-Appellee, v.
    LAND USE COMMISSION, STATE OF HAWAI#I, Appellee-Appellee, and
    PU#UNOA HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION, INC.; AND ROSS R. SCOTT,
    Appellees-Appellants.
    AND
    CAAP-XX-XXXXXXX
    HO#OMOANA FOUNDATION, Appellant-Appellee, v.
    LAND USE COMMISSION, STATE OF HAWAI#I, Appellee-Appellant, and
    PU#UNOA HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION, INC.; AND ROSS R. SCOTT,
    Appellees-Appellees.
    APPEAL FROM THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE SECOND CIRCUIT
    (CIVIL NO. 16-1-0160(1))
    MEMORANDUM OPINION
    (By:     Hiraoka, Presiding Judge, Nakasone and McCullen, JJ.)
    Appellees-Appellants Pu#unoa Homeowners Association,
    Inc. and Ross R. Scott1 [collectively Homeowners], and State of
    Hawai#i Land Use Commission (LUC), appeal from the Circuit Court
    of the Second Circuit's (circuit court)2 January 4, 2017
    "Findings of Fact, Conclusions of Law, and Order Vacating [LUC's]
    1
    Scott was substituted for Devonne Lane, who was a co-petitioner in
    the administrative proceeding and an appellee in the circuit court.
    2
    The Honorable Rhonda I.L. Loo presided.
    NOT FOR PUBLICATION IN WEST'S HAWAI#I REPORTS AND PACIFIC REPORTER
    Decisions and Orders Entered on March 3, 2016" (Order) and
    February 16, 2017 Final Judgment (Judgment).     On appeal,
    Homeowners and LUC challenge the circuit court's decision
    vacating LUC's March 3, 2016 Declaratory Order, which ruled as a
    matter of law that "an overnight campground . . . is prohibited
    by [Hawaii Revised Statutes (HRS)] § 205-4.5(a)(6) and cannot be
    permitted by a special use permit."
    I. Background
    Land in Hawai#i is divided into four use districts -
    urban, rural, agricultural, and conservation.     HRS § 205-2(a)
    (2001).   Agricultural lands are classified from "A" to "E," based
    on the "soil's general productive capacity," with "'A' denoting
    the highest level of productivity and 'E' the lowest."
    Neighborhood Bd. No. 24 (Waianae Coast) v. State Land Use Comm'n,
    
    64 Haw. 265
    , 266 n.2, 
    639 P.2d 1097
    , 1099 n.2 (1982).      Because
    lands classified as "A" or "B," i.e., Prime Lands, are the most
    suitable for growing crops, they are restricted to certain uses.
    However, a landowner may apply for a Special Permit to allow
    "certain unusual and reasonable uses" or may seek a Boundary
    Amendment to have the land re-classified.
    The Ho#omoana Foundation (Foundation) has a long-term
    lease of agricultural class B land, and sought to develop an
    overnight campground for use by homeless and commercial campers.
    Homeowners own property adjacent to Foundation's class B Land.
    In December 2015, Homeowners petitioned LUC for a
    Declaratory Order (Petition) pursuant to HRS § 91-8 (2012) and
    Hawai#i Administrative Rules (HAR) § 15-15-98, to determine
    whether approval of an overnight camp on class A and B land was
    2
    NOT FOR PUBLICATION IN WEST'S HAWAI#I REPORTS AND PACIFIC REPORTER
    obtainable through the Special Permit process or whether a
    Boundary Amendment was needed.
    In February 2016, Foundation filed a "Petition to
    Intervene and Position Statement" (Intervention Request), arguing
    that it could obtain approval to develop its proposed campground
    through the Special Permit process and need not apply for a
    Boundary Amendment.   The State of Hawai#i Office of Planning and
    the Maui Department of Planning also filed position statements
    agreeing that the proposed campground could be approved through
    the Special Permit process, and the Maui Department of Planning
    indicated it was processing Foundation's Special Permit request.
    LUC held a public meeting on the Petition, receiving
    public testimony and argument from Homeowners, the Maui
    Department of Planning, the Office of Planning, and Foundation.
    LUC allowed only Homeowners to cross-examine witnesses or rebut
    arguments.
    On March 3, 2016, LUC entered a Declaratory Order
    granting the Petition (Order Granting Petition), finding that
    "the clear prohibition of overnight camps on class A and B rated
    lands is irreconcilable with the provisions of HRS §205-6
    [(2017)] that permit certain 'unusual and reasonable uses' within
    agricultural districts other than for which the district is
    classified."   To adopt otherwise "would mean that the counties
    could define away completely any statutory restrictions on
    agricultural uses" and "results in treating a clear and explicit
    statutory prohibition as a nullity[.]"     LUC concluded that the
    "only way that overnight camps such as those proposed in the
    Project can be allowed on the Property is to change its land use
    3
    NOT FOR PUBLICATION IN WEST'S HAWAI#I REPORTS AND PACIFIC REPORTER
    classification to one where overnight camps would be permitted."
    LUC also denied Foundation's Intervention Request as moot.
    Foundation appealed, and the circuit court vacated
    LUC's Order Granting Petition.        The circuit court held that the
    proposed campground could be approved by Special Permit and did
    not require a Boundary Amendment.         In doing so, the circuit court
    explained that HRS § 205-4.5(a)(6) (Supp. 2015) "did not
    'expressly prohibit' overnight camps within the agricultural
    district" and LUC's conclusion to the contrary was incorrect.
    The circuit court also explained that "uses not expressly
    permitted in subsection (a) of HRS §205-4.5 are prohibited unless
    permitted as provided in HRS §205-6 (2017), which is the special
    use permit statute, and HRS §205-8 which is the non-conforming
    use statute."3     The circuit court noted that it was persuaded by
    the Hawai#i Supreme Court's reasoning in Maha#ulepu v. Land Use
    Comm'n, 
    71 Haw. 332
    , 
    790 P.2d 906
     (1990), and vacated LUC's Order
    Granting Petition.      The circuit court also reversed the Order
    Denying Intervention, and remanded the matter to LUC for further
    proceedings.     This appeal followed.
    II.   Standards of Review
    "In a secondary appeal, this court applies the
    standards of HRS § 91-14(g) [(2012)] to determine whether the
    circuit court decision was right or wrong."            Mauna Kea Anaina Hou
    v. Bd. of Land & Nat. Res., 136 Hawai#i 376, 388, 
    363 P.3d 224
    ,
    236 (2015).     However, a challenge that "LUC exceeded the scope of
    3
    HRS § 205-8 is not applicable in this case.
    4
    NOT FOR PUBLICATION IN WEST'S HAWAI#I REPORTS AND PACIFIC REPORTER
    their authority under HRS Chapter 205, [] raises an issue of
    statutory interpretation."       Maha#ulepu, 71 Haw. at 335-36, 730
    P.2d at 908.
    Generally, questions of statutory interpretation are
    reviewed de novo, "but in the case of ambiguous statutory
    language, the applicable standard of review regarding an agency's
    interpretation of its own governing statute requires this court
    to defer to the agency's expertise and to follow the agency's
    construction of the statute unless that construction is palpably
    erroneous."       Gillan v. Gov't Emps. Ins. Co., 119 Hawai#i 109,
    114, 
    194 P.3d 1071
    , 1076 (2008) (cleaned up and emphasis added).
    III.   Discussion
    The gist of LUC's and Homeowners' appeal is that the
    circuit court erred in determining that Foundation's overnight
    camping project may be addressed through a Special Permit rather
    than a Boundary Amendment.       In addition, Homeowners separately
    argue that the circuit court erred by relying on Maha#ulepu, and
    LUC argues that the circuit court erred by determining that
    Foundation did not waive its Maha#ulepu argument.        Finally, LUC
    argues that the circuit court erred by reversing the denial of
    Foundation's motion to intervene.
    A.      Legal Landscape
    1.     Hawai#i Constitution
    Our constitution requires that the State "conserve and
    protect agricultural lands, promote diversified agriculture,
    increase agricultural self-sufficiency and assure the
    availability of agriculturally suitable lands" and that the
    legislature "provide standards and criteria to accomplish" these
    5
    NOT FOR PUBLICATION IN WEST'S HAWAI#I REPORTS AND PACIFIC REPORTER
    mandates.    Article XI, section 3 of the Hawai#i State
    Constitution.     "Lands identified by the State as important
    agricultural lands needed to fulfill the purposes above shall not
    be reclassified by the State or rezoned by its political
    subdivisions without meeting the standards and criteria
    established by the legislature . . . ."          Id.
    2.    HRS Chapter 205
    (a) Purposes
    After a close reading of HRS chapter 205, it appears
    that the legislature enacted a comprehensive scheme to manage
    land use in Hawai#i, and to preserve important agricultural land
    in particular.     "In the establishment of the boundaries of
    agricultural districts, the greatest possible protection shall be
    given to those lands with a high capacity for intensive
    cultivation[.]"     HRS § 205-2(a)(3).      Declaring that "the people
    of Hawaii have a substantial interest in the health and
    sustainability of agriculture as an industry in the State[,]" the
    legislature also affirmed a compelling interest in preserving
    agricultural lands:
    There is a compelling state interest in conserving the
    State's agricultural land resource base and assuring the
    long-term availability of agricultural lands for
    agricultural use to achieve the purposes of:
    (1)   Conserving and protecting agricultural lands;
    (2)   Promoting diversified agriculture;
    (3)   Increasing agricultural self-sufficiency; and
    (4)   Assuring the availability of agriculturally
    suitable lands,
    pursuant to article XI, section 3, of the Hawaii State
    Constitution.
    HRS § 205-41 (2017).
    6
    NOT FOR PUBLICATION IN WEST'S HAWAI#I REPORTS AND PACIFIC REPORTER
    One important objective in identifying important
    agricultural lands was to "increase agricultural self-sufficiency
    for current and future generations."       HRS § 205-42(b) (2017).
    Policies, plans, ordinances, and rules "shall promote the long-
    term viability of agricultural use of important agricultural
    lands" and shall "[d]iscourage the fragmentation of important
    agricultural lands and the conversion of these lands to
    nonagricultural uses."    HRS § 205-43(2) (2017).
    (b) Permitted and Prohibited Uses
    In subsection (a) of HRS § 205-4.5, the legislature
    restricted agricultural districts with a "productivity rating
    class A or B" to 23 permissible uses.       HRS § 205-4.5(a).      One
    such permissible use is "[p]ublic and private open area types of
    recreational uses, including day camps, picnic grounds, parks,
    and riding stables, but not including dragstrips, airports,
    drive-in theaters, golf courses, golf driving ranges, country
    clubs, and overnight camps."      HRS § 205-4.5(a)(6) (emphases
    added).
    In subsection (b) of HRS § 205-4.5, the legislature
    mandated that any use not expressly permitted in subsection (a)
    was prohibited except as permitted by Special Permit pursuant to
    HRS § 205-6:
    Uses not expressly permitted in subsection (a) shall
    be prohibited, except the uses permitted as provided in
    sections 205-6 and 205-8 . . . . Any other law to the
    contrary notwithstanding, no subdivision of land within the
    agricultural district with soil classified by the land study
    bureau's detailed land classification as over (master)
    productivity rating class A or B shall be approved by a
    county unless those A and B lands within the subdivision are
    made subject to the restriction on uses as prescribed in
    this section and to the condition that the uses shall be
    primarily in pursuit of an agricultural activity.
    7
    NOT FOR PUBLICATION IN WEST'S HAWAI#I REPORTS AND PACIFIC REPORTER
    Any deed, lease, agreement of sale, mortgage, or other
    instrument of conveyance covering any land within the
    agricultural subdivision shall expressly contain the
    restriction on uses and the condition, as prescribed in this
    section that these restrictions and conditions shall be
    encumbrances running with the land until such time that the
    land is reclassified to a land use district other than
    agricultural district.
    HRS § 205-4.5(b) (emphases added).
    (c) Special Permit and District Boundary Amendment
    As referenced above, the Special Permit process of HRS
    § 205-6 allows the county planning commission to "permit certain
    unusual and reasonable uses within agricultural and rural
    districts other than those for which the district is classified"
    "but only when the use would promote the effectiveness and
    objectives of this chapter; provided that a use proposed for
    designated important agricultural lands shall not conflict with
    any part of this chapter."     HRS § 205-6(a) and (c); Waianae
    Coast, 64 Haw. at 269-70, 
    639 P.2d at 1101
    .
    "The special use or exception evolved as a land use
    control device from a recognition of the hardship frequently
    visited upon landowners due to the inherent rigidity of the
    Euclidean zoning system, and the inapplicability of variance or
    boundary amendment procedures to all land use problems."           Id. at
    270, 
    639 P.2d at 1101-02
    .     Unlike a district boundary amendment
    (reclassifying land) and a variance (permission to use property
    in a manner forbidden by law), "a special permit allows the owner
    to put his land to a use expressly permitted by ordinance or
    statute on proof that certain facts and conditions exist, without
    altering the underlying zoning classification."         Id. at 270-71,
    
    639 P.2d at 1102
     (emphasis added).
    8
    NOT FOR PUBLICATION IN WEST'S HAWAI#I REPORTS AND PACIFIC REPORTER
    "Its essential purpose, as explained by the state
    Attorney General, is to provide landowners relief in exceptional
    situations where the use desired would not change the essential
    character of the district nor be inconsistent therewith."      Id. at
    271, 
    639 P.2d at
    1102 (citing 
    1963 Op. Att'y Gen. 63
    -37).      Unlike
    district boundary amendments, Special Permits provide an
    "expedited review," which "underscore[s] the necessity for their
    proper application to the particular land use problems they were
    designed to address."    
    Id. at 272
    , 
    639 P.2d at 1102
    .
    "[U]se of the special permit to effectuate essentially
    what amounts to a boundary change would undermine the protection
    from piecemeal changes to the zoning scheme guaranteed landowners
    by the more extensive procedural protections of boundary
    amendment statutes."    Id. at 272, 
    639 P.2d at 1102-03
     (citations
    omitted).   The Hawai#i Supreme Court did "not believe that the
    legislature envisioned the special use technique to be used as a
    method of circumventing district boundary amendment procedures to
    allow the ad hoc infusion of major urban uses into agricultural
    districts."    Id. at 272, 
    639 P.2d at 1103
    ; Save Sunset Beach
    Coalition v. City & Cnty. of Honolulu, 102 Hawai#i 465, 482, 
    78 P.3d 1
    , 18 (2003) (observing "that the 'reasonable and unusual'
    exception permitted by HRS § 205-6 cannot be utilized to
    circumvent the essential purpose of the agricultural district").
    In sum, HRS chapter 205 aims to preserve agricultural
    land in Hawai#i and promote agricultural self sufficiency for
    future generations.
    9
    NOT FOR PUBLICATION IN WEST'S HAWAI#I REPORTS AND PACIFIC REPORTER
    B.      LUC's Decision and Maha#ulepu
    As an initial matter, LUC contends that Foundation
    waived its Maha#ulepu argument.      Foundation, however, does not
    appear to have raised a new argument by citing Maha#ulepu.
    Instead, Foundation cited Maha#ulepu as new authority to support
    its existing argument that it could obtain approval to develop an
    overnight camp on class B agricultural lands through the Special
    Permit process.
    Turning to LUC's and Homeowner's contention that the
    circuit court erred by holding overnight camping may be addressed
    through a Special Permit, their arguments are well taken as LUC's
    decision appears to be supported by canons of statutory
    construction.      The Special Permit statute, HRS § 205-6, is a
    general statute and the exclusion of overnight camps from the
    permitted use of "public and private open area type of recreation
    uses," HRS § 205-4.5(a)(6), is a specific statute.         And where
    there is ambiguity, the specific statute must control over the
    general statute.      Yoshimura v. Kaneshiro, 149 Hawai#i 21, 39, 
    481 P.3d 28
    , 46 (2021) ("Under ordinary canons of construction, a
    more specific statute controls over a more general statute").
    Also, as an exception to the permitted use, the exclusion of
    overnight camps should be strictly construed.        State v. Russell,
    
    62 Haw. 474
    , 480, 
    617 P.2d 84
    , 88 (1980) ("It is a well settled
    rule of statutory construction that exceptions to legislative
    enactments must be strictly construed").        Finally, allowing
    overnight camps through a Special Permit when overnight camps
    were expressly excluded from a particular permitted use appears
    to render the express exclusion meaningless, and a statute cannot
    10
    NOT FOR PUBLICATION IN WEST'S HAWAI#I REPORTS AND PACIFIC REPORTER
    be interpreted so as to render it a nullity.     City & Cnty. of
    Honolulu v. Hsuing, 109 Hawai#i 159, 173, 
    124 P.3d 434
    , 448
    (2005) ("[O]ur rules of statutory construction requires us to
    reject an interpretation of a statute . . . that renders any part
    of the statutory language a nullity").
    In addition, LUC's decision appears to perpetuate the
    purposes of the constitutional mandate and statutory scheme,
    which is to promote the "health and sustainability of
    agriculture" and "increase agricultural self-sufficiency for
    current and future generations."      An overnight camp, as well as a
    drag strip, airport, drive-in theater, golf course, golf driving
    range, and country club, on class B agricultural land does not on
    its face promote the sustainability of agriculture or increase
    agricultural self-sufficiency for future generations.
    Importantly, a special permit is not a variance to
    allow an impermissible use; "a special permit allows the owner to
    put his land to a use expressly permitted by ordinance or statute
    on proof that certain facts and conditions exist, without
    altering the underlying zoning classification."     Waianae Coast,
    64 Haw. at 270-71, 
    639 P.2d at 1102
     (emphasis added).      And here,
    overnight camping was not "expressly permitted by ordinance or
    statute."    Instead, the legislature expressly excluded overnight
    camping from an expressly permitted use on class A and B
    agricultural land.
    Nonetheless, this Court is bound by legal precedent.
    Over thirty years ago, in 1990, the Hawai#i Supreme Court
    interpreted the same statute, HRS § 205-4.5(a)(6), as applied to
    a golf course.    In that appeal, the supreme court analyzed
    11
    NOT FOR PUBLICATION IN WEST'S HAWAI#I REPORTS AND PACIFIC REPORTER
    whether the provisions of HRS chapter 205 prohibit the county
    planning commission from issuing special use permits for golf
    courses on prime agricultural lands classified as Class A or B.
    Maha#ulepu, 71 Haw. at 333-34, 
    790 P.2d at 907
    .     The supreme
    court then held that HRS chapter 205 did indeed provide the
    authority for such permits.    
    Id.
    The supreme court reasoned that, although golf courses
    are not permitted on class A and B agricultural lands under HRS
    § 205-4.5(a), subsection (b) "nonetheless allows those uses for
    which special permits may be obtained under § 205-6."      Id. at
    336, 
    790 P.2d at 908-09
    .   The supreme court explained that
    "[s]ection 205-6 vests in the planning commissions the authority
    to issue special permits for uses that, while not otherwise
    permitted within agricultural districts, are nonetheless 'unusual
    and reasonable' uses that promote the effectiveness and
    objectives of Chapter 205."    Id. at 336-37, 
    790 P.2d at 909
    .
    Although the supreme court did not analyze whether a
    golf course promoted the effectiveness and objectives of HRS
    chapter 205, it noted that "if the legislature had intended
    absolute protection from golf course uses for A and B rated
    agricultural lands, it would have done so unequivocally by
    prohibiting the issuance of permits for golf courses under the
    special permit provisions of § 205-4.5(b) or by employing clearly
    prohibitory language."   Id. at 338-339, 
    790 P.2d at 910
    .
    Notably, at the time Maha#ulepu was decided, HRS § 205-2(d)
    provided that uses in agricultural districts shall include "open
    area recreational facilities, including golf courses and golf
    driving ranges, provided that they are not located within
    12
    NOT FOR PUBLICATION IN WEST'S HAWAI#I REPORTS AND PACIFIC REPORTER
    agricultural district lands with soil classified . . . class A or
    B."   HRS § 205-2(d) (Supp. 1990) (emphasis added).
    Fifteen years after Maha#ulepu, in 2005, the
    legislature amended HRS § 205-2(d) by specifically prohibiting
    golf courses in agricultural districts, subject to a grandfather
    clause for golf courses and golf driving ranges approved by a
    county before July 1, 2005.    HRS § 205-4.5(d); 2005 Haw. Sess.
    Laws Act 205 §§ 2-3 at 670-71.    The statutory amendment mentioned
    only "golf courses and golf driving ranges"; it did not mention
    any of the other uses excluded by HRS § 205-4.5(a)(6).
    Thus, although the legislature effectively abrogated
    Maha#ulepu's specific application to golf courses in 2005, it did
    not otherwise address Maha#ulepu's interpretation that HRS
    chapter 205 provides authority for issuing special permits
    allowing HRS § 205-4.5(a)(6) excluded uses (dragstrips, airports,
    drive-in theaters, country clubs, and overnight camps) on class A
    and B agricultural land.   LUC is afforded deference in
    interpreting its own statute, but the Hawai#i Supreme Court is
    the "final arbiter" of Hawai#i statutes.    And this court, like
    the circuit court, is bound by the Hawai#i Supreme Court's
    interpretation of the HRS § 205-4.5(a)(6) exclusions in
    Maha#ulepu.   See Alakai Na Keiki, Inc. v. Matayoshi, 127 Hawai#i
    263, 278, 
    277 P.3d 988
    , 1003 (2012).     To the extent LUC's
    decision is contrary to Maha#ulepu, it was palpably erroneous.
    13
    NOT FOR PUBLICATION IN WEST'S HAWAI#I REPORTS AND PACIFIC REPORTER
    C.      Intervention
    Finally, LUC contends it properly denied the
    Intervention Request as moot because it granted the Petition
    without setting a contested case hearing, leaving nothing in
    which to intervene.      On the other hand, Foundation claims it had
    a due process property interest because it leased the Subject
    Land "for the sole purpose of using the land for an overnight
    camp[,]" and "[b]y taking away [its] ability to engage in that
    use under a special use permit, [LUC] impacted [its] property
    right."
    A "contested case" is "an agency hearing that 1) is
    required by law and 2) determines the rights, duties, or
    privileges of specific parties.       An agency hearing that is
    required by law may be required by 1) agency rule, 2) statute, or
    3) constitutional due process."       Mauna Kea, 136 Hawai#i at 390,
    363 P.3d at 238 (citations, internal quotation marks, and
    parentheses omitted).      A "'party' means each person named or
    admitted as a party, or properly seeking and entitled as of right
    to be admitted as a party, in any court or agency proceeding."
    HRS § 91-1 (Supp. 2021).
    But "discretionary hearings are not contested cases
    because they are not required by law."        Lingle v. Hawai#i Gov't
    Emps. Ass'n, AFSCME, Local 152, AFL-CIO, 107 Hawai#i 178, 184,
    
    111 P.3d 587
    , 593 (2005).       Where a hearing was discretionary, LUC
    was not required by agency rule or statute to set a contested
    case hearing on the matter and to admit Foundation as a party.
    14
    NOT FOR PUBLICATION IN WEST'S HAWAI#I REPORTS AND PACIFIC REPORTER
    Moreover, "for procedural due process protections to
    apply, [the party] must possess an interest which qualifies as
    property within the meaning of the constitution. . . .      [A]
    protected property interest exists in a benefit — tangible or
    otherwise — to which a party has a legitimate claim of
    entitlement."   In re Application of Maui Elec. Co., Ltd., 141
    Hawai#i 249, 260, 
    408 P.3d 1
    , 12 (2017) (citations and internal
    quotation marks omitted).    Thus, for Foundation to have a right
    to intervene, it must have a protected property interest in
    obtaining a Special Permit such that unavailability of the
    Special Permit process is a denial of due process.
    LUC has broad discretion to grant or deny a Special
    Permit for a non-permitted use, see Waianae Coast, 64 Haw. at
    268, 
    639 P.2d at 1100
     (noting that judicial review of LUC
    decisions on Special Permit applications are limited only to
    errors of law or abuse of discretion), and neither the Hawai#i
    nor United States Constitution recognizes entitlement to a
    benefit - implicating a due process property interest - where the
    reviewing body has "broad discretion" to grant or deny the
    benefit, beyond merely determining whether the applicant failed
    to meet the statutory terms of eligibility.     See Alejado v. City
    & Cnty. of Honolulu, 89 Hawai#i 221, 229, 
    971 P.2d 310
    , 318 (App.
    1998) (recognizing that a reviewing body's complete discretion to
    grant or deny a benefit based on its assessment of "needs"
    generally does not create a constitutionally protected property
    right); see also Shanks v. Dressel, 
    540 F.3d 1082
    , 1091 (9th Cir.
    2008) ("Only if the governing statute compels a result upon
    compliance with certain criteria, none of which involve the
    15
    NOT FOR PUBLICATION IN WEST'S HAWAI#I REPORTS AND PACIFIC REPORTER
    exercise of discretion by the reviewing body, does it create a
    constitutionally protected property interest." (Internal
    quotation marks omitted.)).
    Because Foundation had no constitutional entitlement to
    develop the Proposed Campground through a Special Permit, LUC was
    not required as a matter of due process to set a contested case
    hearing and admit Foundation as a party.       Thus, the circuit court
    erred in reversing the Order Denying Intervention.
    IV. CONCLUSION
    For the above reasons, we vacate in part the circuit
    court's February 16, 2017 Final Judgment and January 14, 2017
    Order with regard to the reversal of LUC's Order Denying
    Intervention, and remand to LUC for further proceedings
    consistent with this opinion.
    DATED:   Honolulu, Hawai#i, May 23, 2022.
    On the briefs:                         /s/ Keith K. Hiraoka
    Presiding Judge
    Deborah K. Wright
    Keith D. Kirschbraun                   /s/ Karen T. Nakasone
    Douglas R. Wright,                     Associate Judge
    for Appellees-Appellants
    PU#UNOA HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION,        /s/ Sonja M.P. McCullen
    INC. and ROSS R. SCOTT.                Associate Judge
    Robert T. Nakatsuji,
    Deputy Solicitor General,
    for Appellee-Appellant
    LAND USE COMMISSION, STATE OF
    HAWAI#I.
    James W. Geiger,
    for Appellant-Appellee
    HO#OMOANA FOUNDATION.
    16