Consumer Protection

Hawaii has enacted consumer protection statutes to protect its residents, including HRS §§ 480, et seq. Pursuant to this Section 480-2 of this statute, “Unfair methods of competition and unfair or deceptive acts or practices in the conduct of any trade or commerce are unlawful.” Hawaii courts have defined a practice as unfair when it offends public policy and when the practice is immoral, unethical, oppressive, unscrupulous or substantially injurious to consumers. Consumers are defined as a “natural person” per Section 480-1. Consumers can potentially recover damages and may be entitled to treble damages in certain circumstances.