ISETTE PIKAKE KAEHUAEA SMYTHE JAMIE KALEINANI SMYTHE ESPRECION v. JOHN DOES 10 DOE CORPORATIONS 10 DOE PARTNERSHIPS 10 DOE ENTITIES 10 (2024)

SUMMARY DISPOSITION ORDER

Emma Naomi Meyers and Bushrod G. Meyers (the Meyerses) appeal from the “Order Granting in Part and Denying in Part Plaintiffs' Motion for Partial Summary Judgment and for a Writ of Ejectment” and the “Writ of Ejectment” entered by the Circuit Court of the First Circuit on March 1, 2019.¹ We affirm.

This case is about land (the Property) owned by the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands (DHHL). Mervin Smythe leased the Property from DHHL. The Meyerses lived there. After Mervin died there was a dispute between the Meyerses and Mervin's nieces, Isette Pikake Kaehuae Smythe and Jamie Kaleinani Smythe Esprecion (the Nieces) over who would succeed to Mervin's lease. After a contested case hearing the Hawaiian Homes Commission ordered Mervin's lease transferred to Nieces, retroactive to June 26, 2012. Emma appealed. The circuit court affirmed. Emma filed a secondary appeal. We affirmed. Meyers v. Hawaiian Homes Comm'n, No. CAAP-18-0000801, 2023 WL 4636728 (Haw. App. July 20, 2023) (mem.) (Meyers I).

Nieces filed the complaint below against the Meyerses on December 9, 2016. The complaint alleged that Nieces were DHHL lessees; they acquired their interests from Mervin by order of the Commission; and the Meyerses lived on their property and refused to vacate. Nieces sought, among other things, a writ of ejectment. Nieces moved for partial summary judgment and a writ of ejectment. The Order and Writ were entered on March 1, 2019. This appeal followed.

The Meyerses argue that the Commission erred by ordering that Nieces succeed to Mervin's lease. Emma, who was a party in Meyers I, and Bushrod, who is in privity with Emma, are precluded from challenging the Commission's Order. Bremer v. Weeks, 104 Hawai‘i 43, 53, 85 P.3d 150, 160 (2004). Even if claim or issue preclusion did not apply, the circuit court applied the correct law to the uncontroverted facts. The “Order Granting in Part and Denying in Part Plaintiffs' Motion for Partial Summary Judgment and for a Writ of Ejectment” and the “Writ of Ejectment,” both entered on March 1, 2019, are affirmed.

Keith K. Hiraoka Presiding Judge

Karen T. Nakasone Associate Judge

Sonja M.P. McCullen Associate Judge

FOOTNOTES

1.   The Honorable Dean E. Ochiai presided.