Ahia v. Department of Transportation

*539OPINION OF THE COURT BY

NAKAMURA, J.

Plaintiffs-appellants, “native Hawaiians” who are “qualified applicants for Hawaiian Home Land leases, including leaseholds in the Kamaoa-Puueo area of Ka‘u, Hawaii[,]” sought a declaration that “General Lease No. 213 [issued by the Hawaiian Homes Commission (HHC or the Commission) to the Department of Transportation (DOT) is] null and void.” Defendants-appellees,1 claiming an absence of genuine issues of material fact and entitlement to judgment as a matter of law, moved for summary judgment. After hearing argument and reviewing the pleadings, the…