State v. Aluli

NAKAYAMA, Justice.

Defendant-appellant Mai M. Aluli appeals her conviction of promoting a dangerous drug in the second degree, in violation of Hawai'i Revised Statutes (HRS) § 712-1242(l)(c). Aluli primarily argues that she did not “distribute” cocaine because she merely offered to buy cocaine and an-offer to buy does not, as a matter of law, constitute an act of “distribution.” We reverse.

I. BACKGROUND

On August 8, 1992, at approximately 9:30 p.m., Sergeant Keith Kawano of the Maui County Police Department was riding his bicycle to work on the island of Moloka'i dressed in a T-shirt and…