Rana v. Bishop Insurance of Hawaii, Inc.

OPINION OF THE COURT BY WAKATSUKI, J. The question before the court, upon a petition for writ of certiorari, is whether the Hawaii No-Fault Law, Hawaii Revised Statutes (HRS) Chapter 294, as amended, precludes the stacking of basic no-fault insurance coverages where the injured named insured has a single insurance policy covering several vehicles. The Intermediate Court of Appeals, upon reviewing legislative history, held that HRS §§ 294-2(10)1 and -3(c)2 preclude the stacking of basic no-fault insurance policies and coverages. We adopt and affirm the reasoning and decision of the Intermediate Court of Appeals. Footnotes [1] § 294-2 Definitions. As used in this chapter: (10) “No-fault benefits” with respect to any accidental harm shall be subject to an aggregate limit of $15,000 per person or his survivor and means[.] [2] § 294-3 Right to no-fault benefits. . . . (c) “Maximum limit”. The total no-fault benefits payable per person or on his death to his survivor on account of accidental harm sustained by him in any one motor vehicle accident shall be $15,000, regardless of the number of motor vehicles involved or policies applicable.