§231-40 - Interpretation. - Hawaii Statutes

     §231-40  Interpretation.  Sections 231-34, 231-35, 231-36, and 231-7.5 shall be construed in accordance with judicial interpretations given to similar provisions of Title 26 of the United States Code; consistent therewith, the term "wilfully" shall mean a voluntary, intentional violation of a known legal duty. [L 1995, c 92, pt of §2; am L 2009, c 166, §22]

 

Note

 

  Applicability of 2009 amendment.  L 2009, c 166, §27.

 

Case Notes

 

  Where, pursuant to this section, the Cheek interpretation of the wilfulness requirement--that a jury must be permitted to consider evidence of a defendant's good faith belief that defendant's conduct did not violate the tax laws, even if that belief was not objectively reasonable, in determining whether defendant acted wilfully--was adopted and applied in construing §231-36(a), the trial court erred in excluding defendant's exhibit pursuant to HRE rules 401 and 403 on the grounds that defendant's analysis of the tax laws was irrelevant and that evidence of defendant's legal theories would confuse the jury.  119 H. 60 (App.), 193 P.3d 1260.