Kaopuiki v. Kealoha - punitive damages and drunk driving
Personal Injury News Items
The lead case on the recovery of punitive damages for drunk driving in Hawaii is the case of Kaopuiki v. Kealoha, 104 Hawai'i 241, 87 P.3d 910 (Hawai'i App. 2003). In that case a drunk driver died in the head-on car crash which he caused by crossing the center line - an accident which also injured others. In that case the Hawaii Intermediate Court of Appeals recognized a new purpose for the recovery of punitive damages - "facilitating the recovery of a plaintiff's attorneys fees". On this basis the Hawaii court found that punitive damages could be recovered not only against a drunk driver but even against a deceased drunk driver's estate.
On March 17, 2026, at a little after 7 am, a fatal motor vehicle accident occurred on Vineyard Blvd in the Liliha area. For unknown reasons, a 59-year-old city bus driver lost control of his bus, traveled onto the center median, and collided directly into a tree. The driver was critically injured in spite of wearing his seatbelt. The bus was not carrying any passengers at the time of the accident. Later on the same day, the bus driver succumbed to his injuries. The cause of the crash continues to be under investigation. HPD states that this was the 12th Traffic Fatality on Oahu so far in 2026. Man, 59, dead following bus vs. tree crash .
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