Coward v. Director of Department of Customer Services

NOT FOR PUBLICATION IN WEST'S HAWAI#I REPORTS AND PACIFIC REPORTER

Electronically Filed
Intermediate Court of Appeals
CAAP-XX-XXXXXXX
11-MAY-2026
07:50 AM
Dkt. 75 SO

NO. CAAP-XX-XXXXXXX

IN THE INTERMEDIATE COURT OF APPEALS

OF THE STATE OF HAWAI#I

WILLIAM J. COWARD, Appellant-Appellant,
v.
DIRECTOR OF DEPARTMENT OF CUSTOMER SERVICES,
CITY AND COUNTY OF HONOLULU, Appellee-Appellee

APPEAL FROM THE DISTRICT COURT OF THE FIRST CIRCUIT
HONOLULU DIVISION
(CASE NO. 1DRC-XX-XXXXXXX)

SUMMARY DISPOSITION ORDER
(By: Leonard, Presiding Judge, Hiraoka and Wadsworth, JJ.)

William J. Coward asked the City and County of
Honolulu's Department of Customer Services (DCS) for duplicate
certificates of ownership for five motor vehicles. The City
denied his requests. Representing himself, he filed a notice of
appeal under Hawaii Revised Statutes (HRS) § 286-58. The notice
of appeal described only a 1989 Cadillac and its vehicle
identification number (VIN). The District Court of the First
Circuit, Honolulu Division, granted the appeal for the Cadillac.1
Coward moved for reconsideration. He wanted duplicate
ownership certificates for all five cars, not just the Cadillac.
The district court orally denied the motion.2 Coward appealed.
We temporarily remanded for entry of a written order denying
reconsideration. The Order Denying Appellant William J. Coward's

1
The Honorable Alvin K. Nishimura presided.
2
The Honorable Miriah E. Holden presided.
NOT FOR PUBLICATION IN WEST'S HAWAI#I REPORTS AND PACIFIC REPORTER

Motion for Reconsideration or New Trial was entered on April 27,
2026.
Denial of a motion for reconsideration is reviewed for
abuse of discretion. Amfac, Inc. v. Waikiki Beachcomber Inv.
Co., 74 Haw. 85, 114, 839 P.2d 10, 26 (1992).
HRS § 286-58 (2020) allows an appeal from a DCS
decision. The notice of appeal must contain "a description of
the motor vehicle involved, with the serial or motor number or
both, if available." Coward's notice of appeal provided the
description and VIN for the Cadillac; it did not describe or
provide the VIN for any other vehicle. The district court thus
acted within its discretion by denying Coward's motion for
reconsideration.
The April 27, 2026 Order Denying Appellant William J.
Coward's Motion for Reconsideration or New Trial is affirmed.
DATED: Honolulu, Hawai#i, May 11, 2026.

On the briefs:
/s/ Katherine G. Leonard
William J. Coward, Presiding Judge
self-represented
Appellant-Appellant. /s/ Keith K. Hiraoka
Associate Judge
Dana M.O. Viola,
Corporation Counsel, /s/ Clyde J. Wadsworth
Gabriele V. Provenza, Associate Judge
Deputy Corporation Counsel
for Appellee-Appellee.

2