State of Hawaii by Its Attorney v. Steve's Ag Services, Ltd.

MEMORANDUM

Steve’s Ag Services appeals from the district court’s judgment quieting title of the subject property in favor of the State of Hawaii. We have jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1291 , and we affirm.

The district court did not abuse its discretion in rejecting Steve Ag’s equitable arguments that the State should be precluded from quieting title. Equitable estoppel requires “proof that one person wilfully caused another person to erroneously believe a certain state of things, and that person reasonably relied on this erro neous belief to his or her detriment.” Potter v. Hawaii Newspaper Agency, 89 Hawaii 411 , 974 P.2d 51, 59 (1999). Here, however, there is no evidence that the State willfully misrepresented the eastern boundaries of the Alika and Papa parcels, nor was there any evidence of reasonable and detrimental reliance by Steve’s Ag or any of the prior grantees. The doctrine of laches applies when a plaintiff unreasonably delays in asserting his claim, and this delay prejudices the defendant. See Adair v. Hustace, 64 Haw. 314 , 640 P.2d 294, 300 (1982). However, there is no evidence that anybody was using the subject parcel, or asserting a claim of ownership over…