§11-302 Definitions. When used in this part:
"Advertisement" means any communication, excluding sundry items such as bumper stickers, that:
"Ballot issue committee" means a noncandidate committee that has the exclusive purpose of making or receiving contributions, making expenditures, or incurring financial obligations for or against any question or issue appearing on the ballot at the next applicable election.
"Campaign funds" means contributions, interest, rebates, refunds, loans, or advances received by a candidate committee or noncandidate committee.
"Candidate" means an individual who seeks nomination for election or seeks election to office. An individual remains a candidate until the individual's candidate committee terminates registration with the commission. An individual is a candidate if the individual does any of the following:
"Candidate committee" means an organization, association, or individual that receives campaign funds, makes expenditures, or incurs financial obligations on behalf of a candidate with the candidate's authorization.
"Clearly identified" means the inclusion of name, photograph or other similar image, or other unambiguous identification of a candidate.
"Commission" means the campaign spending commission.
"Commissioner" means any person appointed to the commission.
"Contribution" means:
"Contribution" does not include:
"Donation" means all transfers of money, credit or debit card transactions, online payments, payments made through a third party, paid personal services, or transfers of any other thing of value to a nonprofit organization.
"Donor" means a person that makes a donation to a nonprofit organization subject to this chapter and operating as a noncandidate committee.
"Earmarked funds" means contributions received by a candidate committee or noncandidate committee on the condition that the funds be contributed to or expended on certain candidates, issues, or questions.
"Election" means any election for office or for determining a question or issue provided by law or ordinance.
"Electioneering communication":
"Election period" means:
"Equipment and services" includes computers, software, internet domain names, internet service providers, and any other technology that is used to provide access to or use of the Internet.
"Expenditure" means:
"Expenditure" does not include:
"House bulletin" means a communication sponsored by any person in the regular course of publication for limited distribution primarily to its employees or members.
"Immediate family" means a candidate's spouse or reciprocal beneficiary, as defined in section 572C-3, and any child, parent, grandparent, brother, or sister of the candidate, and the spouses or reciprocal beneficiaries of such persons.
"Independent expenditure" means an expenditure by a person expressly advocating the election or defeat of a clearly identified candidate that is not made in concert or cooperation with or at the request or suggestion of the candidate, the candidate committee, a party, or their agents.
"Individual" means a natural person.
"Internet activities" include:
"Limited liability company" means a business entity that is recognized as a limited liability company under the laws of the state in which it is established.
"Loan" means an advance of money, goods, or services, with a promise to repay in full or in part within a specified period of time. A loan does not include expenditures made on behalf of a candidate committee or noncandidate committee by a candidate, volunteer, or employee if:
"Newspaper" means a publication of general distribution in the State issued once or more per month, which is written and published in the State.
"Noncandidate committee" means an organization, association, party, or individual that has the purpose of making or receiving contributions, making expenditures, or incurring financial obligations to influence the nomination for election, or the election, of any candidate to office, or for or against any question or issue on the ballot; provided that a noncandidate committee does not include:
"Nonprofit organization" means an organization that is exempt from federal taxation under section 501(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
"Office" means any Hawaii elective public or constitutional office, excluding county neighborhood board and federal elective offices.
"Other receipts" means the candidate's own funds, interest, rebates, refunds, and any other funds received by a candidate committee or noncandidate committee, but does not include contributions received from other persons or loans.
"Party" means any political party that satisfies the requirements of section 11-61.
"Person" means an individual, a partnership, a candidate committee or noncandidate committee, a party, an association, a corporation, a business entity, an organization, or a labor union and its auxiliary committees.
"Political committees established and maintained by a national political party" means:
"Qualifying contribution" means an aggregate monetary contribution of $100 or less by an individual Hawaii resident during a matching payment period that is received after a candidate files a statement of intent to seek public funds. A qualifying contribution does not include a loan, an in-kind contribution, or the candidate's own funds.
"Special election" means any election other than a primary or general election.
"Treasurer" means a person appointed under section 11-324 and unless expressly indicated otherwise, includes deputy treasurers. [L 2010, c 211, pt of §2; am L 2022, c 169, §3]