Kapu v. Attorney General, State of Hawaii et al

Filing 4

ORDER (1) GRANTING APPLICATION TO PROCEED WITHOUT PREPAYMENT OF FEES OR COSTS; AND (2) DISMISSING COMPLAINT WITH LEAVE TO AMEND re 2 - Signed by JUDGE DERRICK K. WATSON on 5/15/2017. "Based upon the foregoing, the Complaint is DISMISS ED with limited leave to amend, and the IFP Application is GRANTED. Mo'i Kapu is granted limited leave to file an amended complaint in accordance with the terms of this order by no later than June 9, 2017. The Court CAUTIONS Mo&# 039;i Kapu that failure to file an amended complaint by June 9, 2017 will result in the automatic dismissal of this action without prejudice." (emt, )CERTIFICATE OF SERVICEParticipants registered to receive electronic notifications received this document electronically at the e-mail address listed on the Notice of Electronic Filing (NEF). Mo'i Kapu served by first class mail at the address of record on May 15, 2017.

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE DISTRICT OF HAWAI‘I

MO‘I KAPU, fka JON ELEU
FREEMAN SANTOS, aka JON
SANTOS,
Plaintiff,
vs.

CIVIL NO. 17-00213 DKW-RLP
ORDER (1) GRANTING
APPLICATION TO PROCEED
WITHOUT PREPAYMENT OF
FEES OR COSTS; AND
(2) DISMISSING COMPLAINT
WITH LEAVE TO AMEND

ATTORNEY GENERAL, STATE OF
HAWAII, et al.,
Defendants.

INTRODUCTION
On May 4, 2017, Plaintiff King Kamehameha VII, Ni‘i Loa Mo‘i Kapu
(“Mo‘i Kapu”), formerly known as John Freeman Eleu Santos, proceeding pro se,
filed an Application to proceed in forma pauperis (“IFP Application”) in a closed
civil matter, Algal Partners, L.P. vs. Jon Freeman Eleu Santos, et al., Civil No.
13-00562 LEK-BMK (D. Haw).1 Previously, on January 25, 2017, Mo‘i Kapu
submitted a document entitled, “Declaratory Relief Judgment” in that same civil
matter, Civil No. 13-00562 LEK-BMK (Dkt. No. 105), which the Court now

1

Judgment in favor of Plaintiff Algal Partners, L.P. was entered in that case on October 2, 2014.
Civil No. 13-00562, Dkt. No. 84. Defendant Santos filed an appeal in that matter, which the
Ninth Circuit dismissed on December 31, 2014. Civil No. 13-00562, Dkt. Nos. 88, 102.

liberally construes as a new Complaint.2 In it, Mo‘i Kapu attempts to assert claims
against the State of Hawaii and the State Attorney General, Sheriff’s Division, and
Bureau of Conveyances. As best the Court can discern, Mo‘i Kapu challenges prior
court rulings and the sovereignty of the United States and the State of Hawaii.
Because the Complaint fails to state a claim for relief against any Defendant or
provide a basis for this Court’s subject matter jurisdiction, the Court DISMISSES
the Complaint and GRANTS Mo‘i Kapu limited leave to file an amended complaint
in accordance with the terms of this order by no later than June 9, 2017. The Court
GRANTS the IFP Application, as discussed more fully below.3
DISCUSSION
Because Mo‘i Kapu is appearing pro se, the Court liberally construes his
filings. See Erickson v. Pardus, 551 U.S. 89, 94 (2007); Eldridge v. Block, 832
F.2d 1132, 1137 (9th Cir. 1987) (“The Supreme Court has instructed the federal
courts to liberally construe the ‘inartful pleading’ of pro se litigants.”) (citing Boag
v. MacDougall, 454 U.S. 364, 365 (1982) (per curiam)). The Court recognizes that

2

The caption of the Complaint bears the case number Civil No. 13-00562 LEK-BMK, but it also
identifies Santos (now known as Mo‘i Kapu) as the plaintiff and various defendants affiliated with
the State of Hawaii. In other words, the January 25, 2017 filing identifies the case as Mo‘i Kapu
v. State of Hawaii, et al., CV 13-00562 LEK-BMK. Because Civil No. 13-00562 LEK-BMK is a
closed case, however, the January 25, 2017 filing was initially docketed as correspondence in that
matter. See Civil No. 13-00562 LEK-BMK, Dkt. No. 105. The instant civil action (Civil No.
17-00213 DKW-RLP) was opened on May 11, 2017 and assigned to this Court. See Civil No.
13-00562 LEK-BMK, Dkt. No. 107 (Order Re: Documents Submitted On 1/25/17 and 5/4/17).
3
Pursuant to Local Rule 7.2(d), the Court finds these matters suitable for disposition without a
hearing.
2

“[u]nless it is absolutely clear that no amendment can cure the defect . . . a pro se
litigant is entitled to notice of the complaint’s deficiencies and an opportunity to
amend prior to dismissal of the action.” Lucas v. Dep’t of Corr., 66 F.3d 245, 248
(9th Cir. 1995); see also Crowley v. Bannister, 734 F.3d 967, 977-78 (9th Cir. 2013).
I.

Plaintiff’s IFP Application Is Granted
Federal courts can authorize the commencement of any suit without

prepayment of fees or security by a person who submits an affidavit that
demonstrates an inability to pay. See 28 U.S.C. § 1915(a)(1). “An affidavit in
support of an IFP application is sufficient where it alleges that the affiant cannot pay
the court costs and still afford the necessities of life.” Escobedo v. Applebees, 787
F.3d 1226, 1234 (9th Cir. 2015) (citing Adkins v. E.I. Du Pont de Nemours & Co.,
335 U.S. 331, 339 (1948)); see also United States v. McQuade, 647 F.2d 938, 940
(9th Cir. 1981) (The affidavit must “state the facts as to affiant’s poverty with some
particularity, definiteness and certainty.”) (internal quotation omitted).
When reviewing an application filed pursuant to § 1915(a), “[t]he only
determination to be made by the court . . . is whether the statements in the affidavit
satisfy the requirement of poverty.” Martinez v. Kristi Kleaners, Inc., 364 F.3d
1305, 1307 (11th Cir. 2004). While Section 1915(a) does not require a litigant to
demonstrate absolute destitution, Adkins, 335 U.S. at 339, the applicant must

3

nonetheless show that he is “unable to pay such fees or give security therefor.”
28 U.S.C. § 1915(a).
Here, the IFP Application indicates that Mo‘i Kapu is employed part-time,
and earned $1,200 in take-home pay during the four-month period from January
through April of 2017. Based upon the IFP Application, Mo‘i Kapu’s income falls
below the poverty threshold identified by the Department of Health and Human
Services (“HHS”) 2017 Poverty Guidelines. See 2017 HHS Poverty Guidelines,
https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2017/01/31/2017-02076/annual-update
-of-the-hhs-poverty-guidelines. Accordingly, the Court finds that Mo‘i Kapu has
made the required showing under Section 1915 to proceed without prepayment of
fees, and GRANTS his IFP Application.
II.

Plaintiff’s Complaint Is Dismissed With Limited Leave to Amend
Upon review of the Complaint, the Court finds that Mo‘i Kapu fails to state a

claim upon which relief may be granted. As discussed below, even liberally
construed, the Complaint fails to state any discernible basis for judicial relief.
A.

Standard of Review

The Court subjects each civil action commenced pursuant to 28 U.S.C.
§ 1915(a) to mandatory screening and can order the dismissal of any claims it finds
“frivolous, malicious, failing to state a claim upon which relief may be granted, or
seeking monetary relief from a defendant immune from such relief.” 28 U.S.C.
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§ 1915(e)(2)(B); Lopez v. Smith, 203 F.3d 1122, 1126-27 (9th Cir. 2000) (en banc)
(stating that 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e) “not only permits but requires” the court to sua
sponte dismiss an in forma pauperis complaint that fails to state a claim); Calhoun v.
Stahl, 254 F.3d 845, 845 (9th Cir. 2001) (per curiam) (holding that “the provisions of
28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(B) are not limited to prisoners”). Because Mo‘i Kapu is
appearing pro se, the Court liberally construes the Complaint.
The Court may dismiss a complaint pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil
Procedure 12(b)(6) for “failure to state a claim upon which relief can be granted[.]”
A Rule 12(b)(6) dismissal is proper when there is either a “‘lack of a cognizable
legal theory or the absence of sufficient facts alleged.’” UMG Recordings, Inc. v.
Shelter Capital Partners, LLC, 718 F.3d 1006, 1014 (9th Cir. 2013) (quoting
Balistreri v. Pacifica Police Dep’t, 901 F.2d 696, 699 (9th Cir. 1990)). A plaintiff
must allege “sufficient factual matter, accepted as true, to ‘state a claim to relief that
is plausible on its face.’” Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662, 678 (2009) (quoting Bell
Atlantic Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544, 570 (2007)); see also Weber v. Dep’t of
Veterans Affairs, 521 F.3d 1061, 1065 (9th Cir. 2008). This tenet – that the court
must accept as true all of the allegations contained in the complaint – “is
inapplicable to legal conclusions.” Iqbal, 556 U.S. at 678. Accordingly,
“[t]hreadbare recitals of the elements of a cause of action, supported by mere
conclusory statements, do not suffice.” Id. (citing Twombly, 550 U.S. at 555); see
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also Starr v. Baca, 652 F.3d 1202, 1216 (9th Cir. 2011) (“[A]llegations in a
complaint or counterclaim may not simply recite the elements of a cause of action,
but must contain sufficient allegations of underlying facts to give fair notice and to
enable the opposing party to defend itself effectively.”).
“A claim has facial plausibility when the plaintiff pleads factual content that
allows the court to draw the reasonable inference that the defendant is liable for the
misconduct alleged.” Iqbal, 556 U.S. at 678 (citing Twombly, 550 U.S. at 556).
Factual allegations that only permit the Court to infer “the mere possibility of
misconduct” do not show that the pleader is entitled to relief as required by Rule 8.
Id. at 679.
B.

The Complaint Fails To State A Claim For Relief

Based on the Court’s preliminary screening, it appears that Mo‘i Kapu is
aggrieved by the district and appellate courts’ prior rulings in Civil No. 13-00562
LEK-BMK, the failure of the United States and/or State of Hawaii to pay taxes to the
Hawaiian Kingdom, and other “treasonous” conduct by unspecified entities and
individuals. Even given a liberal construction, the allegations in the Complaint fail
to state any sort of cognizable claim against any defendant or establish this Court’s
subject matter jurisdiction. It is not clear to the Court what relief, if any, the
Complaint seeks. In fact, the allegations are scarcely comprehensible. In short,

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the Complaint fails to provide sufficient factual content to enable the Court to draw
the reasonable inference that any defendant is liable for the misconduct alleged.
Mo‘i Kapu alleges, in part:
Because the corporate State of Hawai‘i Sheriff Department had
been directed by this Second Circuit Court of Wailuku whom
had granted a “COURT ORDER” TRO Injunction against his
majesty from keeping him from entering his (place of residence)
within his own Hawaiian kingdom law of jurisdictions by
granting this TRO Injunction to this subject parcel TAX MAP
KEY: (2) 2-7-003-087 and (2)-7-003-062 address 355 Haiku Rd
along with other lands of said filing with the corporate State of
Hawai‘i Bureau of Conveyances the Court had subjected his
majesty to “hostilities” and by using this hostilities tactics as said
in my ORDER BY THE COURT have been subjected to war
crimes under international law as a corporate State while still in
hostilities are still in progress.
****
Based on the ongoing investigation by the U.S. Justice
Department per documentation for “Motion for Stay” on Sept 26,
2014·within the jurisdiction of the District Court of Hawai‘i to
Pursuant to 18 U.S.C [sic] ----Fact of the Matter; Misprision of
felony; Misprision of treason; as your Majesty King for the
Hawaiian Kingdom of King Kamehameha I, Sacred King
Kamehameha VII, NI‘I LOA MO‘I KAPU that carries the
highest Mana for today in the Hawaiian Kingdom, with my full
Authority vested in me by its; HAWAIIAN KINGDOM
ROYAL WARRANT; . . . His Majesty, Respectfully request for
this court for prayer for relief that shall be exonerated; and
rendered from the Second Circuit Court of Wailuku , corporate
State of Hawai‘i for the International Criminal Court The Hague
Netherlands as remedy of said filings of Hawaiian Kingdom
warrant for multiple felonies that prima facie have been and
continue to be committed here in Hawai‘i as war crimes.
Complaint for ejectment needs to be rendered in favor for his
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majesty properly subject parcel TAX MAP KEY:
(2) 2-7-003-087 and (2)-7-003-062 address 355 Haiku Rd. and
Kalanikahua lane Haiku as Remedies show cause. Because of
my “Motion for Stay” within the jurisdiction of the District
Federal Court of Hawai‘i on date September 26, 2014, this
property has been entered into as evidences and is part of a large
acreage to be exact 530 acres the Pala Pala Sila Nui Helu “Royal
Patent Grant Number 121 to Richard Armstrong;” “Royal Patent
Grant Number 144 Palele” and “Royal Patent Grant Number 137
Nahinu[.]” [E]ach Royal Patent had been had been granted by
my great grandfather of six generation his majesty King
Kamehameha III, but because of the belligerent safety
committee that decided to take over a sovereign Kingdom that
had been under duress since its time of this take over. This does
not change the fact that these lands had never been paid taxes of
said Royalty Taxes.
Complaint at 40-42.
The voluminous Complaint suffers from several deficiencies. First, the
Complaint does not comply with Rule 8, which mandates that a complaint include a
“short and plain statement of the claim,” Fed. R. Civ. P. 8(a)(2), and that “each
allegation must be simple, concise, and direct.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 8(d)(1). A
complaint that is so confusing that its “‘true substance, if any, is well disguised’”
may be dismissed sua sponte for failure to satisfy Rule 8. Hearns v. San
Bernardino Police Dep’t, 530 F.3d 1124, 1131 (9th Cir. 2008) (quoting Gillibeau v.
City of Richmond, 417 F.2d 426, 431 (9th Cir. 1969)); see also McHenry v. Renne,
84 F.3d 1172, 1178-80 (9th Cir. 1996) (affirming dismissal of complaint where “one
cannot determine from the complaint who is being sued, for what relief, and on what

8

theory, with enough detail to guide discovery”). Mo‘i Kapu does not clearly
identify in any coherent or organized manner the separate causes of action that he is
asserting, nor provide specific factual allegations to support his legal conclusions.
Rather, the Complaint largely consists of unintelligible narrative statements, and
numerous unrelated and unsubstantiated conclusions. Even applying the most
liberal pleading standard, the Court cannot discern from the Complaint the conduct
on which any claim is based, other than Mo‘i Kapu’s vague accusations relating to
several unrelated events in the history of the State, his prior litigation,4 and his
attempts to secure an audience with diplomatic, military, and law enforcement
officials.
Second, to the extent he challenges the jurisdiction of this district court to
enter orders in this matter, or in the prior civil action (Civil No. 13-00562
LEK-BMK) based upon the existence of the Hawaii Kingdom, see, e.g., Complaint
at 6-20, his arguments are without merit. His invocation of the Hawaiian Kingdom
or international law, or his understanding of criminal law, does not affect the
4

To the extent he challenges issues raised or ruled upon in the district court or the Ninth Circuit in
Civil No. 13-00562 LEK-BMK, his claims are precluded by the doctrine of res judicata. Res
judicata, or claim preclusion, generally bars courts from entertaining litigation of any claims that
were raised or could have been raised in a prior lawsuit. Ruiz v. Snohomish Cty. Pub. Util. Dist.
No. 1, 824 F.3d 1161, 1164 (9th Cir. 2016). To the extent the Complaint attempts to challenge the
final judgment of Hawaii state courts, including any “Second Circuit Court of Wailuku” rulings,
Plaintiff’s claims are likely barred by the Rooker–Feldman doctrine. Under Rooker–Feldman,
federal district courts are precluded from reviewing state court judgments in “cases brought by
state-court losers complaining of injuries caused by state-court judgments rendered before the
district court proceedings and inviting district court review and rejection of those judgments.”
Exxon Mobil Corp. v. Saudi Basic Indus. Corp., 544 U.S. 280, 284 (2005).
9

legitimacy of the United States or this district court. See United States v. Lorenzo,
995 F.2d 1448, 1456 (9th Cir. 1993); State v. Lorenzo, 77 Haw. 219, 221, 883 P.2d
641, 643 (Ct. App. 1994); Kupihea v. United States, 2009 WL 2025316, at *2 (D.
Haw. July 10, 2009); Waialeale v. Offices of U.S. Magistrate(s), 2011 WL 2534348,
at *2 (D. Haw. June 24, 2011) (“The Ninth Circuit, this court, and Hawaii state
courts have all held that the laws of the United States and the State of Hawaii apply
to all individuals in this State.”).5

5

This district court has previously rejected his arguments to this effect. In Algal Partners, L.P. vs.
Jon Freeman Eleu Santos, et al., Civil No. 13-00562 LEK-BMK, the plaintiff asserted claims
against Mo‘i Kapu, formerly known as Jon Santos, to quiet title to two parcels of real property on
Maui and for slander. Santos filed a counterclaim alleging that title to the properties “should be
held in the name of [the] Hawaiian Kingdom,” and that he is a representative of the Kingdom.
Civil No. 13-00562 LEK-BMK, Dkt. No. 8 at 21-24. Santos sought a declaration that he is the
“Rightful Owner [of the properties] as Heir upon the Heavens as His Principality of this Hawaiian
Kingdom.” Id. at 23. Santos, in his pleadings and supporting documents, raised sovereignty
claims, alleged that the State of Hawaii is an illegal entity, and argued that the court had no
jurisdiction over the case. The district court granted summary judgment in favor of plaintiff.
Civil No. 13-00562 LEK-BMK, Dkt. No. 41. Santos also filed a false notice of ownership,
claiming he owned the property on which the United States District Court for the District of
Hawaii sits. Civil No. 13-00562 LEK-BMK, Dkt. No. 13 at Ex. 1-A (Notice of Ownership of 300
Ala Moana Boulevard). Additionally, on at least three occasions, he threatened to press
war-crimes charges against the district court if it denied his motions. See, e.g., Civil No.
13-00562 LEK-BMK, Dkt. No. 24-1 at 11 (“if this Court refuses to grant Defendant’s Motion . . .
Defendant will have no alternative but to file a criminal complaint . . . for violating . . . the War
Crimes Act”); Dkt. No. 32-1 at 11; Dkt. No. 60-2 at 9. Santos also claimed supremacy above the
laws of the United States. Civil No. 13-00562 LEK-BMK, Dkt. No. 60 at 1 (“I and my Kingdom
shall supersede all the laws of the United States.”). Moreover, he threatened plaintiff’s attorneys
with physical harm in connection with that lawsuit. Civil No. 13-00562 LEK-BMK, Dkt. No. 67
at Ex. C (“You will feel pain from many different directions . . . pains of death!, ever[y] day of
your eternal life.”). The court rejected Santos’ claims as frivolous and awarded attorneys’ fees to
plaintiff. See Civil No. 13-00562 LEK-BMK, Dkt. No. 99 at 7 (“These actions, combined with
[Santos’] claims regarding sovereignty and ownership of the subject property, are so manifestly
and palpably without merit, so as to indicate bad faith on [Santos’] part such that argument to the
court is not required.”) (citation omitted).
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Third, to the extent Mo‘i Kapu invokes unspecified federal criminal statutes,
he fails to state a claim. For example, in several places, he cites Title 18 of the
United States Code, or “18 U.S.C. [sic]4,” “18 U.S.C. [sic]----,” and “misprision of
felony, misprision of treason,” with no further indication of the specific criminal
statute he seeks to enforce. See, e.g., Complaint at 1, 2, 41. No private right of
action exists to enforce such criminal statutes, and private individuals such as
Plaintiff, have no authority to issue a criminal indictment for violation of unspecified
violations of the criminal code, “18 U.S.C. [sic] ----,” or any other criminal statute.
Moreover, although he references a “Royal Hawaiian Kingdom Warrant,” and
“evidence[] for the prosecutor,” the Court does not have jurisdiction to hear
allegations of criminal conduct that are brought by anyone other than the United
States. See, e.g., United States v. Nixon, 418 U.S. 683, 693 (1974) (noting that the
executive branch has exclusive authority to decide whether to prosecute a case).
Finally, although not entirely clear, to the extent he alleges claims for
damages against the State of Hawaii or state officials acting in their official
capacities, such claims are barred by the Eleventh Amendment. See Will v. Mich.
Dep’t State Police, 491 U.S. 58, 71 (1989); Papasan v. Allain, 478 U.S. 265, 275
(1986); Kentucky v. Graham, 473 U.S. 159, 166-67 (1985); Pennhurst State Sch. &
Hosp. v. Halderman, 465 U.S. 89, 99 (1984); see also Linville v. Hawaii, 874 F.
Supp. 1095, 1103 (D. Haw. 1994) (State of Hawaii has not waived its sovereign
11

immunity for civil rights actions brought in federal court); Sherez v. Haw. Dep’t of
Educ., 396 F. Supp. 2d 1138, 1142-43 (D. Haw. 2005) (dismissing claims against
state agency and state official in his official capacity based on Eleventh Amendment
immunity).
Because Mo‘i Kapu fails to state a plausible claim for relief, the Complaint is
DISMISSED. Because amendment may be possible, dismissal is with leave to
amend, as detailed below.
C.

Subject Matter Jurisdiction Is Not Sufficiently Alleged

Claims may also be dismissed where the Court does not have federal subject
matter jurisdiction. Franklin v. Murphy, 745 F.2d 1221, 1227 n.6 (9th Cir. 1984);
see also Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(h)(3); Grupo Dataflux v. Atlas Global Grp., L.P., 541
U.S. 567, 593 (2004) (“[I]t is the obligation of both the district court and counsel to
be alert to jurisdictional requirements.”). “A party invoking the federal court’s
jurisdiction has the burden of proving the actual existence of subject matter
jurisdiction.” See Thompson v. McCombe, 99 F.3d 352, 353 (9th Cir. 1996).
“Federal courts are courts of limited jurisdiction,” possessing “only that power
authorized by Constitution and statute.” United States v. Marks, 530 F.3d 799, 810
(9th Cir. 2008) (quoting Kokkonen v. Guardian Life Ins. Co., 511 U.S. 375, 377
(1994)). At the pleading stage, a plaintiff must allege sufficient facts to show a
proper basis for the Court to assert subject matter jurisdiction over the action.
12

McNutt v. Gen. Motors Acceptance Corp., 298 U.S. 178, 189 (1936); Johnson v.
Columbia Props. Anchorage, L.P., 437 F.3d 894, 899 (9th Cir. 2006); Fed. R. Civ. P.
8(a)(1).
In general, a plaintiff may establish subject matter jurisdiction in one of two
ways. First, a plaintiff may assert federal question jurisdiction based on allegations
that a defendant violated the Constitution, a federal law, or treaty of the United
States. See 28 U.S.C. § 1331 (“The district courts shall have original jurisdiction of
all civil actions arising under the Constitution, laws, or treaties of the United
States.”). Second, a plaintiff may invoke the court’s diversity jurisdiction, which
applies “where the matter in controversy exceeds the sum or value of $75,000,
exclusive of interest and costs, and is between . . . citizens of different States.” 28
U.S.C. § 1332(a)(1). In order to establish diversity jurisdiction, a plaintiff must
establish complete diversity of the parties. See Morris v. Princess Cruises, Inc.,
236 F.3d 1061, 1067 (9th Cir. 2001) (explaining that § 1332(a) “requires complete
diversity of citizenship; each of the plaintiffs must be a citizen of a different state
than each of the defendants”).
The Complaint does not clearly state a basis for the Court’s subject matter
jurisdiction. Although the Complaint makes several references to federal statutes,
including the federal criminal code, Mo‘i Kapu does not clearly allege federal
question jurisdiction based on violations of federal laws. The United States
13

Supreme Court has recognized that a “plaintiff properly invokes § 1331 jurisdiction”
by pleading “a colorable claim ‘arising’ under the Constitution or laws of the United
States.” Arbaugh v. Y & H Corp., 546 U.S. 500, 513 (2006). Mo‘i Kapu fails to do
so here. Nor does he even attempt to invoke diversity jurisdiction under Section
1332.
Accordingly, the Complaint fails to sufficiently allege the basis for this
Court’s subject matter jurisdiction, and for this additional reason, it is DISMISSED
with leave to amend.
III.

Leave To Amend
The dismissal of the Complaint is without prejudice, and Mo‘i Kapu is

granted leave to amend to attempt to cure the deficiencies identified above. If Mo‘i
Kapu chooses to file an amended complaint, he must write short, plain statements
telling the Court: (1) the specific basis of this Court’s jurisdiction; (2) the
constitutional or statutory right Plaintiff believes was violated; (3) the name of the
defendant who violated that right; (4) exactly what that defendant did or failed to do;
(5) how the action or inaction of that defendant is connected to the violation of
Plaintiff’s rights; and (6) what specific injury Plaintiff suffered because of that
defendant’s conduct. Plaintiff must repeat this process for each person or entity
that he names as a defendant. If Plaintiff fails to affirmatively link the conduct of

14

each named defendant with the specific injury he suffered, the allegation against that
defendant will be dismissed for failure to state a claim.
An amended complaint generally supersedes a prior complaint, and must be
complete in itself without reference to the prior superseded pleading. King v.
Atiyeh, 814 F.2d 565, 567 (9th Cir. 1987), overruled in part by Lacey v. Maricopa
Cnty., 693 F.3d 896 (9th Cir. 2012) (en banc). Claims dismissed without prejudice
that are not re-alleged in an amended complaint may be deemed voluntarily
dismissed. See Lacey, 693 F.3d at 928 (stating that claims dismissed with prejudice
need not be realleged in an amended complaint to preserve them for appeal, but
claims that are voluntarily dismissed are considered waived if they are not re-pled).
The amended complaint must designate that it is the “First Amended
Complaint” and may not incorporate any part of the original Complaint. Rather,
any specific allegations must be retyped or rewritten in their entirety. Plaintiff may
include only one claim per count. Failure to file an amended complaint by June 9,
2017 will result in the automatic dismissal of this action without prejudice.
CONCLUSION
Based upon the foregoing, the Complaint is DISMISSED with limited leave
to amend, and the IFP Application is GRANTED.
Mo‘i Kapu is granted limited leave to file an amended complaint in
accordance with the terms of this order by no later than June 9, 2017. The Court
15

CAUTIONS Mo‘i Kapu that failure to file an amended complaint by June 9, 2017
will result in the automatic dismissal of this action without prejudice.
IT IS SO ORDERED.
Dated: May 15, 2017 at Honolulu, Hawai‘i.

Mo‘i Kapu v. United States, et al.; Civil No. 17-00213 DKW-RLP; ORDER (1) GRANTING
APPLICATION TO PROCEED WITHOUT PREPAYMENT OF FEES OR COSTS; AND
(2) DISMISSING COMPLAINT WITH LEAVE TO AMEND

16