NOT FOR PUBLICATION IN WEST'S HAWAIʻI REPORTS AND PACIFIC REPORTER
Electronically Filed Intermediate Court of Appeals CAAP-XX-XXXXXXX 18-JUN-2026 11:39 AM Dkt. 56 SO
NO. CAAP-XX-XXXXXXX
IN THE INTERMEDIATE COURT OF APPEALS
OF THE STATE OF HAWAIʻI
MARY STARR, also known as MARY STARR LITTLE, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. STACY LEVIN, Defendant-Appellant.
APPEAL FROM THE DISTRICT COURT OF THE SECOND CIRCUIT WAILUKU DIVISION (CASE NO. 2DRC-XX-XXXXXXX)
SUMMARY DISPOSITION ORDER (By: Leonard, Presiding Judge, McCullen and Guidry, JJ.)
Defendant-Appellant Stacy Levin (Levin) appeals from
the District Court of the Second Circuit's March 22, 2024
"Findings of Fact; Conclusions of Law and Order"; April 8, 2024
order for attorneys' fees and costs; and April 8, 2024 Judgment
in favor of Plaintiff-Appellee Mary Starr, also known as Mary
Starr Little (Starr). 1 (Formatting altered.)
On appeal, Levin contends the district court "erred by
finding that there was no effective written agreement to modify
1 The Honorable Christopher M. Dunn presided. NOT FOR PUBLICATION IN WEST'S HAWAIʻI REPORTS AND PACIFIC REPORTER
the parties' agreement" and "there was no new consideration in
exchange for the monthly payment plan." 2 (Formatting altered.)
Upon careful review of the record and the briefs
submitted by the parties, and having given due consideration to
the issues raised and the arguments advanced, we resolve this
appeal as discussed below and affirm.
In October 2021, Starr and Levin executed a promissory
note (the Note) in which Starr loaned Levin $15,000.00. Under
the Note's terms, Levin was to repay Starr within two months,
and should Levin fail to pay in full by the due date, any unpaid
amounts would accrue interest. Additionally, should either
party "sue[] to enforce [the] Note or obtain a declaration of
its rights hereunder, the prevailing party [would] be entitled
to recover its reasonable attorneys' fees and costs incurred in
the proceeding . . . from the non-prevailing party." Any
2 In her points of error, Levin also contends the district court "erred by finding that [Starr]'s deposit of [Levin]'s monthly checks constituted merely mitigation of her damages." Levin however provides no argument as required under Hawaiʻi Rules of Appellate Procedure (HRAP) Rule 28(b)(7). In the argument section of her opening brief, Levin contends that promissory estoppel overcomes the Note's integration provision, but fails to indicate where in the record she raised this issue before the district court as required by HRAP Rule 28(b)(4).
Thus, these contentions are waived. See Ass'n of Apartment Owners of Wailea Elua v. Wailea Resort Co., 100 Hawaiʻi 97, 110, 58 P.3d 608, 621 (2002) ("Where an appellant raises a point of error but fails to present any accompanying argument, the point is deemed waived."); State v. Moses, 102 Hawai‘i 449, 456, 77 P.3d 940, 947 (2003) ("As a general rule, if a party does not raise an argument at trial, that argument will be deemed to have been waived on appeal[.]"). 2 NOT FOR PUBLICATION IN WEST'S HAWAIʻI REPORTS AND PACIFIC REPORTER
modifications or amendments to the Note were to be made in a
signed, written agreement.
Levin failed to timely repay the loan.
After failing to repay the $15,000.00 as scheduled,
Levin text messaged Starr that she did not have the money and
would make monthly payments:
As I told you before, I have every intention of paying you. I wish I had the money to pay you in full now. Unfortunately, I just don't. . . .
I'm willing to send you a payment on a monthly basis as I told you initially. Presently I can only commit to $300 per month. I know that is not a lot, but even that is a stretch for me. As soon as I have more, I'll send more. You'll get all your money plus interest.
Starr replied that Levin needed to pay her debts, a cashier's
check was okay, and Starr started charging interest:
The most important fact is that u owe me money—i do not owe u, so whatever money will be handled should be at MY discretion, not yours. . . .
. . . .
I know u can get an equity loan on your signature. . . . So do it, and start paying debts u owe.
Cashier's check will be ok. I'm starting u at January 1, 2022, 10% interest—that's much lower than most credit cards!! If u are lax, i will not hesitate to take u to Court, but i would rather stay on a friendly basis—i do miss your friendship, which your lack of communication has messed up.
In March 2023, Starr filed a complaint with the
district court alleging that Levin owed her "$11,620.54,
including principal of $11,432.61 and interest through
[March 17, 2023] of $187.93" pursuant to the Note.
3 NOT FOR PUBLICATION IN WEST'S HAWAIʻI REPORTS AND PACIFIC REPORTER
On the day of the scheduled trial, Levin paid Starr
$6,000.00, which represented the remaining principal owed on the
Note. Trial was rescheduled. Six days before the rescheduled
trial date, Levin paid Starr the remaining interest owed on the
Note.
Neither Levin nor Starr disputed that Levin did not
pay Starr any of the $15,000.00 by the due date or that Levin
was required to pay Starr this amount plus interest if she did
not pay by the due date. And neither disputed that Levin paid
all amounts owed under the Note by the start of trial.
Nonetheless, trial commenced as Starr sought a
judgment regarding whether there was a breach of the Note and
whether she was entitled to attorneys' fees and costs. 3
The district court ruled that Starr proved a breach of
contract, Levin did not prove an affirmative defense, and the
Note was not modified. The district court rejected Levin's
assertion that the text messages between her and Starr modified
the Note to allow monthly payments.
Levin appealed. On appeal, Levin argues that the text
messages "constituted a signed writing" and her monthly payments
were consideration.
3 We note that Starr requested $28,497.50 in attorneys' fees and $1,753.28 in costs. The district court awarded $2,905.14 in attorneys' fees, which is twenty-five percent of the $11,620.54 Starr sought in her complaint, and $637.34 in costs. 4 NOT FOR PUBLICATION IN WEST'S HAWAIʻI REPORTS AND PACIFIC REPORTER
"Whether or not the parties entered into an agreement
is essentially a question of fact." Island Directory Co. v.
Iva's Kinimaka Enters., Inc., 10 Haw. App. 15, 23, 859 P.2d 935,
940 (App. 1993). The "essential elements of a contract" are
"(1) capacity to enter the contract, (2) offer, (3) acceptance,
and (4) consideration." Calipjo v. Purdy, 144 Hawaiʻi 266, 280,
439 P.3d 218, 232 (2019).
"It is an elementary rule of contract law that there
must be mutual assent or a meeting of the minds on all essential
elements or terms in order to create a binding contract."
Malani v. Clapp, 56 Haw. 507, 510, 542 P.2d 1265, 1267 (1975).
"The existence of mutual assent or intent to accept is
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NOT FOR PUBLICATION IN WEST'S HAWAIʻI REPORTS AND PACIFIC REPORTER
Electronically Filed Intermediate Court of Appeals CAAP-XX-XXXXXXX 18-JUN-2026 11:39 AM Dkt. 56 SO
NO. CAAP-XX-XXXXXXX
IN THE INTERMEDIATE COURT OF APPEALS
OF THE STATE OF HAWAIʻI
MARY STARR, also known as MARY STARR LITTLE, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. STACY LEVIN, Defendant-Appellant.
APPEAL FROM THE DISTRICT COURT OF THE SECOND CIRCUIT WAILUKU DIVISION (CASE NO. 2DRC-XX-XXXXXXX)
SUMMARY DISPOSITION ORDER (By: Leonard, Presiding Judge, McCullen and Guidry, JJ.)
Defendant-Appellant Stacy Levin (Levin) appeals from
the District Court of the Second Circuit's March 22, 2024
"Findings of Fact; Conclusions of Law and Order"; April 8, 2024
order for attorneys' fees and costs; and April 8, 2024 Judgment
in favor of Plaintiff-Appellee Mary Starr, also known as Mary
Starr Little (Starr). 1 (Formatting altered.)
On appeal, Levin contends the district court "erred by
finding that there was no effective written agreement to modify
1 The Honorable Christopher M. Dunn presided. NOT FOR PUBLICATION IN WEST'S HAWAIʻI REPORTS AND PACIFIC REPORTER
the parties' agreement" and "there was no new consideration in
exchange for the monthly payment plan." 2 (Formatting altered.)
Upon careful review of the record and the briefs
submitted by the parties, and having given due consideration to
the issues raised and the arguments advanced, we resolve this
appeal as discussed below and affirm.
In October 2021, Starr and Levin executed a promissory
note (the Note) in which Starr loaned Levin $15,000.00. Under
the Note's terms, Levin was to repay Starr within two months,
and should Levin fail to pay in full by the due date, any unpaid
amounts would accrue interest. Additionally, should either
party "sue[] to enforce [the] Note or obtain a declaration of
its rights hereunder, the prevailing party [would] be entitled
to recover its reasonable attorneys' fees and costs incurred in
the proceeding . . . from the non-prevailing party." Any
2 In her points of error, Levin also contends the district court "erred by finding that [Starr]'s deposit of [Levin]'s monthly checks constituted merely mitigation of her damages." Levin however provides no argument as required under Hawaiʻi Rules of Appellate Procedure (HRAP) Rule 28(b)(7). In the argument section of her opening brief, Levin contends that promissory estoppel overcomes the Note's integration provision, but fails to indicate where in the record she raised this issue before the district court as required by HRAP Rule 28(b)(4).
Thus, these contentions are waived. See Ass'n of Apartment Owners of Wailea Elua v. Wailea Resort Co., 100 Hawaiʻi 97, 110, 58 P.3d 608, 621 (2002) ("Where an appellant raises a point of error but fails to present any accompanying argument, the point is deemed waived."); State v. Moses, 102 Hawai‘i 449, 456, 77 P.3d 940, 947 (2003) ("As a general rule, if a party does not raise an argument at trial, that argument will be deemed to have been waived on appeal[.]"). 2 NOT FOR PUBLICATION IN WEST'S HAWAIʻI REPORTS AND PACIFIC REPORTER
modifications or amendments to the Note were to be made in a
signed, written agreement.
Levin failed to timely repay the loan.
After failing to repay the $15,000.00 as scheduled,
Levin text messaged Starr that she did not have the money and
would make monthly payments:
As I told you before, I have every intention of paying you. I wish I had the money to pay you in full now. Unfortunately, I just don't. . . .
I'm willing to send you a payment on a monthly basis as I told you initially. Presently I can only commit to $300 per month. I know that is not a lot, but even that is a stretch for me. As soon as I have more, I'll send more. You'll get all your money plus interest.
Starr replied that Levin needed to pay her debts, a cashier's
check was okay, and Starr started charging interest:
The most important fact is that u owe me money—i do not owe u, so whatever money will be handled should be at MY discretion, not yours. . . .
. . . .
I know u can get an equity loan on your signature. . . . So do it, and start paying debts u owe.
Cashier's check will be ok. I'm starting u at January 1, 2022, 10% interest—that's much lower than most credit cards!! If u are lax, i will not hesitate to take u to Court, but i would rather stay on a friendly basis—i do miss your friendship, which your lack of communication has messed up.
In March 2023, Starr filed a complaint with the
district court alleging that Levin owed her "$11,620.54,
including principal of $11,432.61 and interest through
[March 17, 2023] of $187.93" pursuant to the Note.
3 NOT FOR PUBLICATION IN WEST'S HAWAIʻI REPORTS AND PACIFIC REPORTER
On the day of the scheduled trial, Levin paid Starr
$6,000.00, which represented the remaining principal owed on the
Note. Trial was rescheduled. Six days before the rescheduled
trial date, Levin paid Starr the remaining interest owed on the
Note.
Neither Levin nor Starr disputed that Levin did not
pay Starr any of the $15,000.00 by the due date or that Levin
was required to pay Starr this amount plus interest if she did
not pay by the due date. And neither disputed that Levin paid
all amounts owed under the Note by the start of trial.
Nonetheless, trial commenced as Starr sought a
judgment regarding whether there was a breach of the Note and
whether she was entitled to attorneys' fees and costs. 3
The district court ruled that Starr proved a breach of
contract, Levin did not prove an affirmative defense, and the
Note was not modified. The district court rejected Levin's
assertion that the text messages between her and Starr modified
the Note to allow monthly payments.
Levin appealed. On appeal, Levin argues that the text
messages "constituted a signed writing" and her monthly payments
were consideration.
3 We note that Starr requested $28,497.50 in attorneys' fees and $1,753.28 in costs. The district court awarded $2,905.14 in attorneys' fees, which is twenty-five percent of the $11,620.54 Starr sought in her complaint, and $637.34 in costs. 4 NOT FOR PUBLICATION IN WEST'S HAWAIʻI REPORTS AND PACIFIC REPORTER
"Whether or not the parties entered into an agreement
is essentially a question of fact." Island Directory Co. v.
Iva's Kinimaka Enters., Inc., 10 Haw. App. 15, 23, 859 P.2d 935,
940 (App. 1993). The "essential elements of a contract" are
"(1) capacity to enter the contract, (2) offer, (3) acceptance,
and (4) consideration." Calipjo v. Purdy, 144 Hawaiʻi 266, 280,
439 P.3d 218, 232 (2019).
"It is an elementary rule of contract law that there
must be mutual assent or a meeting of the minds on all essential
elements or terms in order to create a binding contract."
Malani v. Clapp, 56 Haw. 507, 510, 542 P.2d 1265, 1267 (1975).
"The existence of mutual assent or intent to accept is
determined by an objective standard. A party's words or acts
are judged under a standard of reasonableness in determining
whether [it] has manifested an objective intention to agree."
Earl M. Jorgensen Co. v. Mark Constr., Inc., 56 Haw. 466, 470,
540 P.2d 978, 982 (1975).
Here, Levin texted, "I'm willing to send you a payment
on a monthly basis"; "I can only commit to $300 per month"; and
"[a]s soon as I have more, I'll send more. You'll get all your
money plus interest." Starr replied, in part, "start paying
debts u owe. Cashier's check will be ok. I'm starting u at
January 1, 2022, 10% interest . . . . If u are lax, i will not
hesitate to take u to Court, but i would rather stay on a
5 NOT FOR PUBLICATION IN WEST'S HAWAIʻI REPORTS AND PACIFIC REPORTER
friendly basis[.]" The text messages do not indicate an
agreement by Starr to modify the Note, excuse Levin's pre-
existing default, or forego any lawsuit if Levin paid each
month.
Thus, the district court's finding that "[t]here was
no written agreement signed by [Starr] and [Levin] that modified
or amended" the Note was not clearly erroneous. As there was no
modification of the Note, we need not address Levin's contention
that the district court erred by concluding that "no new
consideration was given by [Levin] to [Starr] for any alleged
modifications."
Based on the foregoing, we affirm the district court's
March 22, 2024 "Findings of Fact; Conclusions of Law and Order";
April 8, 2024 order for attorneys' fees and costs; and April 8,
2024 Judgment.
DATED: Honolulu, Hawaiʻi, June 18, 2026.
On the briefs: /s/ Katherine G. Leonard Presiding Judge Anthony L. Ranken, for Defendant-Appellant. /s/ Sonja M.P. McCullen Associate Judge Loren K. Tilley, Caitlin S.D. Musson, /s/ Kimberly T. Guidry (Horovitz Tilley) Associate Judge for Plaintiff-Appellee.