NOT FOR PUBLICATION IN WEST'S HAWAIʻI REPORTS AND PACIFIC REPORTER
Electronically Filed Intermediate Court of Appeals CAAP-XX-XXXXXXX 29-APR-2026 08:19 AM Dkt. 66 SO
NO. CAAP-XX-XXXXXXX
IN THE INTERMEDIATE COURT OF APPEALS
OF THE STATE OF HAWAIʻI
STATE OF HAWAIʻI, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. RYAN M. SHUPTRINE, Defendant-Appellant.
APPEAL FROM THE DISTRICT COURT OF THE FIRST CIRCUIT ʻEWA DIVISION (CASE NO. 1DTC-23-030959)
SUMMARY DISPOSITION ORDER (By: Hiraoka, Presiding Judge, Wadsworth and McCullen, JJ.)
Defendant-Appellant Ryan M. Shuptrine appeals from the
District Court of the First Circuit's 1 March 27, 2024 amended
Judgment of Conviction, convicting him of Excessive Speeding in
violation of Hawaiʻi Revised Statutes (HRS) § 291C-105(a)(1)
and/or (a)(2) (2020). 2
1 The Honorable Sherri-Ann L. Iha presided over the trial and entered the judgment. 2 HRS § 291C-105(a) provides, "No person shall drive a motor vehicle at a speed exceeding: (1) The applicable state or county speed limit by thirty miles per hour or more; or (2) Eighty miles per hour or more irrespective of the applicable state or county speed limit." (Formatting altered.) NOT FOR PUBLICATION IN WEST'S HAWAIʻI REPORTS AND PACIFIC REPORTER
On appeal, Shuptrine raises three points of error,
asserting the district court violated his right to counsel,
failed to conduct a colloquy on his right not to testify, and
improperly excluded evidence. Shuptrine's second point of error
is dispositive.
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 vacate and remand.
Plaintiff-Appellee State of Hawaiʻi charged Shuptrine
with Excessive Speeding. Prior to the start of trial, the
district court informed Shuptrine of his right to testify and
right not to testify.
Honolulu Police Department Officer Larry Yoshimura
(Officer Yoshimura) then testified that he observed Shuptrine
driving on the H-1 freeway near the Kaʻahele Street underpass.
Using a speed laser device, he measured Shuptrine's speed at
96 miles per hour. The speed limit in the area was 55 miles per
hour.
Following Officer Yoshimura's testimony, the defense
called Shuptrine to testify. The district court then confirmed
that it was Shuptrine's decision to testify, but did not
otherwise conduct a colloquy of his right to not testify:
2 NOT FOR PUBLICATION IN WEST'S HAWAIʻI REPORTS AND PACIFIC REPORTER
THE COURT: Okay. So, sir, that is your decision, and not your attorney's decision to testify, right?
MR. SHUPTRINE: Yeah.
THE COURT: Okay. Go ahead.
. . . .
MALE VOICE: Your Honor, does the defendant need to be Tachibana'd again a second time?
THE COURT: I just asked him if it was his decision, and not his attorney's decision.
MALE VOICE: Oh, okay.
THE COURT: It's only if he's not going to testify, I think, when you do go through the colloquy.
MALE VOICE: Okay. Thank you.
Shuptrine testified. The district court found Officer Yoshimura
credible and Shuptrine guilty. The district court sentenced
Shuptrine to, among other things, thirty-six hours community
service, a $450.00 fine, and a thirty-day license suspension.
Shuptrine appealed.
On appeal, Shuptrine contends the "district court
erred by allowing [him] to testify without first establishing a
valid waiver of his right to remain silent and not testify at
trial." (Emphasis omitted.) Shuptrine also argues that this
error was not harmless beyond a reasonable doubt as the district
court relied on his testimony in convicting him. To its credit,
the State acknowledges the district court's error and its
inability to show this error was harmless beyond a reasonable
doubt.
3 NOT FOR PUBLICATION IN WEST'S HAWAIʻI REPORTS AND PACIFIC REPORTER
Before the close of a criminal defendant's case or
prior to the defendant testifying, trial courts must conduct an
"ultimate colloquy" advising "defendants of their right to
testify and must obtain an on-the-record waiver of that right in
every case in which the defendant does not testify." Tachibana
v. State, 79 Hawaiʻi 226, 236, 900 P.2d 1293, 1303 (1995). The
colloquy is limited to the following advisements:
(1) The defendant "has a right to testify";
(2) If the defendant "wants to testify that no one
can prevent him or her from doing so";
(3) If the defendant "testifies the prosecution will
be allowed to cross-examine him or her";
(4) The defendant "has a right not to testify";
(5) If the defendant "does not testify then the jury
can be instructed about that right"; and
(6) The exercise of the right not to testify "may not
be used by the fact finder to decide the case."
Id. at 236 n.7, 900 P.2d at 1303 n.7 (citation and brackets
omitted); State v. Monteil, 134 Hawaiʻi 361, 373, 341 P.3d 567,
579 (2014). The colloquy must be a true colloquy to ascertain
the defendant's understanding of these rights. State v.
Celestine, 142 Hawaiʻi 165, 170, 415 P.3d 907, 912 (2018).
Here, Shuptrine testified, but the district court did
not conduct the ultimate colloquy under the mistaken belief that
4 NOT FOR PUBLICATION IN WEST'S HAWAIʻI REPORTS AND PACIFIC REPORTER
the colloquy need only be done when a defendant does not
testify. However, in 2019, the Hawaiʻi Supreme Court required
this colloquy in all criminal trials, whether or not the
defendant testifies. State v. Torres, 144 Hawaiʻi 282, 294-95,
439 P.3d 234, 246-47 (2019). Thus, the district court's failure
to conduct an ultimate colloquy violated Shuptrine's
constitutional right not to testify. See id.
"When the violation of a constitutional right has been
established, 'the conviction must be vacated unless the State
can prove that the violation was harmless beyond a reasonable
doubt.'" Id. at 290-91, 439 P.3d at 242-43 (quoting Tachibana,
79 Hawaiʻi at 240, 900 P.2d at 1307). "The relevant question
under the harmless beyond a reasonable doubt standard is whether
there is a reasonable possibility that the error might have
contributed to the conviction." State v. Eduwensuyi, 141 Hawaiʻi
328, 336, 409 P.3d 732, 740 (2018) (cleaned up) (quoting State
v. Han, 130 Hawaiʻi 83, 93, 306 P.3d 128, 138 (2013)).
Shuptrine testified that he was trying to get to the
hospital to sing to someone who was about to be taken off life
support. In rendering its decision, the district court
explained, "Although I do feel for your situation, you know,
driving that speed, especially if you're not in the right state
of mind, is more dangerous. And you're putting other people at
risk out there."
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NOT FOR PUBLICATION IN WEST'S HAWAIʻI REPORTS AND PACIFIC REPORTER
Electronically Filed Intermediate Court of Appeals CAAP-XX-XXXXXXX 29-APR-2026 08:19 AM Dkt. 66 SO
NO. CAAP-XX-XXXXXXX
IN THE INTERMEDIATE COURT OF APPEALS
OF THE STATE OF HAWAIʻI
STATE OF HAWAIʻI, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. RYAN M. SHUPTRINE, Defendant-Appellant.
APPEAL FROM THE DISTRICT COURT OF THE FIRST CIRCUIT ʻEWA DIVISION (CASE NO. 1DTC-23-030959)
SUMMARY DISPOSITION ORDER (By: Hiraoka, Presiding Judge, Wadsworth and McCullen, JJ.)
Defendant-Appellant Ryan M. Shuptrine appeals from the
District Court of the First Circuit's 1 March 27, 2024 amended
Judgment of Conviction, convicting him of Excessive Speeding in
violation of Hawaiʻi Revised Statutes (HRS) § 291C-105(a)(1)
and/or (a)(2) (2020). 2
1 The Honorable Sherri-Ann L. Iha presided over the trial and entered the judgment. 2 HRS § 291C-105(a) provides, "No person shall drive a motor vehicle at a speed exceeding: (1) The applicable state or county speed limit by thirty miles per hour or more; or (2) Eighty miles per hour or more irrespective of the applicable state or county speed limit." (Formatting altered.) NOT FOR PUBLICATION IN WEST'S HAWAIʻI REPORTS AND PACIFIC REPORTER
On appeal, Shuptrine raises three points of error,
asserting the district court violated his right to counsel,
failed to conduct a colloquy on his right not to testify, and
improperly excluded evidence. Shuptrine's second point of error
is dispositive.
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 vacate and remand.
Plaintiff-Appellee State of Hawaiʻi charged Shuptrine
with Excessive Speeding. Prior to the start of trial, the
district court informed Shuptrine of his right to testify and
right not to testify.
Honolulu Police Department Officer Larry Yoshimura
(Officer Yoshimura) then testified that he observed Shuptrine
driving on the H-1 freeway near the Kaʻahele Street underpass.
Using a speed laser device, he measured Shuptrine's speed at
96 miles per hour. The speed limit in the area was 55 miles per
hour.
Following Officer Yoshimura's testimony, the defense
called Shuptrine to testify. The district court then confirmed
that it was Shuptrine's decision to testify, but did not
otherwise conduct a colloquy of his right to not testify:
2 NOT FOR PUBLICATION IN WEST'S HAWAIʻI REPORTS AND PACIFIC REPORTER
THE COURT: Okay. So, sir, that is your decision, and not your attorney's decision to testify, right?
MR. SHUPTRINE: Yeah.
THE COURT: Okay. Go ahead.
. . . .
MALE VOICE: Your Honor, does the defendant need to be Tachibana'd again a second time?
THE COURT: I just asked him if it was his decision, and not his attorney's decision.
MALE VOICE: Oh, okay.
THE COURT: It's only if he's not going to testify, I think, when you do go through the colloquy.
MALE VOICE: Okay. Thank you.
Shuptrine testified. The district court found Officer Yoshimura
credible and Shuptrine guilty. The district court sentenced
Shuptrine to, among other things, thirty-six hours community
service, a $450.00 fine, and a thirty-day license suspension.
Shuptrine appealed.
On appeal, Shuptrine contends the "district court
erred by allowing [him] to testify without first establishing a
valid waiver of his right to remain silent and not testify at
trial." (Emphasis omitted.) Shuptrine also argues that this
error was not harmless beyond a reasonable doubt as the district
court relied on his testimony in convicting him. To its credit,
the State acknowledges the district court's error and its
inability to show this error was harmless beyond a reasonable
doubt.
3 NOT FOR PUBLICATION IN WEST'S HAWAIʻI REPORTS AND PACIFIC REPORTER
Before the close of a criminal defendant's case or
prior to the defendant testifying, trial courts must conduct an
"ultimate colloquy" advising "defendants of their right to
testify and must obtain an on-the-record waiver of that right in
every case in which the defendant does not testify." Tachibana
v. State, 79 Hawaiʻi 226, 236, 900 P.2d 1293, 1303 (1995). The
colloquy is limited to the following advisements:
(1) The defendant "has a right to testify";
(2) If the defendant "wants to testify that no one
can prevent him or her from doing so";
(3) If the defendant "testifies the prosecution will
be allowed to cross-examine him or her";
(4) The defendant "has a right not to testify";
(5) If the defendant "does not testify then the jury
can be instructed about that right"; and
(6) The exercise of the right not to testify "may not
be used by the fact finder to decide the case."
Id. at 236 n.7, 900 P.2d at 1303 n.7 (citation and brackets
omitted); State v. Monteil, 134 Hawaiʻi 361, 373, 341 P.3d 567,
579 (2014). The colloquy must be a true colloquy to ascertain
the defendant's understanding of these rights. State v.
Celestine, 142 Hawaiʻi 165, 170, 415 P.3d 907, 912 (2018).
Here, Shuptrine testified, but the district court did
not conduct the ultimate colloquy under the mistaken belief that
4 NOT FOR PUBLICATION IN WEST'S HAWAIʻI REPORTS AND PACIFIC REPORTER
the colloquy need only be done when a defendant does not
testify. However, in 2019, the Hawaiʻi Supreme Court required
this colloquy in all criminal trials, whether or not the
defendant testifies. State v. Torres, 144 Hawaiʻi 282, 294-95,
439 P.3d 234, 246-47 (2019). Thus, the district court's failure
to conduct an ultimate colloquy violated Shuptrine's
constitutional right not to testify. See id.
"When the violation of a constitutional right has been
established, 'the conviction must be vacated unless the State
can prove that the violation was harmless beyond a reasonable
doubt.'" Id. at 290-91, 439 P.3d at 242-43 (quoting Tachibana,
79 Hawaiʻi at 240, 900 P.2d at 1307). "The relevant question
under the harmless beyond a reasonable doubt standard is whether
there is a reasonable possibility that the error might have
contributed to the conviction." State v. Eduwensuyi, 141 Hawaiʻi
328, 336, 409 P.3d 732, 740 (2018) (cleaned up) (quoting State
v. Han, 130 Hawaiʻi 83, 93, 306 P.3d 128, 138 (2013)).
Shuptrine testified that he was trying to get to the
hospital to sing to someone who was about to be taken off life
support. In rendering its decision, the district court
explained, "Although I do feel for your situation, you know,
driving that speed, especially if you're not in the right state
of mind, is more dangerous. And you're putting other people at
risk out there."
5 NOT FOR PUBLICATION IN WEST'S HAWAIʻI REPORTS AND PACIFIC REPORTER
Based on this explanation, it appears the district
court relied, at least in part, on Shuptrine's testimony in
reaching its decision. And it is not clear whether Shuptrine's
testimony influenced the district court's credibility finding.
In other words, there was a reasonable possibility that the
failure to engage in a colloquy with Shuptrine regarding his
right not to testify may have contributed to his conviction.
See id. Thus, under the circumstances of this case, we cannot
say that the violation of Shuptrine's right not to testify was
harmless beyond a reasonable doubt. See id.; Torres, 144 Hawaiʻi
290-91, 439 P.3d at 242-43.
Based on the foregoing, we vacate the district court's
March 27, 2024 amended Judgment of Conviction and remand this
case for further proceedings consistent with this summary
disposition order.
DATED: Honolulu, Hawaiʻi, April 29, 2026.
On the briefs: /s/ Keith K. Hiraoka Presiding Judge Benjamin E. Lowenthal, for Defendant-Appellant. /s/ Clyde J. Wadsworth Associate Judge Robert T. Nakatsuji, Deputy Prosecuting Attorney, /s/ Sonja M.P. McCullen City and County of Honolulu, Associate Judge for Plaintiff-Appellee.