§6D-9 Liability. (a) An owner of a cave who either directly or indirectly invites or permits without charge any person to use the cave for educational, native Hawaiian cultural, or scientific purposes does not:

(1) Extend any assurance that the premises are safe for any purpose;

(2) Confer upon the person the legal status of an invitee or licensee to whom a duty of care is owed;

(3) Assume responsibility for, or incur liability for, any injury to person or property caused by an act of omission or commission of those persons; or

(4) Assume responsibility for, or incur liability for, any injury to any person or persons who enter the premises in response to an injured educational, native Hawaiian cultural, or scientific user.

(b) Nothing in this section shall be construed to:

(1) Create a duty of care or ground of liability for injury to persons or property; or

(2) Relieve any person using the cave of another for educational, native Hawaiian cultural, or scientific purposes from any obligation which the person may have in the absence of this section to exercise care in the person's use of that cave and in the person's activities therein, or from the legal consequences of failure to employ such care; or

(3) Limit the effect of chapter 520.

(c) Nothing in this section limits in any way any liability which otherwise exists:

(1) For wilful or malicious failure to guard or warn against a dangerous condition, use, or structure which the owner knowingly creates or perpetuates and for wilful or malicious failure to guard or warn against a dangerous activity which the owner knowingly pursues or perpetuates; and

(2) For injury suffered in any case where the owner of a cave charges a fee to any person who enters or uses the cave for educational, native Hawaiian cultural, or scientific purposes, except that in the case of land leased to the State or a political subdivision thereof, any consideration received by the owner for such lease shall not be deemed a charge within the meaning of this section. [L 2002, c 241, pt of §2]