Section 13-1-11 - Proceedings before the board(a) The board may on its own motion or on petition or application of any interested person or persons or any agency of the state or county government conduct proceedings as necessary for the purpose of obtaining information necessary or helpful in carrying out its duties, including the formulation of its rules.(b) For the purposes permitted by law, the board may subpoena witnesses and require the production of evidence.(c) The board shall follow procedures that, in its opinion, best serve the purposes of the proceedings, unless specifically prescribed in these rules or chapter 91, HRS.(d) Unless it would be contrary to statutory requirements to do so, any rule in this chapter may be suspended or waived by the board or the presiding officer to prevent undue hardship in any particular instance.(e) Proceedings shall be commenced by order of the board upon its own motion, or by the filing of a petition or application the processing of which necessitates a statutory hearing.[Eff 6/22/81; am and comp 2/27/09] (Auth: HRS §§ 92-16, 171-6) (Imp: HRS §§ 91-2, 92-16)