Is this backtracking to Hawaii?
 

I currently have reserved a DONE4:

LAX-ORD-GRR-ORD-PVG....asia...africa...europe...LHR-ORD

Can I add ORD-HNL as my last segment or would this be backtracking in the same continent?

This will be my final segment, I will make alternate plans to come back from Hawaii.

I don't see why not, as long as you stay within the 2 stopover rule.

30N . BACKTRACK WITHIN A CONTINENT IS PERMITTED EXCEPT
31N . AS FOLLOWS:
32N . -BACKTRACK BETWEEN HAWAII AND THE CONTINENTAL US
33N . INCLUDING PRVI//CANADA NOT PERMITTED.

83N . * ONLY 1 FLIGHT BETWEEN HAWAII AND THE
84N . CONTINENTAL US INCLUDING PRVI/CANADA

I don't understand how to interpret 30-33

It means you cannot fly from Continental USA to Hawaii and then return to North America as part of your OWE itinerary. In your case you are ending the trip there so there is no backtracking.

You cannot do a round subtrip between US mainland and Hawaii. A one-way subtrip as you propose is fine.

This makes sense.

Just the engineer in me: So they could get rid of 30-33 since 83-84 covers it.

No; it also prevents using a surface segment back to the mainland. I asked about LAX-HNL/cruise to LA/LAX-ORD and they said no.

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Just called and a very nice junior AAgent said that 'looked' like backtracking (the AAgent did not consult with anyone else), but since I have other issues with my ticket I will call back.

Nevertheless, Since I originally will fly LAX-ORD and much later ORD-HNL could you provide me some ammunition on what to say when I call back in reference to the interpretation of Hawaii?

Only one flight to Hawaii: check.
No going back to the mainland: check.
Nice AAgent says no: talk to ATW Desk; equally nice but better informed.
ATW Desk still says no: talk to supervisor.

Just say that you are ending the trip in HNL and the rules allow doing that even though the same rule prevents ORD-HNL if it was not the last segment of your trip.