Are Hawaii Records Public?

Hawaii public records are mostly accessible to the public. Multiple laws define public records as documents maintained or generated by government agencies. Documents in this context may include type-written files, notes, audio or visual recordings, photographs, and maps. It also empowers government entities to share these records with eligible public members. The Hawaii Uniform Information Practices Act specifies which records qualify as public documents. Other records include the Hawaii Open Meeting Law, or Sunshine Law, as well as the Freedom of Information Law, which governs public access to federal records.

Note: State legislation may modify public records laws. Record seekers can check recent updates through Hawaii's Office of Information Practices.

Who Can Access Hawaii Public Records?

According to Hawaii. Revised Statutes §92F-3, public members can access public records. The state law does not restrict out-of-state requesters from obtaining records. Per the law, “requesters” may include individuals, corporations, or government entities.

Record seekers can obtain public records by contacting the designated record custodian. Furthermore, they must use the custodian's available request options to access records. For instance, Hawaii's Criminal Justice Data Center offers access to criminal records through online, in-person, and mail requests. Some agencies may maintain online search databases through which requesters can get the records.

Note: Not all record seekers can receive records from custodian agencies. The agency may set restrictions on who is eligible to get the records. Furthermore, the agency may require proof of identification before releasing sensitive or confidential information.

Do I Need to State My Purpose and Use When Requesting Public Records in Hawaii?

There's no legal requirement in Hawaii to state your intent for requesting public records. Nevertheless, you must provide enough search information to obtain public records. You may also present a valid ID when requesting confidential documents. Other requirements for accessing public records may include search fees and authorization forms. The latter only applies if a third-party requester seeks to obtain confidential records.

What Records Are Public in Hawaii?

Multiple government-generated records are classified as public records in Hawaii. The records may include court documents, vital records, sex offenders’ information, and police reports. That being said, Section §92F-12 lists the following examples of Hawaii public records:

• Property-related records, which may include lien information and real estate data
• Environmental test results
• Government purchasing information
• Inmate-related data, such as commutations and parsons
• Minutes of all government agency meetings

Hawaii Public Court Records

Hawaii public court records are official recordings of court-related events. The records may cover court case information and judicial actions. Furthermore, the records may exist in multiple formats like audio recordings, microfilms, or handwritten files.

There are also different types of court records in Hawaii. The record types include dockets, property records, court cases, judgments, and court motions or orders. Note that each record type may contain different contents. For instance, criminal case records will feature the following details:

• Arrest orders
• Indictments and complaints
• Notice of executed judgment

Typically, Hawaii courts maintain records of events that occur within the courthouse. Thus, record seekers must contact the courthouse to access court records. The Hawaii State Judiciary is an alternative resource for accessing court records. The state-level agency keeps resources like court request forms and search information.

Note: Not all Hawaii court records are open to the public. The courthouses will redact records that are listed under Section §92F-22. For example, state law does not disclose court records sealed due to court orders or statutes.

Hawaii Public Criminal Records

Hawaii criminal records are official documents on an individual's conviction history. The record may feature arrest data, convictions, and related inmate information.

Hawaii criminal records are public documents. Record seekers can request and obtain the records through the Hawaii Criminal Justice Data Center (CJDC). As the record custodian, the agency allows name- or fingerprint-based checks for criminal records.

For a name-based criminal records check, record seekers may use any of these options:

Search the records using the agency's eCrim portal. Note that you must create an account and pay the required fee to use the portal. It costs $5 per search and $10 for certified records on the search portal.

Obtain criminal records through public access terminals. It costs $25 to search and print out criminal records. You will find the public access terminals at these locations:

Hawaii Criminal Justice Data Center
465 South King Street
Room 102
Honolulu, HI 96813
Phone: (808) 587-3279

Honolulu Police Department
801 South Beretania Street
Honolulu, HI 96813
Phone: (808) 529-3191

Hawaii Police Department
349 Kapiolani Street
Hilo, HI 96720
Phone: (808) 961-2233

Kona Police Station
74-5221 Queen Kaahumanu Highway
Kailua-Kona, HI 96740
Phone: (808) 326-4646 ext. 286

Kauai County Police Department
3990 Kaana Street
Lihue, HI 96766
Phone: (808) 241-1661

Maui County Police Department
55 Mahalani Street
Wailuku, HI 96793
Phone: (808) 244-6345/6355

Obtain Hawaii criminal records by sending in-person or mail requests to the CJDC at:

Hawaii Criminal Justice Data Center
Attn: CHRC Unit
465 South King Street
Room 102
Honolulu, HI 96813

Your request must contain a completed request form and the applicable search fees. The agency charges a $30 service fee and an additional $20 for certified copies. For mail-based requests, the payment must be a money order or check payable to the “State of Hawaii”.

In contrast, you can conduct fingerprint-based checks only through in-person or mail requests. To use this option, you must fill out sections 1, 2, and 3 of the HCJDC-073 form, attach the applicable fees, and send them to the HCJDC at:

Fingerprint-based checks cost $30 and an additional $20 for certified criminal record copies. For mail-based orders, the agency accepts payments in the form of money orders or cashier checks.

Hawaii Public Arrest Records

In Hawaii, not all arrest records are public documents. Non-conviction or dismissed arrest charges are confidential documents. In contrast, arrest information can be found in criminal conviction records. The Hawaii Criminal Justice Data Center is the state-level custodian of criminal records. To obtain arrest information, requesters must provide basic information, such as the arrestee's name, arrest date, or other required data.

Hawaii Public Bankruptcy Records

In Hawaii, public bankruptcy records are official documents pertaining to bankruptcy cases. The records generally provide information on individuals or entities that filed for bankruptcy in the state. That said, bankruptcy records will include the following details:

• The debtor's name, including registered business name and aliases
• Debtor's financial information, such as liabilities and assets
• Bankruptcy chapter and category, such as voluntary or involuntary bankruptcy
• Case information, including case number, closing date, discharge date, and final judgment
• Creditor's name and additional details like claim amount and address

The United States Bankruptcy Court - District of Hawaii, oversees all Bankruptcy case records. Interested parties can opt to search the records through the court's PACER Case Locator. The search portal maintains bankruptcy records filed on or after January 1, 1998. That said, requesters must create an account to search Hawaii bankruptcy records on the portal.

In contrast, you can view the records in person using public terminals installed at the clerk's office. Requesters must visit the court clerk's office within business hours at:

U.S. Bankruptcy Court, District of Hawaii
1132 Bishop Street
Suite 250
Honolulu, HI 96813

The district court also accepts email requests made to copies@hib.uscourts.gov. Requesters will receive information regarding the cost and procedure for obtaining paper copies of the document.

Note: The San Francisco Federal Records Center may keep Hawaii bankruptcy records created before January 1, 1998.

Hawaii Public Birth Records

In Hawaii, public birth records cover all birth events and may contain information on the following:

• The record subject's full birth name
• The place of birth, including the city, island, and hospital or institution name
• Parent's full names, age, and birthplace
• Dated signatures of the parents, birth attendant, and local register.

Hawaii Department of Health, via the Vital Records Division, is the record custodian of birth records. The agency also issues copies of birth records upon receiving online or mail orders from requesters. To order Hawaii birth records online, requesters must complete an online request form, and upload a government-issued ID, the required search fee, and their mailing address.

For mail-in requests to obtain birth records, record seekers must follow these steps:

1. Download, fill, and print out a birth record request form
2. Attach a copy of a valid government-issued card
3. Include a $10 fee for the first copy and $4 for an additional copy. For mail-requests, the agency accepts checks or money orders made payable to the State Department of Health.
4. Send the documents and fees via mail to:

State Department of Health
Office of Health Status Monitoring
Issuance/Vital Statistics Section
P.O. Box 3378
Honolulu, HI 96801

Birth records in Hawaii are not public records, and only the following persons are eligible to obtain Hawaii birth records:

• The record subject
• The record subject's current spouse and immediate family members
• Legal guardians
• Persons or entities acting on behalf of the record subject
• Requesters empowered by a court order to obtain the record

Hawaii Public Death Records

Hawaii public death records cover all death-related events and may include the following details:

• The deceased's name, race, and gender
• The county and island where the death occurred
• Surviving spouse's name (if married)
• Mother's name
• Disposition, such as burial date, funeral homes and cemetery name and location.
• The death certifier's name and profession

Hawaii Department of Health's Vital Records Division maintains death records and allows online, mail, or in-person requests for the records. To access Hawaii death records online, requesters must fill out an online request form and provide the necessary documents. For mail-based or in-person requests, record seekers must take these simple steps:

1. Download, fill out and print a death record request form
2. Attach a copy of a valid government-issued ID card
3. Include the applicable search fee as a money order or check made payable to the State of Hawaii. It costs $10 for the first copy and $4 per additional copy. The agency charges $2.5 per copy if the order exceeds five copies.
4. Send the documents in person or by mail to:

State Department of Health
Office of Health Status Monitoring
Issuance/Vital Statistics Section
P.O. Box 3378
Honolulu, HI 96801

Note: The Department of Health issues certified death certificates to requesters who have a direct and tangible interest in the record. Eligible requesters may include, but are not limited to, the deceased's immediate family members and legal guardians.

Hawaii Public Marriage Records

In Hawaii, public marriage records reveal the following information:

• Couple's name
• Date and location of the marriage event
• Marriage certificate number
• Couple's parent's names
• The State Registrar's name and signature.

Record seekers can obtain Hawaii marriage records through the state's Department of Health. The agency allowed online, mail-in, or in-person requests for marriage records. To obtain Hawaii marriage records via mail or in person, the record seekers must send the necessary documents to the agency at:

State Department of Health
Office of Health Status Monitoring
Issuance/Vital Statistics Section
P.O. Box 3378
Honolulu, HI 96801

The request must contain these documents and fees:

• A completed marriage record request form
• The applicable fee in the required format. For mail-based orders, the agency only accepts mail orders or checks made payable to the “State of Hawaii”. Furthermore, the first copy costs $10, while it costs $4 for additional copies less than five. If the order exceeds five copies, you'll pay $2.5 per copy after the fifth one.
• A copy of a government-issued ID card

Note: Hawaii marriage records are only accessible to the following eligible requesters:

• The record subject, current spouse, and immediate family members
• Legal guardians and representatives

Hawaii Public Divorce Records

Hawaii public divorce records may provide information on the following:

• The record subject's name
• Case number
• The court that handled the case

Record seekers may obtain Hawaii public records through these options:

• Online search by using the State Judiciary's eCourt Kokua platform.
• In-person requests to the family court that granted the divorce
• Mail or make in-person requests to the Department of Health. The agency maintains divorce records issued between January 1951 and December 2002. To obtain Hawaii divorce records, you must send the required documents to the agency at:

State Department of Health
Office of Health Status Monitoring
Issuance/Vital Statistics Section
P.O. Box 3378
Honolulu, HI 96801

The required documents include a completed request form, the copy fee, and a copy of a government-issued ID card. The agency charges $10 for the first copy and $4 for additional copies less than five.

Hawaii Public Inmate Records

Under Hawaii's Uniform Information Practices Act, inmate records are public documents and open to all requesters. Record seekers may find these details in an inmate record:

• The offender's name, aliases, gender, race, and photo (if known)
• Inmate ID number
• The correctional facility holding the inmate

There are two options for accessing inmate records in Hawaii. The first option is to search using the State Judiciary's eCourt Kokua search portal. On the other hand, you can obtain inmate records by contacting the Hawaii Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation at:

919 Ala Moana Boulevard
Honolulu, HI 96814
Phone: (808) 587-1288

Hawaii Public Sex Offender Information

In Hawaii, sex offender information is classified as a public record. The Hawaii Criminal Justice Data Center serves as the record custodian and maintains a searchable portal for sex offenders. To access the records on the portal, requesters must input the offender's name or other required search details.

Note: Hawaii state laws prohibit record seekers from using sex offender information to harass or intimidate persons listed on the sex offender registry. Note that you may incur fines or jail terms for misusing this information.

Hawaii Public Property Records

Property records in Hawaii contain real estate and personal property-related information. The records may provide information on mortgages, parcel IDs, liens, property taxes, and maps.

The state's Bureau of Conveyances keeps property-related records. Record seekers may obtain property records by using the agency's document ordering system. Furthermore, you must subscribe and pay to conduct searches on the system.

Note that county-level agencies offer alternative resources for accessing property records. For example, the city and county of Honolulu maintain a property search database.

What is Exempted Under the Hawaii Public Records Act?

Section §92F-21.5 of Hawaii state laws exempts a list of documents from public access. This means public members are unable to request or view these records. Furthermore, the law empowers record custodians to either redact the exempt public information or outright deny access to the whole document. That being said, here are some examples of exempt public records:

• Documents or information compiled for the purpose of criminal investigation. It may include reports from an informant or witnesses.
• Investigative reports pertaining to an ongoing criminal investigation or prosecution
• Documents withheld from public access to a court order, state or federal statute

How can I access or challenge exempted records in Hawaii?

In Hawaii, only legally eligible individuals or entities can access exempt documents. For example, you must have a direct and tangible interest in the record to obtain it.

Alternatively, you can petition the Office of Information Practices to access exempt records. However, you must have the legal right to obtain the record. The agency will review your petition and decide whether you are legally eligible.

How Do I Find Public Records in Hawaii?

You can find Hawaii public records through these general steps:

1. Find the record custodian for the record
   In Hawaii, government agencies serve as record custodians. In most cases, they keep records of documents that are related to their core responsibilities. For example, the State Judiciary maintains a search portal for court records. If you are unsure about the record custodian, you may type in “the record name+records search” on search engines. This will bring up the names of agencies holding the record.
2. Determine if you are eligible to obtain the record
   Not all Hawaii public records are accessible to the public. Sometimes, the record custodian may limit access to only eligible requesters. To determine your eligibility, contact the agency either in person or via mail or phone. The contact information is often on the bottom part of their website.
3. Choose your preferred method of accessing the record
   Record custodians may offer one or multiple options to obtain public records. Common requests include online search portals, email, mail, or in-person requests. That said, check the record custodian's website or contact them to find the available request options.
4. Make a request and fulfill the requirements for accessing the record
   Most record custodians will outline steps for accessing public records. So, follow the steps and fulfill the requirements for obtaining the records. Some agencies will require valid IDs and search fees.

Can I Find Free Public Records in Hawaii Using Third-Party Sites?

Third-party sites also maintain Hawaii public records. The sites may provide information on public records like property information, criminal records, and vital records. Record seekers may opt for third-party sites, which are generally more convenient and easy to access. Most of these sites do not prevent out-of-state requesters from obtaining public records. However, record seekers must exercise caution when using third-party sites. Since the sites are mostly unregulated, they may contain outdated, inaccurate, or incomplete data.

How Much Do Public Records Cost in Hawaii?

Hawaii's Uniform Information Practices Act does not set specific fees for obtaining public records. This means each record custodian can set fees for searching and copying records. For instance, the Bureau of Conveyances charges $45 to produce public documents.

There are no state laws concerning fee waivers. However, you can contact the record custodian for available waivers. Furthermore, you can reduce the cost by specifying the number of copies.

What Happens if I Am Refused a Public Records Request?

Take these steps if a record custodian denies your public request:

Step 1: Determine the reasons why your request was denied

Record seekers must provide in writing the reasons for denying your request. The reasons may include the following:

• The record does not exist in the requested format
• The record is exempt under the Uniform Information Practices Act
• The requester is not eligible to contain the record.

Step 2: Appeal the denied records requests

Record seekers can appeal the record custodian's decision by filing an appeal with the Office of Information Practices or the circuit court. For the former option, the appeal must contain these documents:

• A copy of the original records request letter
• A copy of the agency's response
• Additional documents that relate to the appeal.

Note: You must file an appeal within a year of receiving a record denial letter. Upon receiving the appeal, the OIP will send a Notice of Appeal to all concerned parties. Next, the agency will review the appeal and make a decision. On the other hand, the record subject may file a civil action against the record custodian in a circuit court.