Hawaii public records remain available for most people. For individuals who are in search of specific information, it is critical to choose the right facility to obtain these records from since several of Hawaii's departments maintain the records. Under Hawaiian law, public records are any type of documentation or record that is unsealed. The Uniform Information Practices Act or UIPA is the law that governs this particular type of right to access such records.

What Your Options Are

Individuals who wish to obtain Hawaii public records must first understand what their rights are. In the state, the UIPA helps ensure that all public records are available for both inspection of the information as well as for copying. If you feel that you were not given access to information that is within your right to have, you can file a claim through the Office of Information Practices, a special department created to manage UIPA specifically.

However, Hawaiian law also states that not all information is available to the general public. Hawaii public records are all government records, which is a broad term overall. It is any type of physical record of information, which many be in various forms such as in books, videos, documents, emails or other recordings.

The following are some of the types of Hawaii public records you can have access to, though this list may not be exhaustive.

·         All records of the government's rules and policies

 

·         All data regarding the purchasing of information and bids from a government office

 

·         All final opinions and adjudicated orders, though some may be specifically protected for sensitivity

 

·         All environmental test results

 

·         All land ownership including any transfers of title, any liens on the record, property tax information as well as leases, mortgage information and state land leases

 

·         All state and county loan programs disclosures and information

 

·         Public meeting minutes, including agency minutes that are otherwise not protected

 

·         Vital statistics as they pertain to the individual's needs

 

·         General employee information from those who are government officials, except for law enforcement

 

·         Building permit information

 

·         Permit holders, license holders and other professional licensing requirements

Any of this information remains available to individuals who need to have access to it. It is critical, though, to understand that this information is not always immediately available. The government body does have to take steps to access this information and provide as soon as possible.

Finding Help

To local the Hawaii public records needed, individuals can seek out the specific information through online records when available. In addition to this, individuals can also turn to local government offices to gather this information. Some of those agencies are listed below.

·         The Attorney General provides aid for business and organization public records in the state.

 

·         For vital statistics, information on birth certificates, death certificates, marriage licenses and burial information, individuals should turn to the State Department of Health.

 

·         Criminal records are managed through the Hawaii Criminal Justice Data Center.

Individuals can find many of the Hawaii public records they need online. Third party providers may be an option.

• Hawaii Census 2000 Highlights

• Hawaii Department of Taxation

• Hawaii Mapstats from FedStats

• Hawaii QuickLinks

• Hawaii State & County QuickFacts

• Hawaii Vital Records