How to File a Public Records Request in East Honolulu, Hawaii

What Is the Uniform Information Practices Act (Modified)?

Hawaii's Uniform Information Practices Act (Modified), or UIPA, is codified at Hawaii Revised Statutes Chapter 92F (§§ 92F-1 through 92F-43). It guarantees every person — individual, corporation, or other legal entity — the right to inspect and copy government records maintained by any executive or legislative agency at the state or county level, as well as the administrative functions of the judiciary. No reason or statement of purpose is required to file a request.

Under the UIPA, a "government record" is broadly defined as any information maintained by a government agency in written, auditory, visual, electronic, or other physical form — including written documents, maps, audio recordings, video recordings, and information stored in computers. Records that are mandatorily available for public inspection include agency rules and policies, minutes of public meetings, building permit information, consultant contracts, certified payroll records on public works projects, and compensation data for public employees.

Key exemptions under HRS § 92F-13 include records whose disclosure would constitute a clearly unwarranted invasion of personal privacy, records related to pending or potential litigation involving the government, records that must remain confidential to avoid frustrating a legitimate government function, and records protected by other state or federal law or court order. The burden of justifying any withholding falls squarely on the agency, not the requester.

Read the full text of the Uniform Information Practices Act (Modified) (Hawaii Revised Statutes Chapter 92F (§§ 92F-1 through 92F-43))

How to File a Public Records Request with the City of East Honolulu

How to Submit Your Request

Because East Honolulu is a CDP within the City and County of Honolulu, records requests must be directed to the specific City and County department that maintains the records you seek. For City Council legislation, ordinances, resolutions, and general city records, submit your request to the Office of the City Clerk at [email protected] or by mail to Honolulu Hale, 530 South King Street, Room 100, Honolulu, HI 96813. For records held by other departments — such as the Department of Planning and Permitting, Department of Environmental Services, or Honolulu Police Department — direct your request to that department's UIPA contact. The State of Hawaii's Office of Information Practices (OIP) provides a standardized "Request to Access a Government Record" form (OIP Form 1) available in PDF and Word formats at oip.hawaii.gov/forms/. While use of this form is not strictly required, it is strongly recommended because it includes all the information agencies need to process your request promptly and helps ensure your request is treated as a formal UIPA submission.

Download Required Form

What to Include in Your Request

• Your name (or alias), mailing address, telephone number, and/or email address so the agency can respond
• A specific and detailed description of the record(s) you are requesting, including record name, subject matter, date range, and any names of persons or projects involved
• Your preferred format for receiving records (e.g., electronic/email, paper copies by mail, or in-person inspection)
• The specific City and County of Honolulu department you believe maintains the records
• A statement invoking your rights under Hawaii Revised Statutes Chapter 92F (the UIPA)
• If applicable, a public interest fee waiver statement explaining why the first $60 of fees should be waived
• If requesting records about yourself, a statement identifying yourself as the subject of a personal records request under HRS § 92F-21

Response Deadlines and What to Expect

Under the UIPA, the City and County of Honolulu must respond to a formal written records request within 10 business days of receipt, as established by Hawaii Administrative Rules § 2-71-11. In extenuating circumstances — such as when a request involves extensive search, review, and segregation of records, or requires consultation with other agencies or legal counsel — the agency may extend this period to a maximum of 20 business days from the date of the original request. The agency must send the requester a written acknowledgment before the 10-business-day deadline explaining the reason for the extension.

A proper "response" under the UIPA means the agency must issue a formal Notice to Requester informing you whether your request is granted, denied, or partially granted. If the records can be fully disclosed, the agency must provide them or make them available for inspection. If the records are only partially disclosable, the agency must provide the releasable portions and specify the statutory basis for any withholding.

Fees for City and County of Honolulu records include: $0.50 for the first page and $0.25 per page thereafter for photocopies; $2.50 per 15 minutes for agency search time; and $5.00 per 15 minutes for review and segregation of records (per HAR § 2-71-31). The first $30.00 in search, review, and segregation fees is automatically waived. A public interest fee waiver of up to $60 is available for media organizations and others who demonstrate the ability to widely disseminate the information. The City may require prepayment of estimated fees before processing begins.

What to Do If Your Request Is Denied or Delayed

If the City and County of Honolulu denies your records request — in whole or in part — the agency is required to provide a written notice citing the specific legal basis for the denial. Common reasons include the personal privacy exemption (HRS § 92F-13(1)), litigation privilege (HRS § 92F-13(2)), frustration of a legitimate government function (HRS § 92F-13(3)), or protection by another state or federal law (HRS § 92F-13(4)). Read the denial carefully: vague or conclusory denials that fail to cite a specific statutory exemption are themselves a potential basis for appeal.

Hawaii's UIPA provides one of the most accessible appeal processes in the country, centered on the Office of Information Practices (OIP) — a dedicated state agency established exclusively to administer the UIPA. An OIP appeal is free, informal, and does not require an attorney. The OIP can issue formal opinions that are admissible in court and that agencies are legally obligated to follow if they choose not to appeal.

If you don't receive a response at all within 10 business days (or 20 under an extension), that non-response is legally treated as a denial — and you can proceed to appeal immediately.

Attorney fees and costs may be awarded by a circuit court in successful public access cases under HRS § 92F-15. Courts have broad discretion to award fees to a prevailing requester, particularly where the agency's withholding was without a reasonable basis in law.

Steps to Appeal

1. Contact the specific department's UIPA contact person informally — sometimes a simple call or follow-up email resolves miscommunications or delays before escalation is needed.
2. If the denial is from the City Clerk's office or another department, request that the agency's director or head conduct an internal administrative review of the decision.
3. File a formal appeal with the Hawaii Office of Information Practices (OIP) within one year of the denial under HRS § 92F-15.5. Contact OIP at: 250 South Hotel Street, Suite 107, Honolulu, HI 96813; (808) 586-1400; [email protected]. The OIP 'Attorney of the Day' service can provide informal guidance within 24 hours.
4. Cooperate with OIP's review process — provide your original request, the agency's denial notice, and any supporting documentation. OIP may request supplemental information from both you and the agency.
5. If OIP issues an opinion ordering disclosure and the agency fails to comply, seek court enforcement of the OIP opinion in circuit court under HRS § 92F-15.
6. File an independent civil action in circuit court within two years of the denial under HRS § 92F-15. You do not have to exhaust the OIP process before filing in court, but OIP opinions are admissible as evidence.
7. If you prevail in court, seek an award of attorney fees and court costs under HRS § 92F-15. Hawaii courts have authority to award fees where the denial was without reasonable basis in law.

Types of Records You Can Request from East Honolulu, Hawaii

East Honolulu is governed by the City and County of Honolulu, which maintains records across dozens of departments relevant to residents of the East Honolulu CDP. The following are common categories of public records available through a UIPA request to the City and County of Honolulu.

• Building permits and inspection reports for residential and commercial properties in East Honolulu neighborhoods
• Zoning determinations, variance applications, and land use decisions affecting Hawaii Kai, Aina Haina, Niu Valley, and surrounding communities
• City Council ordinances, resolutions, meeting minutes, and committee hearing records
• City and County of Honolulu budgets, financial statements, and expenditure reports
• Contracts between the City and private vendors or contractors, including public works projects
• Honolulu Police Department incident reports and traffic collision reports for East Honolulu areas
• Environmental Services records including solid waste, wastewater, and environmental test results
• Parks and Recreation program records, facility use permits, and maintenance reports for East Honolulu parks
• Employee compensation and salary records for City and County of Honolulu personnel
• Department of Planning and Permitting subdivision approvals and special management area permits
• Real property assessment records and tax documents for Honolulu County parcels
• Mayor's Office correspondence, executive orders, and policy directives
• Procurement and bid records for public construction and services contracts
• Emergency services response records and Honolulu Emergency Services Department data
• City-funded grant awards and community organization contracts in the East Honolulu district

If you're unsure whether a specific document is a public record, file the request anyway. The burden is on the City and County of Honolulu to justify withholding — not on you to pre-determine what's available.

Tips for Effective Public Records Requests in East Honolulu