Hawaii Public Records
The mission of the State Records website is to provide public records to anyone who wishes to obtain, preview, or use such information. This website allows Hawaii residents to access this information in accordance with the Hawaii Uniform Information Practices Act, which specifies that all government information and records are available to the public.
This website ensures that all members of the general public have the right to access Hawaii state public records without requiring a reason for needing the information or revealing any personal information.
Hawaii State Records contain information about criminal records, court records, and vital records, and includes over 13 million transparent public records.
Are Hawaii Records Public?
Yes. Records generated or maintained by government agencies in Hawaii are mostly open to the public. The Hawaii Uniform Information Practices Act defines Hawaii public records as information maintained by an agency in written, auditory, visual, electronic, or other physical forms. These records are available to the general public except where exempted by law.
Public agencies in Hawaii often create procedures to assist the general public with their search to obtain public records. Generally, when submitting Public Records Act requests, a person can either carry out a free public data search or request copies of government records from custodians.
What is Considered Public Information in Hawaii?
Hawaii public records include:
- Hawaii court records
- Hawaii criminal records
- Property records or records of judicial proceedings maintained by the probate or land court
- Selected vital records (however, vital records exempted by state statute are not subject to public disclosure).
How Do I Find Public Records in Hawaii?
Any person can find public records in Hawaii by making a request to the custodian. A requester can choose to either inspect public records or obtain copies. Hawaii state law obliges public agencies to make records available once they receive a request unless the record is exempt. Even where the record is exempt, the record custodian should communicate a denial in writing to the requester stating the law that allows the denial. Any person can find public records in Hawaii through the following steps.
- Decide on the public record
A requester needs to decide the record they wish to access. For example, public vital records. This decision affects the subsequent steps they should take and may even determine if they have the right to access the records.
The requester must also decide how they want the custodian to fulfill their request. The custodian can allow inspection or provide copies. However, the custodian does not need to make the record available in a form it is not originally maintained in. Therefore, custodians do not need to make compilations or summaries of existing records to fulfill a record request. Neither does the law require custodians to carry out research just to fulfill requests. The requester’s decision will also determine the fees. Any person can usually inspect records for free. However, obtaining copies is not free. - Locate the record custodian
After the requester decides the record they wish to obtain, they should proceed to locate the record custodian. The public agency maintaining the record is the only person bound by law to provide public records. Any other person that receives a request does not have to honor it. Public agencies usually have officials to fulfill public records requests. Additionally, public agencies are to notify the public of the steps to take to obtain the records they maintain.
If there is no other way to find the custodian, a requester may contact a public agency to inquire into who their records custodian is, how to contact the custodian, the procedure for obtaining public records, and the applicable fees. Section 92F-18 of the Hawaii Revised Statutes mandates public agencies to publicize the records they maintain and also submit the information to the Office of Information Practices. Requesters can also contact the Office of Information Practices to know the custodian of the record they want to access. - Submit a request for the record
A person interested in obtaining public records should submit a request to the applicable custodian. Requests can be made in writing or orally. However, it is generally advisable to make a request in writing. A written request is easier to keep track of. It also serves as evidence if there is a need to seek judicial remedies.
The requester should include their name, contact information, and address in the request. A request should contain all the information the custodian needs to find the record. The custodian may deny the request if they cannot reasonably find the record. Requests may be made in person, by mail, by email, or through any other means allowed by the relevant local or state department.
How Do I Look Up Public Records in Hawaii for Free?
Any person can look up government records in Hawaii for free. However, free Hawaii public records searches are not available for every record. The amount the requester would need to pay to access a public record depends on how the request is made, how the record is maintained, and the custodian of the record. Only records that custodians maintain online are available for free. Even among these, only some online databases are free. One example of an online database where records can be accessed for free is the sex offender registry maintained by the Department of the Attorney General. Others include the case records search system maintained online by the judiciary, a Hawaii public records search system maintained by a court clerk's office, and the Land Records Management System provided by the Bureau of Conveyance, the state recorder's office.
Apart from using Hawaii public records search sites to look up government records for free, requesters can try to reduce the costs for Hawaii public records that they cannot obtain for free. Inspecting a record, rather than obtaining copies, may reduce costs. A requester would only need to pay the custodian’s record search fee and would not pay for the making of copies. Also, a requester may take pictures or make videos of a public record while inspecting it. A requester may also be able to obtain records for free if they can convince the custodian that disclosure is in the public's interest.
When Hawaii started creating public records in 1826, the state also began creating public records for its 5 counties. As digitalization of these records has become the standard for the past 30 years, both third-party and government websites are offering these records with increased reliability. This ensures that Hawaiians abide by the commitment to the United States of America to remain a fair and just society for all.
