Department of Accounting and General Services

A division within the Department of Accounting and General Services, the Hawai‘i State Archives’ mission is to ensure open government by preserving and making accessible the historic records of state government and to partner with state agencies to manage their active and inactive records.

The Archives Division administers the executive branch’s archives and records management programs under the direction of the State Comptroller. The functions of the programs are mandated by Chapter 94, Hawai‘i Revised Statutes. The Division is organized into two branches, the Historical Records Branch and the Records Management Branch.

The Historical Records Branch preserves and provides access to the State’s government archives and special collections through Hawai‘i State Archives. These records date from the monarchy to the current legislative session, and also include the papers of individuals and organizations, photographs, maps, artifacts, rare books, 19th century newspapers. Hawai‘i State Archives is open to the public.

The Records Management Branch provides support services to state government agencies of the executive branches which are subject to Section 94-3, Hawai‘i Revised Statutes. It maintains a warehouse facility that can house 42,000 cubic feet of non-permanent government records and stores security copies of microfilmed records. The branch develops and revises records retention and disposition schedules for the State Comptroller’s approval. The State Records Center does not offer services directly to the public.