2025

The Office of Information Practices recently issued two informal opinions and five formal opinions under the Uniform Information Practices Act, chapter 92F, Hawaii Revised Statutes (UIPA), and Sunshine Law, part I of chapter 92, HRS. The summaries of the opinions...

Opinion Ltr. No. F25-06 March 27, 2025 Adequacy of Search for Personal Records Requester asked whether the County of Hawaii Department of Parks and Recreation (Parks) fully responded to Requester’s request for emails and a list of name-calling that Parks...

Opinion Ltr. No. F25-05 March 25, 2025 Record Requests Under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, and Title 8, Chapter 60, HAR, Provision of Free Appropriate Public Education for a Student with a Disability Requester, who is a parent (Parent)...

Opinion Ltr. No. F25-04 March 21, 2025 Written Testimony Submitted for Canceled Meeting Requester asked whether the Maui County Planning Commission (Commission) violated the Sunshine Law by failing to consider testimony submitted for a canceled meeting when the same agenda...

U Memo 25-16 March 21, 2025 Records Related to an Ongoing Criminal Investigation Requester sought copies of records related to a murder investigation from the Maui Police Department (MPD).  MPD denied the record request, arguing that disclosure would lead to...

S Memo 25-04 March 10, 2025 Unauthorized Discussion Not Permitted Interaction Requester asked for an investigation into whether the Downtown-Chinatown Neighborhood Board No. 13 (NB 13) violated the Sunshine Law when one member sent an email to eight other members regarding...

S Memo 25-03 March 6, 2025 Board Packet's Availability Requester asked whether the Neighborhood Commission, City & County of Honolulu, had violated the Sunshine Law by not sending notification to persons on its mailing list that a board packet was...

Four bills of interest affecting public meetings and public records have crossed over to the other side of the Legislature.  One would amend chapter 92F, HRS, the Uniform Information Practices Act (UIPA), one would amend part I of chapter 92,...

The Office of Information Practices (OIP) resolves open meetings and open records disputes, advises government agencies and boards, and assists the public in understanding their rights under these laws.  OIP has a vacant Staff Attorney position that is “at will”...

Opinion F25-03 February 28, 2025 Reasonable Search for Records; Employee Medical Records A record requester (Requester) sought copies of an officer’s disciplinary and medical records from the Honolulu Police Department (HPD).  HPD denied the record request, asserting that it had...