Formal Opinions

Opinion Letter No. 05-13 May 23, 2005 Information from Survey Responses The Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism (“DBEDT”) asked OIP whether DBEDT can offer artists or art companies assurances that their responses to a DBEDT survey will be...

Opinion Letter No. 05-12 May 5, 2005 Samples of Live Organisms The State Laboratories Division (“SLD”) of the Department of Health asked the OIP for an opinion regarding whether SLD must provide samples of live organisms, specifically bacteria isolated from...

Opinion Letter No. 05-11 April 27, 2005 Closed Public Building; Unreasonable Delay to Start of Public Meeting OIP addressed two issues raised by a member of the public regarding whether certain actions of the Kauai County Council (the “Council”) were...

Opinion Letter No. 05-10 April 25, 2005 University of Hawaii Campus Security Records [NOTE:  This opinion was partially overruled by OIP Op. Ltr. No. F13-01.] The University of Hawaii asked the OIP for an opinion regarding whether the University’s Campus...

Opinion Letter No. 05-09 April 20, 2005 Charter Schools [Note:  Section 302A-1184, HRS, the statute at issue in this opinion, was repealed in 2006. Adopted in 2012, chapter 302D, HRS, governs public charter schools. Sections 302D-12(e) and 302D-25(a), HRS, expressly exempt charter...

Opinion Letter No. 05-08 April 12, 2005 Cellular Telephone Invoices Cellular telephone records compiled and submitted by councilmembers to meet the requirement that they account for and substantiate the expenditure of their cell phone allowances are government records and a...

Opinion Letter No. 05-07 March 31, 2005 Public Testimony When Non-Sunshine Law Requirements Apply The Department of the Corporation Counsel, City and County of Honolulu, asked the OIP for an opinion on several issues regarding the public’s right to testify...

Opinion Letter No. 05-06 March 22, 2005 Traffic Accident Reports and Data The Honolulu Advertiser (“Advertiser”) and the Department of Transportation (“DOT”) asked OIP for an opinion regarding the Advertiser’s request to DOT for an electronic copy of all statistical...

Opinion Letter No. 05-05 March 16, 2005 Report for Quality Improvement Forms The Department of Emergency Services (“DES”), City and County of Honolulu, asked OIP whether it is appropriate under the UIPA for DES to disclose Report for Quality Improvement...

Opinion Letter No. 05-04 January 21, 2005 Executive Meetings to Interview Mayor's Appointees A member of the Kauai County Council (the “Council”) asked OIP for an advisory opinion regarding whether the Council may convene an executive meeting to interview individuals...