Informal Opinions – UIPA Opinions

U MEMO 26-13 May 18, 2026 Failure to Justify Nondisclosure of Responsive Records Requester sought a decision as to whether the Hawai‘i Tourism Authority (HTA) properly responded to her requests for copies of records under the UIPA.  HTA initially informed the Requester that it...

U MEMO 26-12 May 13, 2026 Internal Investigation Report of Alleged Workplace Violence; No Suspension or Discharge Requester sought an internal investigation report regarding an allegation of workplace violence by a government employee (Employee), which did not result in the suspension or discharge of the Employee.  OIP...

U MEMO 26-11 April 23, 2026 Confidential Attorney-Client Communications; Intra-Agency Disclosure Requester was an investigator for the Honolulu Liquor Commission (Commission) assigned to investigate a liquor license applicant.  Through his chain of command, Requester sought from its attorney, the Department of the Corporation Counsel’s (Counsel) legal opinion on whether the...

U MEMO 26-10 March 16, 2026 Confidential Commercial or Financial Information; Copyright; Reasonable Search for Records Requester made a record request to the Department of Health (DOH) for copies of a manual for a test used to assess adults with intellectual and...

U MEMO 26-09 February 24, 2026 Completed Driving Instructor Course Exams and Participant Names Requester enrolled in a Department of Education (DOE) course to become a certified Department of Transportation (DOT) driving instructor to teach driving education in public high schools.  Requester completed the classroom instruction portion of the course and took an exam.  Requester made a record request to DOE for a copy of her completed exam,...

U MEMO 26-08 January 14, 2026 Tax Collections Manual Requester asked whether the Hawai‘i Department of Taxation (DOTAX) properly denied her request for policies and procedures relating to executing a bank levy under Part II of the UIPA.  The sole DOTAX record including responsive...

U Memo 26-07 December 5, 2025 Request for Election Information After Lease With Vendor Expired On December 5, 2021, February 15, 2022, and May 19, 2022, Requester submitted three separate requests to the Office of Elections (OE) for access to the ballot images, cast vote records, and...

U Memo 26-06 November 21, 2025 Actual Knowledge That a Receipt is Not a Government Record Requester sought a copy of a store receipt that was held by a government employee in his personal capacity.  The UIPA requires that all government...

U Memo 26-05 November 18, 2025 Reasonable Search for Records; Confidential Attorney-Client Communications Requester made a record request to the Maui County Emergency Management Agency (EMA-M) for copies of letters mentioning a company named “Everbridge” or a product named “smart weather.”  EMA-M denied the request...

U Memo 26-04 October 29, 2025 Reasonable Search for Records Requester made a record request to the City and County of Honolulu Police Department (HPD) for a copy of a hospital report that was part of a court case.  HPD denied the...