How to File a Public Records Request in Maili, Hawaii

What Is the Uniform Information Practices Act (Modified)?

Hawaii's Uniform Information Practices Act (Modified), commonly known as the UIPA, is codified at Hawaii Revised Statutes Chapter 92F (§§ 92F-1 through 92F-43). Enacted in 1988, the UIPA establishes a foundational principle: all government records are presumptively open to public inspection and copying unless access is specifically restricted or closed by law. Any person — individual, corporation, nonprofit, or other legal entity, regardless of residency or citizenship — may file a records request. No reason or statement of purpose is required.

Under the UIPA, a "government record" is broadly defined as any information maintained by a government agency in written, auditory, visual, electronic, or other physical form. This covers a wide range of materials held by City and County of Honolulu departments relevant to Māʻili residents: building permits, zoning decisions, city contracts, council ordinances and meeting minutes, agency correspondence and emails, environmental test results, police incident reports, and budget documents.

Key exemptions under HRS § 92F-13 include records whose disclosure would constitute a clearly unwarranted invasion of personal privacy, records related to pending litigation, records whose release would frustrate a legitimate government function, and records protected by other state or federal law or court order. Critically, these exemptions are largely discretionary — agencies may choose to disclose records that technically qualify for an exemption. The burden of justifying any withholding falls on the agency, not the requester.

Read the full text of the Uniform Information Practices Act (Modified) (Hawaii Revised Statutes Chapter 92F (§§ 92F-1 through 92F-43))

How to File a Public Records Request with the City and County of Honolulu (Maili)

How to Submit Your Request

Because Māʻili is an unincorporated CDP, there is no separate Māʻili government. All public records requests must be directed to the City and County of Honolulu department that maintains the records you seek. For City Council legislative records, ordinances, resolutions, and general official records, the Office of the City Clerk (clerks@honolulu.gov) is the appropriate starting point. For records held by other departments — such as the Department of Planning and Permitting for land-use matters, the Department of Environmental Services for environmental records, or the Honolulu Police Department for police reports — direct your written request to that department's records officer. The State of Hawaii's Office of Information Practices (OIP) provides a standardized "Request to Access a Government Record" form (available at oip.hawaii.gov/forms/ in PDF and Word formats) that is recognized by all Honolulu county agencies. Using this form is strongly recommended, as it ensures your request includes all elements required under HRS Chapter 92F and signals that you are making a formal UIPA request subject to statutory deadlines. Requests may be submitted by email, mail, or in person during business hours.

Download Required Form

What to Include in Your Request

• Your full name and contact information (mailing address, phone number, and/or email address)
• A clear and specific description of the records you are requesting — include record type, subject matter, date range, address, project name, or any identifying reference numbers
• The name of the City and County of Honolulu department you believe maintains the records
• Your preferred format for receiving the records (electronic copy via email, paper copy by mail, or in-person inspection)
• A fee threshold — the maximum dollar amount you are willing to pay before the agency contacts you for authorization
• If applicable, a public interest fee waiver statement explaining how disclosure serves the public interest and your ability to widely disseminate the information
• A citation to Hawaii Revised Statutes Chapter 92F (UIPA) to establish the legal basis of your request

Response Deadlines and What to Expect

Under HRS § 92F-11(b) and the implementing rules at Hawaii Administrative Rules § 2-71-13, the City and County of Honolulu must respond to a formal written UIPA request within 10 business days of receipt. Hawaii imposes no residency distinction — the same 10-business-day deadline applies to all requesters regardless of where they live.

A timely "response" does not necessarily mean you will receive the actual records within 10 business days. Rather, the agency must issue a formal Notice to Requester (NTR) within that window informing you whether your request will be granted, denied, partially granted, or requires additional time. If the agency needs to segregate disclosable from exempt portions of records, it has 10 business days to notify you of the segregation and then 5 additional business days after notifying you (or receiving payment) to release the disclosable portions.

In extenuating circumstances — such as the need to search and review a large volume of records, consult with legal counsel, or coordinate across multiple departments — the agency may extend its response under HAR § 2-71-15 and provide records incrementally every 20 business days, as long as it explains the circumstances in writing.

Fees that may be assessed include: search time at $2.50 per 15 minutes; review and segregation at $5.00 per 15 minutes; and photocopies at $0.50 for the first page and $0.25 per page thereafter (per the City and County of Honolulu's published schedule). Importantly, the first $30 of search, review, and segregation fees is automatically waived for all requesters under HAR § 2-71-31. Agencies may require prepayment of estimated fees before processing large requests.

What to Do If Your Request Is Denied or Delayed

If the City and County of Honolulu denies your public records request — in whole or in part — the agency is legally required to provide a written notice that identifies the specific statutory exemption under HRS § 92F-13 that justifies each withholding. Common exemptions cited include personal privacy (§ 92F-13(1)), pending litigation (§ 92F-13(2)), frustration of a government function such as an active investigation (§ 92F-13(3)), and protection by another state or federal law (§ 92F-13(4)). A blanket denial without a cited legal basis is itself a potential violation of the UIPA.

If the denial seems overbroad, poorly reasoned, or legally questionable, your first step should be to contact the records officer or department head in writing — politely but specifically — to ask for a more detailed explanation or to explore whether you can narrow your request to get at least partial disclosure.

If informal resolution doesn't work, Hawaii provides one of the best non-judicial appeal options in the country through the state Office of Information Practices (OIP). Filing an appeal with OIP under HRS § 92F-15.5 is free, does not require an attorney, and must be filed within one year of the denial. OIP will investigate the matter, may request the withheld records for in-camera review, and can issue a formal opinion that is legally enforceable by the courts. If OIP rules in your favor and the agency does not appeal within 30 days, you can seek court enforcement of the OIP opinion.

If OIP review doesn't resolve the matter — or if you prefer to go directly to court — you may file a civil action in the First Circuit Court of Hawaii within two years of the denial under HRS § 92F-15. The court hears the matter de novo, with the agency bearing the burden of proof. If you prevail, the court has authority to award attorney's fees and costs against the agency. Even a non-response past the 10-business-day statutory deadline can be treated as a constructive denial and appealed to OIP.

Steps to Appeal

1. Review the denial notice carefully — the agency must cite a specific exemption under HRS § 92F-13 for each withheld record; a vague or legally unsupported denial may itself be grounds for appeal.
2. Follow up in writing with the records officer or department head to seek clarification, request partial disclosure, or explore narrowing your request to reduce the scope of the denial.
3. Contact OIP's free Attorney of the Day service at oip@hawaii.gov or (808) 586-1400 for non-binding guidance, typically within 24 hours, on whether the denial appears legally justified under the UIPA.
4. File a formal administrative appeal with the Hawaii Office of Information Practices (OIP) under HRS § 92F-15.5 within one year of the denial — OIP review is free, informal, and does not require an attorney; OIP opinions are admissible and enforceable by the courts.
5. If OIP orders disclosure and the agency fails to comply or appeal within 30 days, seek court enforcement of the OIP opinion in the First Circuit Court.
6. If OIP upholds the denial or you prefer direct court access, file a civil action in the First Circuit Court of Hawaii under HRS § 92F-15 within two years of the original denial — the court reviews the matter de novo and the agency bears the burden of justifying each withholding.
7. If you prevail in court, seek an award of reasonable attorney's fees and litigation costs — Hawaii circuit courts have authority to award fees to a prevailing requester in public access cases under HRS § 92F-15.

Types of Records You Can Request from Maili, Hawaii

Because Māʻili is governed by the City and County of Honolulu, public records relevant to the community are distributed across multiple Honolulu departments. The following types of records are commonly requested and are presumptively public under the UIPA.

• Building permits, construction approvals, and code enforcement records for Māʻili-area properties (Department of Planning and Permitting)
• Zoning determinations, land-use applications, and special management area permits affecting the Waiʻanae coast
• Environmental assessment and environmental impact statement records for development projects in the Leeward Oʻahu region
• City and County of Honolulu contracts with private vendors or contractors for services in West Oʻahu
• Honolulu Police Department (HPD) incident reports, traffic collision reports, and use-of-force records for the Waiʻanae District (HPD District 8)
• City Council ordinances, resolutions, committee hearing transcripts, and meeting minutes affecting Leeward Oʻahu
• Department of Environmental Services records including solid waste, stormwater, and wastewater infrastructure in the Māʻili area
• Parks and Recreation records, camping permit records, and maintenance reports for Māʻili Beach Park and surrounding facilities
• Real property tax assessment records and land transaction documents for Māʻili parcels (City and County of Honolulu)
• City budget documents, financial audits, and expenditure reports for relevant departments
• Department of Transportation Services traffic engineering studies, road maintenance plans, and Farrington Highway project records
• Board of Water Supply infrastructure records and service data for the Waiʻanae coast
• Civil defense and emergency management plans, hazard mitigation records, and disaster preparedness documents
• Mayor's Office correspondence, executive orders, and policy directives related to Leeward Oʻahu communities
• City-funded grant agreements, community development contracts, and social services funding records in the Waiʻanae District

If you're unsure whether a specific document is a public record, file the request anyway. The burden is on the City and County of Honolulu to justify withholding — not on you to pre-determine what's available.

Tips for Effective Public Records Requests in Maili