Public Records

These Hawaiʻi Agencies Have Withheld The Most From The Public David Croxford/Civil Beat/2023

These Hawaiʻi Agencies Have Withheld The Most From The Public

Public records requests can reveal information that would never appear in official news releases. But there is no guarantee agencies will hand the information over.

HPD May Have Shared Your License Plate Data With The IRS Jamm Aquino/Civil Beat/2026

HPD May Have Shared Your License Plate Data With The IRS

The Honolulu police chief says the department will no longer share data with other agencies, but five months of data remain in the hands of the IRS.

Lawsuit Demands More Information On Hiring Of UH President Wendy Hensel David Croxford/Civil Beat/2024

Lawsuit Demands More Information On Hiring Of UH President Wendy Hensel

The public has a right to review the Board of Regents’ discussions when it hired a new president and her special adviser, public interest attorneys say.

The Removal Of Federal Data Affects Us in Our Hometowns Getty Images/iStock

The Removal Of Federal Data Affects Us in Our Hometowns

The disappearance from government websites of decades of data on health, education and criminal justice are among the many datasets that the Trump administration has dumped.

Civil Beat’s Public Salary Database Is Updated. Here’s How To Use It David Croxford/Civil Beat/2023

Civil Beat’s Public Salary Database Is Updated. Here’s How To Use It

A few tips can help narrow search results and improve your experience while using this popular online tool.

Recent Government Salary Hikes At The Top Leave Many Public Workers Behind Kevin Fujii/Civil Beat/2024

Recent Government Salary Hikes At The Top Leave Many Public Workers Behind

The latest update to Civil Beat’s Public Salary Database reflects major public-sector wage increases across Hawaiʻi — but not for everyone.

State Tries To Seal Foster Care Files To Protect Info It Already Revealed Photo: Kevin Fujii/Civil Beat/2025

State Tries To Seal Foster Care Files To Protect Info It Already Revealed

When Civil Beat sought exhibits in the trial of an abusive Hawaiʻi foster dad, the Attorney General’s Office intervened to prevent “family trauma” from becoming public. It already had.

Honolulu County Employee Fired After Nearly 5 Years Of Paid Leave Kevin Fujii/Civil Beat/2023

Honolulu County Employee Fired After Nearly 5 Years Of Paid Leave

The employee was paid not to work for years as officials mulled over his “impossible” mileage reports. He stopped receiving a city paycheck a few weeks after a Civil Beat story.

State Boards Must Release Records Showing Hiring Decisions, Judge Says Office of the Auditor

State Boards Must Release Records Showing Hiring Decisions, Judge Says

Newly released executive session minutes finally let the public see why the Agribusiness Development Corp. hired Wendy Gady to run the controversial organization.

Not So Public: City Officials Mum On HPD Chief Request For Extra Cash Cory Lum/Civil Beat/2022

Not So Public: City Officials Mum On HPD Chief Request For Extra Cash

Soon-to-be retired Honolulu Police Chief Joe Logan says he wants to be paid for two more years to cover retiring sooner than he’d anticipated.