Hawaii
Sunshine Law
Formally: Hawaii Sunshine Law
Haw. Rev. Stat. §§ 92-1 to 92-13
Sunshine Score
| Advance Notice | 6 days, online posting required |
|---|---|
| Public Comment | Required, remote allowed, written accepted |
| Closed Sessions | 6 permitted categories |
| Minutes | Required, online posting required |
| Recording | Not required |
| Remote Participation | Allowed |
| Enforcement | Voidable, legislature included |
Agenda & Notice Requirements
Online posting: Required
Post agenda at least 6 calendar days before meeting on state/county online calendar, at board office, with Lieutenant Governor or clerk, and at meeting site; meeting cancelled as a matter of law if notice posted less than 6 days before
Agenda changes at meeting: Not allowed
Public Participation
Time limits: No statutory time limit; boards may provide for reasonable administration of oral testimony by rule, including time limits, per H.R.S. § 92-3.
Boards shall afford all interested persons an opportunity to present oral testimony on any agenda item; oral testimony shall not be limited to the beginning of the meeting. Boards shall also afford all interested persons an opportunity to submit data, views, or arguments in writing on any agenda item. Boards may not require preregistration to testify, though they may request it and hear registered testifiers first. H.R.S. § 92-3.
Virtual Meetings
Allowed under HRS § 92-3.7; meetings may be held by interactive conference technology with at least one location open to the public. Remote members count toward quorum and vote. Audiovisual interaction among all members required.
Closed Sessions
Closed (executive) sessions: Allowed under specific circumstances
Permitted Categories
Meeting Minutes
Online posting: Required
Content requirements: date, time, place, members present/absent, substance of all matters proposed/discussed/decided, views of each member upon request (HRS § 92-9)
Recording & Broadcast
Enforcement
Scope
This law applies to:
Legislature: Covered by this law
Accessibility & Language Access
ADA accessibility: ADA Title II applies to all public meetings. The state statute does not add requirements beyond federal law; reasonable accommodations must be provided on request.
Language access: No statutory language-access mandate for public meetings. Hawaiian has co-official status with English under Haw. Const. Art. XV § 4, but the Sunshine Law (HRS ch. 92) does not require interpretation or translation at meetings. Federal Title VI obligations apply to recipients of federal funds.