Office of Information Practices

U Memo 25-12
December 11, 2024
Identifying Information About Complainant

Requester requested a copy of a complaint filed with the County of Hawaii Department of Parks and Recreation (PARKS-H) about him.  PARKS-H disclosed a copy of the complaint form with the name, address, and telephone number of the complainant redacted.  Requester appealed PARKS-H’s response to his request.  The requested record was a personal record of Requester because it was about him.

Personal records must be disclosed to the person the record is about unless an exemption to disclosure of personal records at section 92F-22, HRS, applies.  Based on the statements of PARKS-H staff and the oral “promise” PARKS-H asserted was given to the complainant prior to filing the complaint, OIP found that the complainant furnished information under an express promise of confidentiality, and  concluded that in accordance with section 92F-22(2), HRS, PARKS-H was not required to disclose the name, address and telephone number of the complainant to Requester.