Hawaiʻi State
Public Library System

Hawaiʻi Documents Center

The Hawaiʻi Documents Center is part of the Hawaiʻi & Pacific Section at the Hawaiʻi State Library.  Authorized under Hawaiʻi Revised Statute (HRS) §93-1, it is responsible for collecting, organizing, and distributing the publications of the state government and the four county governments of Hawaiʻi.

HRS §93-2 defines Publication as “informational matter produced for public distribution or access in any tangible medium, originating or produced with the imprint of, by the authority of, or at the total or partial expense of any agency of the State or a county government.”

A record of publications deposited with the Hawaiʻi Documents Center by fiscal year can be accessed in the online Hawaiʻi Documents Lists for fiscal years 2001 to Current.

Accessing Hawaiʻi Documents

Online

Electronic copies of state and county publications are available in the Hawaiʻi Documents Center’s Online Digital Repository. Files are in Adobe PDF format.

In person

Print copies of most publications are available at the Hawaiʻi State Library, Hawaiʻi & Pacific Section. Search the Hawaiʻi State Public Library System’s online catalog for availability. Reference copies can be viewed within the library. Circulating copies can be borrowed with a library card or requested to be sent to another library, the same as other circulating library material. Documents dating back to the mid-1960s, that may not be cataloged or digitized, are available on microfilm at seven depository libraries. Print indexes are available at the depository libraries for these collections.

Oahu

• Hawai‘i State Library
• Kaimukī Public Library
• Kāneʻohe Public Library
• Pearl City Public Library

Neighbor Islands

• Hilo Public Library
• Kahului Public Library
• Līhuʻe Public Library

Public Review Documents

Environmental impact analysis materials are deposited with the Hawaiʻi Documents Center for public review at the Hawaiʻi State Library under the filing requirements of Hawaiʻi Administrative Rules §11-200.1-5.

The Public Review Lists for fiscal years 2012 to Current record all publications deposited for public review at the Hawaiʻi State Library within each fiscal year; within each annual list, the publications are arranged chronologically by public review date, with the most current review periods listed first.

Accessing Public Review Documents

Online

Electronic copies of documents currently on public review are identified in the Hawaiʻi Documents Center’s Digital Repository with the keyword phrase “current-public-review”

After the public review period, the keyword phrase is removed; the electronic copies are retained in the repository.

In-person

Print copies of public review documents deposited with the Hawaiʻi Documents Center are available for review at the Hawaiʻi State Library, Hawaiʻi & Pacific Section, and at the HSPLS branch closest to the project. Please contact HSPLS individual libraries to check for availability.

After the public review period, print copies are generally added to the Hawaiʻi & Pacific Section’s collection. Check the HSPLS catalog for availability.

For State and County Agencies

Definitions and depositing requirements for state and county agency publications are outlined in the Hawaiʻi Revised Statutes, Chapter 93 – Government Publications. The Hawaiʻi Revised Statutes are available online at the Hawaiʻi State Legislature website or in print at all Hawaiʻi State Public Library System branches.

HRS §93-3 states in part that “upon release of a publication, every state and county agency shall immediately deposit two paper copies, and one electronic copy in a format prescribed by the state librarian, with the state publications distribution center….”

The Hawaiʻi State Documents Center acts as the state publications distribution center.

Two paper copies can be deposited in the following manner:

By mail:
Hawaiʻi Documents Center
478 South King Street
Honolulu, HI 96813

Via State Messenger:
HSPLS/HSL/Hawaiʻi Documents Center

In-person:
Hawaiʻi & Pacific Reference desk, Hawaiʻi State Library
478 South King Street, Honolulu

The electronic copy format prescribed by the state librarian is Adobe PDF.

The electronic copy can be deposited as follows:

By email attachment to: Hawai‘i Documents Center

In the email, please include the depositing government agency, the statute, act, resolution, etc. related to the publication, and the contact person for the publication.

If the attachment is too large for email, please email the above address with the URL to the document posted on the internet as per HRS §93-16.

For more information, please contact the Hawaiʻi Documents Center at (808) 586-3545.