Hawaii Revised Statutes

Haw. Rev. Stat. § 343-3 (2026)

  Public records and notice

✓ current as of July 2026
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     §343-3  Public records and notice.  (a)  All statements, environmental assessments, and other documents prepared under this chapter shall be made available for inspection by the public during established office hours.

     (b)  The office shall inform the public of notices filed by agencies of the availability of environmental assessments for review and comments, of determinations that statements are required or not required, of the availability of statements for review and comments, and of the acceptance or nonacceptance of statements.

     (c)  The office shall inform the public of:

     (1)  A public comment process or public hearing if a federal agency provides for the public comment process or public hearing to process a habitat conservation plan, safe harbor agreement, or incidental take license pursuant to the federal Endangered Species Act;

     (2)  A proposed habitat conservation plan or proposed safe harbor agreement, and availability for inspection of the proposed agreement, plan, and application to enter into a planning process for the preparation and implementation of the habitat conservation plan for public review and comment;

     (3)  A proposed incidental take license as part of a habitat conservation plan or safe harbor agreement; and

     (4)  An application for the registration of land by accretion pursuant to section 501-33 or 669-1(e) for any land accreted along the ocean.

     (d)  The office shall inform the public by the publication of a periodic bulletin to be available to persons requesting this information.  The bulletin shall be available through the office and public libraries. [L 1974, c 246, pt of §1; ren L 1979, c 197, §1(3); am L 1983, c 140, §6; am L 1992, c 241, §1; am L 1997, c 380, §8; am L 1998, c 237, §7; am L 2003, c 73, §3]

 

Case Notes

 

  Where there was no evidence that the city department of planning and permitting filed a notice with the office of environmental quality control pursuant to HAR §11-200-11.1 of its determination that a supplemental environmental impact statement was not required, there was no date from which to measure the thirty day limitation prescribed by §343-7(b) and §343-7(b) was thus inapplicable; in addition, given the plain and unambiguous language of §343-7 and this section, coupled with the related administrative rules, actual knowledge cannot be substituted for the public notice requirement.  123 H. 150, 231 P.3d 423 (2010).

 

 

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 14 cases (5 in the last 5 years), 1997–2024 · leading case: Sierra Club v. Dep't of Transp., 167 P.3d 292 (Haw. 2007).
Sierra Club v. Dep't of Transp., 167 P.3d 292 (Haw. 2007). · cites it 10× “HRS § 343-3. These sections, which provide for public notice and comment as to actions under HEPA’s ambit, further suggest that HEPA accords a procedural right unto members of the public.”
Unite Here! Local 5 v. City & Cnty. of Honolulu, 231 P.3d 423 (Haw. 2010). · cites it 19× “HRS § 343-3 provides in relevant part: (a) All statements, environmental assessments, and other documents prepared under this chapter shall be made available *446 for inspection by the public during established office hours.”
Sierra Club v. Dep't of Transp. of the State, 202 P.3d 1226 (Haw. 2009). · cites it 6× “(b) Any judicial proceeding, the subject of which is the determination that a statement is required for a proposed action, shall be initiated within sixty days after the public has been informed of such determination pursuant to section 343-3. Any judicial proceeding, the…”
Kepo'o v. Kane, 103 P.3d 939 (Haw. 2005). · cites it 3× “Any judicial proceeding, the subject of which is the determination that a statement is not required for a proposed action, shall be initiated within thirty days after the public has been informed of such determination pursuant to section 343-3 [pertaining to public records and…”
Sierra Club v. Hawaii Tourism Auth., 59 P.3d 877 (Haw. 2002). · cites it 2× “The office shall inform the public of the availability of the draft environmental assessment for public review and comments pursuant to section 343-3. The agency shall respond in writing to comments received during the review and prepare a final environmental assessment to…”
Kahana Sunset Owners Ass'n v. Cnty. of Maui, 947 P.2d 378 (Haw. 1997). · cites it 2× “HRS § 343-3 mandates that all environmental assessments be made available for inspection by the public during office hours.”
Maunalua Bay Beach Ohana 28 v. State, 222 P.3d 441 (Haw. App. 2009). · cites it 2× “Section 343-3, [HRS], is amended by amending subsection (c) to read as follows: "(c) The office [of environmental quality control] shall inform the public of: [[Image here]] (4) An application for the registration of land by accretion pursuant to section 501-33 or 669-1 (e) for…”
Kilakila 'O Haleakala v. Univ. of Hawaii., 382 P.3d 176 (Haw. 2016). “Under HRS § 343-7(b), “[a]ny judicial proceeding, the subject of which is the determination that a[n] [environmental impact] statement is not required for a proposed action, shall be initiated within thirty days after the public has been informed of such determination pursuant…”
Maui Lani Neighbors v. State, 542 P.3d 1222 (Haw. App. 2023). · cites it 2× “(b) Any judicial proceeding, the subject of which is the determination that a statement is required for a proposed action, shall be initiated within sixty days after the public has been informed of such determination pursuant to section 343-3. Any judicial proceeding, the…”
Sensible Traffic Alternatives & Resources, Ltd. v. Fed. Transit Admin. of the U.S. Dep't of Transp., 307 F. Supp. 2d 1149 (D. Haw. 2004). · cites it 3× “within sixty days “after the public has been informed pursuant to section 343-3.” 8 Section 343- *1162 3 requires the Office of Environmental Quality Control to inform the public of the availability of an Environmental Assessment and an EIS for review and of the acceptance or…”
Puna Pono All. v. State (Haw. App. 2022). · cites it 3× “3 HRS § 343-3 (2010) (part of HEPA) provides, in relevant part: (b) The office [of planning and sustainable development] shall inform the public of notices filed by agencies of the availability of environmental assessments for review and comments, of determinations that…”
Puna Pono All. v. State (Haw. App. 2022). · cites it 3× “3 HRS § 343-3 (2010) (part of HEPA) provides, in relevant part: (b) The office [of planning and sustainable development] shall inform the public of notices filed by agencies of the availability of environmental assessments for review and comments, of determinations that…”
— Haw. Rev. Stat. § 343-3(a) — 1 case
Sierra Club v. Dep't of Transp., 167 P.3d 292 (Haw. 2007). “HRS § 343-3. These sections, which provide for public notice and comment as to actions under HEPA’s ambit, further suggest that HEPA accords a procedural right unto members of the public.”
— Haw. Rev. Stat. § 343-3(b) — 2 cases
Sierra Club v. Dep't of Transp., 167 P.3d 292 (Haw. 2007). “HRS § 343-3. These sections, which provide for public notice and comment as to actions under HEPA’s ambit, further suggest that HEPA accords a procedural right unto members of the public.”
Unite Here! Local 5 v. City & Cnty. of Honolulu, 231 P.3d 423 (Haw. 2010). “HRS § 343-3 provides in relevant part: (a) All statements, environmental assessments, and other documents prepared under this chapter shall be made available *446 for inspection by the public during established office hours.”
— Haw. Rev. Stat. § 343-3(c) — 1 case
Sierra Club v. Dep't of Transp., 167 P.3d 292 (Haw. 2007). “HRS § 343-3. These sections, which provide for public notice and comment as to actions under HEPA’s ambit, further suggest that HEPA accords a procedural right unto members of the public.”
— Haw. Rev. Stat. § 343-3(c)(4) — 1 case
Maunalua Bay Beach Ohana 28 v. State, 222 P.3d 441 (Haw. App. 2009). “Section 343-3, [HRS], is amended by amending subsection (c) to read as follows: "(c) The office [of environmental quality control] shall inform the public of: [[Image here]] (4) An application for the registration of land by accretion pursuant to section 501-33 or 669-1 (e) for…”
— Haw. Rev. Stat. § 343-3(d) — 1 case
Sierra Club v. Dep't of Transp., 167 P.3d 292 (Haw. 2007). “HRS § 343-3. These sections, which provide for public notice and comment as to actions under HEPA’s ambit, further suggest that HEPA accords a procedural right unto members of the public.”
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