State of Hawaii - Office of Information Practices

Opinion Letter No. 09-01
August 7, 2009
Hawaii Humane Society as Agency; Animal Control Enforcement Records

OIP was asked whether the Hawaiian Humane Society (HHS) properly denied a request for records pertaining to a woman known as the “Cat Lady” and the animals in her possession (the Cat Lady Investigation). OIP addressed two questions: 1) the threshold question of whether HHS is an “agency” as defined by the UIPA and therefore subject to its provisions; and 2) whether HHS must disclose records it maintains related to the Cat Lady Investigation.

OIP had previously opined that HHS is an “agency” subject to the UIPA “for the activities within the scope of its agreement with the City, and its enforcement of State and county laws enacted for the health, safety, and welfare of the public[.]” OIP Op. Ltr. No. 90-31.

However, because the Hawaii Supreme Court recently rejected the “totality of circumstances” balancing test adopted by OIP to determine whether a hybrid public-private entity falls within the definition of “agency” under the UIPA, OIP, as a threshold matter, reconsidered its opinion in OIP Opinion Letter Number 90-31 regarding HHS’ status as an “agency” subject to the UIPA. See Olelo: The Corp. for Comm’ty Tel. v. Office of Information Practices, 116 Haw. 337 (Haw. 2007).

Among other things, the court in Olelo instructed that an entity is an “agency” under the UIPA if it substitutes for government in the performance of a governmental function. Applying this statutory interpretation, OIP opined that HHS is an “agency” for the limited purpose of compliance with the UIPA when it provides services directly related to its enforcement of state and county laws concerning animal control. In so doing, HHS substitutes for the City in the performance of a government function.

OIP therefore concluded that, in accordance with the UIPA, HHS must disclose records maintained in the performance of services directly related to its enforcement of animal control laws.

OIP found that HHS’ records related to the Cat Lady Investigation are maintained by HHS as part of its enforcement of state laws concerning the treatment of animals. Thus, HHS must disclose those records except to the extent that they may be withheld under a UIPA exception to disclosure.

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