Records & TransparencyHI
Getting Your Hawaii HOA's Records
By The HOARebel Team · June 2, 2026 · 2 min read
Hawaii gives owners a concrete records right with a 30-day deadline and capped costs. The exact rules depend on whether your community is a condominium or a planned community. For your specific situation, a licensed Hawaii attorney is the right resource. This is general information, not legal advice.
For condominiums: HRS § 514B-154 and § 514B-154.5
For condominiums, the association's "most current financial statement" must be provided "at no cost or on twenty-four-hour loan," and approved board minutes "for the current and prior year" must likewise be "available for examination by apartment owners at no cost or on twenty-four-hour loan."
Section 514B-154.5 adds a firm deadline: the listed documents, records, and information "shall be made available to any unit owner and the owner's authorized agents … no later than thirty days after receipt of a unit owner's or owner's authorized agent's written request." On cost, the statute keeps copies affordable — a "reasonable fee … shall not exceed $1 per page" (with an exception for oversized pages).
For planned communities: HRS § 421J-7
If your community is a planned community under Chapter 421J, § 421J-7 provides a comparable right. Association documents, "the most current financial statement," and "the minutes of the most recent meeting of the board of directors" (other than executive sessions) must be "made available for examination by any member at no cost, on twenty-four-hour loan or during reasonable hours," with approved minutes for the current and prior year available on request.
What owners commonly request
People reviewing a Hawaii association's records often look at:
- The most current financial statement, budget, and reserve study
- Board meeting minutes and notices
- The declaration, bylaws, and house rules
- Vendor and management contracts and bank records
- The assessment ledger and any lien filings for the unit
Records frequently feed other disputes — questioning a fine or the assessment lien usually starts with the underlying documents.
What people generally do
For owners seeking Hawaii records, a few practical points:
- A written request that cites § 514B-154.5 (condo) or § 421J-7 (planned community) is the usual starting point.
- For condominium document requests, there is a 30-day window.
- The free financial statement and minutes are available before paid copies.
- Keeping a copy of the request and any response is common practice.
- If a proper request is refused, Hawaii's mediation or administrative-hearing options and a licensed Hawaii attorney are the available resources.