Are Autopsy Reports Public in Hawaii? (2026 Guide)

In Hawaii, the final autopsy (examination) report is generally a public record under the Uniform Information Practices Act (HRS Chapter 92F), but the medical examiner redacts private details and may withhold records tied to an open investigation. Designated next of kin, law enforcement, and government or medical agencies can request a copy directly from the county medical examiner or coroner.

Are Autopsy Reports Public in Hawaii?

Yes. In Hawaii, the final report of examination is treated as a public record under the state Uniform Information Practices Act (UIPA), found at Hawaii Revised Statutes Chapter 92F. The Honolulu Department of the Medical Examiner states that it may be legally required to release the final report, including to the media.

That access is not unlimited. The office reviews each request and applies privacy protections and statutory exemptions before releasing anything. Sensitive personal details, photographs, and information that would constitute a clearly unwarranted invasion of privacy can be redacted or withheld.

Records connected to an active death investigation or pending criminal matter may also be held back until the case is closed. Hawaii's public-records law lets agencies withhold material that would frustrate a legitimate government function, which includes ongoing investigations.

Who Performs Autopsies in Hawaii?

Hawaii uses a county-based death investigation system, not a single state medical examiner. The framework is set by HRS Chapter 841.

In the City and County of Honolulu, the Department of the Medical Examiner handles death investigations, and the medical examiner serves as the coroner. In Hawaii, Maui, and Kauai counties, the chief of police (or an authorized subordinate) is the ex-officio coroner, working with a designated coroner's physician.

An autopsy is performed only when it is needed to establish the cause and manner of death. The medical examiner investigates deaths that are sudden and unexpected in apparent health, along with deaths involving violence, trauma, accidents, suicide, drugs, or suspicious circumstances.

Family permission is not required when an examination is legally necessary, and an autopsy of a deceased person under Chapter 841 must be performed by a pathologist certified in anatomic or forensic pathology by the American Board of Pathology.

Who Can Request a Hawaii Autopsy Report?

Designated next of kin, law enforcement, and government, medical, or health agencies may request a Hawaii examination report directly from the medical examiner or coroner. Because the final report is a public record under the UIPA, members of the public and the media may also obtain the released version, subject to redactions.

The legal next of kin generally has the broadest access and is the person who can receive the first copy at no charge. Other requesters may receive a copy with privacy-driven redactions applied.

If you are not the next of kin, expect more of the report to be withheld, especially anything tied to a privacy interest or an open case.

How to Get an Autopsy or Toxicology Report in Hawaii

To get an autopsy or toxicology report in Honolulu, submit a request to the Department of the Medical Examiner. The office accepts requests through its online report request portal and by mail at 835 Iwilei Road, Honolulu, Hawaii 96817. The portal lets you pay by debit or credit card.

For deaths handled in Hawaii, Maui, or Kauai counties, contact that county's coroner (the police department) for the record and its local request process.

As of January 1, 2026, the first copy of a report is free for designated next of kin and for law enforcement, government, or medical agencies. For other requests, the fee is $25 for cases created on or after January 1, 1998, and $75 for older cases.

The office also lists a $5.00 processing fee per copy. Its FAQ does not say whether that charge applies on top of the 2026 schedule, so confirm the current total with the Department of the Medical Examiner before you submit payment.

Reports take about six months to finalize on average, due to limited staffing and the time needed to complete toxicology and other testing. If the death is part of an open investigation, the office may hold the report until the case is resolved.

Autopsy Report vs Death Certificate in Hawaii

An autopsy report and a death certificate are two different documents in Hawaii. The autopsy or examination report is the medical examiner's detailed findings on the cause and manner of death, and you obtain it from the county medical examiner or coroner.

The death certificate is the official vital record filed with the Hawaii State Department of Health, usually submitted by the funeral home. It lists the cause-of-death line but not the full clinical detail of the autopsy.

Death certificates in Hawaii are restricted vital records with their own eligibility rules and are not open public records the way the final examination report can be. To learn more broadly about access, see Are Autopsies Public Records?.

Disclaimer: This page is general information, not legal advice. Public-records rules, fees, and processing times change. Verify current requirements with the county medical examiner or coroner before relying on this information.

Sources

This page draws on Hawaii Revised Statutes Chapter 841 and Chapter 92F, the Honolulu Department of the Medical Examiner, and the CDC coroner and medical examiner laws summary.

Up to Hawaii Death Records. Back to the hub: Death Records by State.