Replies

I sent the following to Governor Lingle and copied Ms. Okubo:

To: governor.lingle@hawaii.gov
Cc: janice.okubo@doh.hawaii.gov

Dear Governor Lingle,

Yesterday, July 29, 2009, I sent Janice Okubo of the Hawaii Department of Health a UIPC request asking, among other things, that she send me an electronic copy of the criteria by which the Department of Health determines natural born citizenship:

> Please send me an electronic copy of the written criteria
> by which the
> Hawaii Department of Health determines that a person is a
> natural born
> American citizen.

Today, July 30, 2009, I received a response from Ms. Okubo in which she stated:

> The Health Director has nothing further to add to her
> statement.
> Vital records information is exempt from the UIPA.

Please note that my first question as indicated above
did not request any vital records and it did not even
mention the Health Director nor was it directed at
the Health Director. Therefore I contend that Ms. Okubo’s
response is non-responsive to my first question and violates
the letter and intent of the UIPA.

I request your assistance in persuading Ms. Okubo to adhere
to the Hawaii UIPC and answer the question fully.

Thank you.

Sorry, I did this before I noticed your suggestion.
I also forwarded my request to Gov. Lingle to hannity, beck, greta and loudobbs. I omitted Dr. Fukino due to Ms. Okubo’s response mentioning that the Health Director had nothing more to state on any of my questions and I did not want to give anyone any further excuse to decline to respond. In any case, we should see what if anything happens when the questions are reduced to a single question which leaves no cover from the usual excuse that vital records cannot be shared without permission from a a primary party to the records... KISS (Keep It Simple Steve :-)

This is what I have discovered. If your request was denied, you may revise it and try filing again OR refile it with the Office Of Information in Hawaii. For me, if they don’t respond in 10 days to MY request, I file with the Office of Information, too.

And I believe any questions about that office should be directed to the lt. Gov.

This is what I sent him at ltgov@hawaii.gov:

Dear Lt. Governor Aiona,

Aloha! I have filed a UIPA request with a Hawaiian government agency today. Although I just sent it today, I would like to know the procedure to follow in order to pursue this request should it be denied or go unanswered for 10 days.

I have no confirmation that it was even received—what is a reasonable amount of time to wait for confirmation of receipt according to policy and procedure?

Can you instruct me on that procedure or forward this request to the appropriate person in the Office Of Information, or elsewhere, who can provide me the procedure to follow?

I would also like the email address & phone number for the Director of the Office of Information and address of the Department/Office.

Please reply via email.

Thank you for your help!