Likely right. However as you said before, the clerks could have given access to limited query functions as in reports they could run to update their binders. The push the button report. As you said the clerks would not have access to change or add to the database using some query language.
Hawaii may also may be able to run a transaction history and have an audit trail that would show all changes to their databases. The audit trail would show which program, user, time and date of change, and what record was accessed or changed.
It would certainly seem to be against the spirit, if not the letter, of the law regarding disclosure of public records, to refuse to run a simple database query in response to a citizen’s request. SQL is not that hard to learn. They CAN do it; they just WON’T do it. It would take no time at all. I know it. They know it. OIP SHOULD know it, too.