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HRS §710-1017

Falsifying or damaging government records is a crime

This law makes it a crime to fake, change, hide, or destroy government records, or to use or file such fake or changed records. It also covers refusing to hand over a government record when a public official properly asks for it. Breaking this law is a misdemeanor.

everyone

The statute, as written — Tampering with a government record

(1) A person commits the offense of tampering with a government record if: (a) The person, acting knowingly, falsely makes a purported government record, or falsely completes or alters, or falsely makes an entry in, a government record or a true copy thereof; (b) The person knowingly presents or uses a government record or a purported government record, or a true copy thereof, knowing that it has been falsely made, completed, or altered, or that a false entry has been made therein, with intent that it be taken as genuine; (c) The person knowingly records, registers, or files, or offers for recordation, registration, or filing, in a governmental office or agency, a statement, document, or record, in written, printed, or electronic form, which has been falsely made, completed, or altered, or in which a false entry has been made, or which contains a false statement or false information; or (d) Knowing the person lacks the authority to do so: (i) The person intentionally destroys, mutilates, conceals, removes, or otherwise impairs the availability of any government records; or (ii) The person refuses to deliver up a government record in the person's possession upon proper request of a public servant entitled to receive such record for examination or other purposes. (2) For the purpose of this section, "government record" means all records created, issued, received, or kept by any governmental office or agency or required by law to be kept by others for the information of the government. (3) Tampering with government records is a misdemeanor.
Read the official text at capitol.hawaii.gov ↗as published Jan 6, 2026our copy taken Aug 20, 2026

LawTrove is not legal advice. The summary above is a computer-generated restatement — the authoritative text is the official version linked above.