ROH §1-21.1
What key terms mean in this city law
Read the official text at honolulu.gov ↗This section defines important words used in the city's rules about paid public communications. It explains what counts as an advertisement, city funds, city employees and officers, and when something is considered publicly distributed. Some notices, like meeting notices and legal notices, are not treated as advertisements.
businesses
The ordinance, as written (Honolulu County) — Definitions
A copy, taken August 22, 2026. The version published by Honolulu is the one that governs, and it may have changed since. Check it before relying on anything here.
For the purposes of this article, the following definitions apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.
Advertisement. Includes any communication paid for in whole or in part with city funds, and publicly distributed to support, advocate for, or inform the public about a city project, program, action, or legislation. The term does not apply to notices of public meetings, notices of public hearings, notices of real property tax assessments, liquor commission advertisements, and other legal notices required by ordinance or other law. A radio or television broadcast that differs in content from day-to-day or program-to-program shall be treated as a separate advertisement for each day or program, respectively.
City Employee. Has the same meaning as is defined in Charter § 13-101, as amended.
City Funds. Includes all funds appropriated in the city’s executive operating and capital budgets and its legislative budget and include funds obtained by the city from the State or federal government.
City Officer. Has the same meaning as is defined in Charter § 13-101, as amended.
Liquor Commission Advertisement. Any communication paid for with fees collected and received by, as well as all other moneys received on behalf of, the liquor commission and deposited into the liquor commission fund, and publicly distributed to support, advocate for, or inform the public about a liquor commission project, program, action, or legislation. The term does not apply to notices of public meetings, notices of public hearings, and other legal notices required by ordinance or other law. A radio or television broadcast that differs in content from day-to-day or program-to-program shall be treated as a separate liquor commission advertisement for each day or program, respectively.
Publicly Distributed. To make available to the public by broadcasting on television or radio, by publishing in a newspaper, magazine, periodical, or other form of mass print media, or by bulk mailing a city publication.
Published by the City and County of Honolulu through American Legal Publishing.
LawTrove is not legal advice. The summary above is a computer-generated restatement — the authoritative text is the official version linked above.