UIPA Request: EKNA Services "mini pest risk assessment" reports and contract records

Request to:: Department of Agriculture
Law used:: State of Hawaii UIPA
Status of this request:: Awaiting response
Summary of Request: To the Records Access Officer, Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity, and Jonathan Ho, Manager, Plant Quarantine Branch: Pursuant to the Uniform Information Practices Act (Modified), HRS Chapter 92F, I request access to and copies of the following government records maintained by the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity, including the Plant Quarantine Branch and the Plant Industry Division: 1. The two "mini pest risk assessment" reports prepared by EKNA Services (formerly Edward K. Noda and Associates) under the one-year contract of approximately $240,000 awarded in 2025, including the final reports, any interim or draft deliverables submitted to the department, and all attachments, data appendices, and supporting materials delivered with them. 2. The contract under which those assessments were produced, including the scope of work, the solicitation or procurement method used, any sole-source or exemption justification, amendments, the notice of award, and the deliverables schedule. 3. Records showing the department's receipt and acceptance of each assessment, including transmittal correspondence, acceptance or approval memoranda, invoices, and payment records. 4. Any record designating either assessment as confidential, draft, or otherwise not subject to public release, and any record stating the legal basis for that designation. Time period: January 1, 2025 through the date this request is processed. Format: Electronic copies delivered to the email address associated with this request. If any record exists only in paper form, please notify me of alternatives. Fee waiver: I request a waiver of all fees on the ground that disclosure serves the public interest. These records concern the expenditure of public funds on biosecurity work that affects every resident and farm in the state, and the department has not made the reports publicly available. If a waiver is not granted, please notify me before incurring costs exceeding $25.00. I note that HRS §92F-11 establishes a presumption that government records are open to public inspection, and that completed contract deliverables paid for with public funds are government records within the meaning of §92F-3. If the department withholds any record in whole or in part, I request a written statement of the specific legal basis for each withholding under HRS §92F-15(b), so that I may consider an appeal to the Office of Information Practices. I understand the department must respond within 10 business days of receipt, or within 20 business days in extenuating circumstances with written notice, under HRS §92F-15.5 and HAR §2-71-13.

Messages in this request

From	<< Name Not Public >>
Subject	Records Request for Department of Agriculture: UIPA Request: EKNA Services "mini pest risk assessment" reports and contract records [#1830]
Date	Oct. 28, 2026, 3:08 p.m.
To	Department of Agriculture
Status	Awaiting response
Attachments

Aloha, Pursuant to the public records law, I would like to request the following records in electronic format sent to my email address.

To the Records Access Officer, Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity, and Jonathan Ho, Manager, Plant Quarantine Branch:

Pursuant to the Uniform Information Practices Act (Modified), HRS Chapter 92F, I request access to and copies of the following government records maintained by the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity, including the Plant Quarantine Branch and the Plant Industry Division:

1. The two "mini pest risk assessment" reports prepared by EKNA Services (formerly Edward K. Noda and Associates) under the one-year contract of approximately $240,000 awarded in 2025, including the final reports, any interim or draft deliverables submitted to the department, and all attachments, data appendices, and supporting materials delivered with them.

2. The contract under which those assessments were produced, including the scope of work, the solicitation or procurement method used, any sole-source or exemption justification, amendments, the notice of award, and the deliverables schedule.

3. Records showing the department's receipt and acceptance of each assessment, including transmittal correspondence, acceptance or approval memoranda, invoices, and payment records.

4. Any record designating either assessment as confidential, draft, or otherwise not subject to public release, and any record stating the legal basis for that designation.

Time period: January 1, 2025 through the date this request is processed.

Format: Electronic copies delivered to the email address associated with this request. If any record exists only in paper form, please notify me of alternatives.

Fee waiver: I request a waiver of all fees on the ground that disclosure serves the public interest. These records concern the expenditure of public funds on biosecurity work that affects every resident and farm in the state, and the department has not made the reports publicly available. If a waiver is not granted, please notify me before incurring costs exceeding $25.00.

I note that HRS §92F-11 establishes a presumption that government records are open to public inspection, and that completed contract deliverables paid for with public funds are government records within the meaning of §92F-3. If the department withholds any record in whole or in part, I request a written statement of the specific legal basis for each withholding under HRS §92F-15(b), so that I may consider an appeal to the Office of Information Practices.

I understand the department must respond within 10 business days of receipt, or within 20 business days in extenuating circumstances with written notice, under HRS §92F-15.5 and HAR §2-71-13.

<< Name Not Public >>

4 days, 5 hours agoOct. 28, 2026, 3:09 p.m.: << Name Not Public >> sent a message to Department of Agriculture.