Since learning of the Judiciary’s use of confidential flags in 2018, the Public First has worked to unseal cases marked with this designation.  A confidential flag conceals the entire case from public view–including the names of the parties, the docket, and the identities of counsel–without any meaningful notice as required by Oahu Publ’ns, Inc. v. Ahn, 133 Hawai`i 482, 331 P.3d 460 (2014).  At Public First’s request, the State Judiciary provided case numbers for all regular civil cases filed in circuit court under a confidential flag since 2005.  Public First is steadily working to unseal these cases.

On February 13, 2026, the Law Center moved to unseal the record in Liane Ono et al. v. Iwao Suzuki.  The motion will be heard by the Honorable Taryn R. Tomasa.

• Motion to Unseal (2/13/26)