Not every problem goes to the same place. In Hawaii, the City and County of Honolulu and the State of Hawaii handle different things — and calling the wrong office just means starting over. Use this guide to find the right department the first time.
Quick Rule
If it's on your street, in your neighborhood park, or involves your trash — it's probably the city. If it involves a major highway, your child's school, or a state benefit program — it's probably the state.
City & County of Honolulu Handles:
Roads & Infrastructure: The Department of Facility Maintenance (DFM) handles maintenance of city streets, sidewalks, and street lights. The Department of Transportation Services (DTS) oversees traffic signals and road safety on city roads.
Issue | Contact |
|---|---|
Potholes on city streets | Report via HNL 311 at hnl311.com or call (808) 768-7777 |
Broken or missing street lights | Report via HNL 311 or call (808) 768-8387 |
Damaged sidewalks | Report via HNL 311 at hnl311.com |
Traffic signals | Report via HNL 311 or call DTS at (808) 768-8300 |
Graffiti on city property | Report via HNL 311 at hnl311.com |
Refuse & Recycling: The Department of Environmental Services (ENV) manages all residential trash, recycling, and bulky item collection across Oahu.
Issue | Contact |
|---|---|
Missed trash pickup | Call ENV Refuse Division at (808) 768-3200 |
Bulky item pickup (by appointment): | Schedule at opala.org or call (808) 768-3200 |
Illegal dumping | Report via HNL 311 at hnl311.com |
Parks & Recreation: The Department of Parks and Recreation manages city parks, community centers, and recreation programs.
Issue | Contact |
|---|---|
City park maintenance issues | Report via HNL 311 at hnl311.com |
Community center programs | Visit honolulu.gov/parks or call (808) 768-3003 |
Facility permits and reservations | Visit honolulu.gov/parks |
Emergency Management: The Department of Emergency Management (DEM) oversees disaster preparedness and emergency response for Oahu.
Issue | Contact |
|---|---|
Emergency alerts | Sign up at hnlalert.gov or text HNLALERT to 888-777 |
Shelter information during emergencies | Visit p.veoci.com/hnlshelter |
Emergency preparedness resource | Visit honolulu.gov/dem |
Police: The Honolulu Police Department (HPD) handles non-emergency and emergency law enforcement.
Issue | Contact |
|---|---|
Non-emergency police matters | Call (808) 529-3111 |
Emergencies | Call 911 |
HPD website | honolulupd.org |
Permitting & Zoning: The Department of Planning and Permitting (DPP) handles building permits, zoning, and land use on Oahu.
Issue | Contact |
|---|---|
Building permits | Visit honolulu.gov/dpp or call (808) 768-8000 |
Zoning questions | Call DPP at (808) 768-8000 |
State of Hawaii Handles:
Highways & State Roads: The State Department of Transportation (HDOT) maintains all state highways, including H-1, H-2, H-3, and Farrington Highway.
Issue | Contact |
|---|---|
Potholes on state highways | Visit honolulu.gov/dpp or call (808) 768-8000 |
State highway issues | Visit hawaii.gov/dot |
Education: The Hawaii State Department of Education (DOE) oversees all public schools statewide, including facilities, teachers, and student transportation.
Issue | Contact |
|---|---|
Public school matters | Visit hawaiipublicschools.org or call (808) 586-3230 |
School bus transportation | Contact your school's office directly |
Health & Human Services: The Hawaii Department of Human Services (DHS) administers state benefit programs.
Issue | Contact |
|---|---|
SNAP benefits (food assistance) | Visit humanservices.hawaii.gov or call (808) 586-5734 |
Medicaid (Med-QUEST) | Visit medquest.hawaii.gov or call (808) 524-3370 |
Child protective services | Call (808) 832-5300 |
Employment: The Hawaii Department of Labor and Industrial Relations (DLIR) handles unemployment claims and labor issues.
Issue | Contact |
|---|---|
Unemployment insurance | Visit unemployment.hawaii.gov or call (808) 762-5751 |
Workers' rights | Visit labor.hawaii.gov |
Voting & Elections: The Office of Elections is a state agency that oversees voter registration and elections statewide.
Issue | Contact |
|---|---|
Voter registration | Visit elections.hawaii.gov or call (808) 453-8683 |
Absentee ballot and vote-by-mail | Visit elections.hawaii.gov |
Key Department Links
City & County of Honolulu — honolulu.gov
Honolulu City Council — honolulucitycouncil.org
HNL 311 (Report City Issues) — hnl311.com
Hawaii State Government — hawaii.gov
State Department of Transportation — hawaii.gov/dot
Department of Human Services — humanservices.hawaii.gov
Office of Elections — elections.hawaii.gov
Still Not Sure?
Contact the District 9 office by email, phone, or the form below and we'll help point you in the right direction.
Phone: (808) 768-5009
Email: atulba@honolulu.gov
Office: 530 S. King St., Honolulu, HI 96813
Not every problem goes to the same place. In Hawaii, the City and County of Honolulu and the State of Hawaii handle different things — and calling the wrong office just means starting over. Use this guide to find the right department the first time.
Quick Rule
If it's on your street, in your neighborhood park, or involves your trash — it's probably the city. If it involves a major highway, your child's school, or a state benefit program — it's probably the state.
City & County of Honolulu Handles:
Roads & Infrastructure: The Department of Facility Maintenance (DFM) handles maintenance of city streets, sidewalks, and street lights. The Department of Transportation Services (DTS) oversees traffic signals and road safety on city roads.
Issue | Contact |
|---|---|
Potholes on city streets | Report via HNL 311 at hnl311.com or call (808) 768-7777 |
Broken or missing street lights | Report via HNL 311 or call (808) 768-8387 |
Damaged sidewalks | Report via HNL 311 at hnl311.com |
Traffic signals | Report via HNL 311 or call DTS at (808) 768-8300 |
Graffiti on city property | Report via HNL 311 at hnl311.com |
Refuse & Recycling: The Department of Environmental Services (ENV) manages all residential trash, recycling, and bulky item collection across Oahu.
Issue | Contact |
|---|---|
Missed trash pickup | Call ENV Refuse Division at (808) 768-3200 |
Bulky item pickup (by appointment): | Schedule at opala.org or call (808) 768-3200 |
Illegal dumping | Report via HNL 311 at hnl311.com |
Parks & Recreation: The Department of Parks and Recreation manages city parks, community centers, and recreation programs.
Issue | Contact |
|---|---|
City park maintenance issues | Report via HNL 311 at hnl311.com |
Community center programs | Visit honolulu.gov/parks or call (808) 768-3003 |
Facility permits and reservations | Visit honolulu.gov/parks |
Emergency Management: The Department of Emergency Management (DEM) oversees disaster preparedness and emergency response for Oahu.
Issue | Contact |
|---|---|
Emergency alerts | Sign up at hnlalert.gov or text HNLALERT to 888-777 |
Shelter information during emergencies | Visit p.veoci.com/hnlshelter |
Emergency preparedness resource | Visit honolulu.gov/dem |
Police: The Honolulu Police Department (HPD) handles non-emergency and emergency law enforcement.
Issue | Contact |
|---|---|
Non-emergency police matters | Call (808) 529-3111 |
Emergencies | Call 911 |
HPD website | honolulupd.org |
Permitting & Zoning: The Department of Planning and Permitting (DPP) handles building permits, zoning, and land use on Oahu.
Issue | Contact |
|---|---|
Building permits | Visit honolulu.gov/dpp or call (808) 768-8000 |
Zoning questions | Call DPP at (808) 768-8000 |
State of Hawaii Handles:
Highways & State Roads: The State Department of Transportation (HDOT) maintains all state highways, including H-1, H-2, H-3, and Farrington Highway.
Issue | Contact |
|---|---|
Potholes on state highways | Visit honolulu.gov/dpp or call (808) 768-8000 |
State highway issues | Visit hawaii.gov/dot |
Education: The Hawaii State Department of Education (DOE) oversees all public schools statewide, including facilities, teachers, and student transportation.
Issue | Contact |
|---|---|
Public school matters | Visit hawaiipublicschools.org or call (808) 586-3230 |
School bus transportation | Contact your school's office directly |
Health & Human Services: The Hawaii Department of Human Services (DHS) administers state benefit programs.
Issue | Contact |
|---|---|
SNAP benefits (food assistance) | Visit humanservices.hawaii.gov or call (808) 586-5734 |
Medicaid (Med-QUEST) | Visit medquest.hawaii.gov or call (808) 524-3370 |
Child protective services | Call (808) 832-5300 |
Employment: The Hawaii Department of Labor and Industrial Relations (DLIR) handles unemployment claims and labor issues.
Issue | Contact |
|---|---|
Unemployment insurance | Visit unemployment.hawaii.gov or call (808) 762-5751 |
Workers' rights | Visit labor.hawaii.gov |
Voting & Elections: The Office of Elections is a state agency that oversees voter registration and elections statewide.
Issue | Contact |
|---|---|
Voter registration | Visit elections.hawaii.gov or call (808) 453-8683 |
Absentee ballot and vote-by-mail | Visit elections.hawaii.gov |
Key Department Links
City & County of Honolulu — honolulu.gov
Honolulu City Council — honolulucitycouncil.org
HNL 311 (Report City Issues) — hnl311.com
Hawaii State Government — hawaii.gov
State Department of Transportation — hawaii.gov/dot
Department of Human Services — humanservices.hawaii.gov
Office of Elections — elections.hawaii.gov
Still Not Sure?
Contact the District 9 office by email, phone, or the form below and we'll help point you in the right direction.
Phone: (808) 768-5009
Email: atulba@honolulu.gov
Office: 530 S. King St., Honolulu, HI 96813
