Question: I have been looking for a record of recent deaths — within the last 12 months — and none seems to be available. Where can we go to find this information? We don’t need death certificates, just to confirm status.

Answer: Records of deaths that occurred in Hawaii are among vital records preserved by the state Department of Health’s Office of Health Status Monitoring. Eligible individuals or organizations may verify a death without ordering a certified copy of a death certificate, which would include more information and cost more. In addition, an annual death index is kept as a public record. DOH spokeswoman Janice Okubo provides details:

>> An organization with a tangible interest may obtain death verification under Hawaii Revised Statutes 338-18G (verification in lieu of a certified copy). For example, an organization that maintains a membership list could request the information to determine eligibility for certain benefits. For a death verification, the names of the members are submitted and a “yes” or “no” for each is issued by DOH to confirm. The organization pays $5 per verification and may receive a volume discount for lists that are extensive.

>> Likewise, an individual with a tangible interest may request a single verification of death by providing the name of the person, to receive a “yes” or “no” regarding whether there is a record of death. This service costs $5 (or half the cost of a certified copy of a death certificate).

“Direct, tangible interest” is the standard that determines whether a requestor is entitled to receive a certified copy of a vital record, which may be issued to verify school eligibility, survivor’s benefits, proof of property rights and other purposes. To learn more about this standard, see 808ne.ws/tang.

>> DOH keeps an annual index of deaths recorded in Hawaii, listing the deceased person’s name and sex. This index, consisting of pages printed from an electronic file, is available as a public record by filing a UIPA request in writing and paying 50 cents per printed page. UIPA stands for the Uniform Information Practices Act, the state law that requires open access to government records. You can find a link to a standard UIPA form on the website of the state Office of Information Practices, at oip.hawaii.gov/forms.

For more information about requesting a verification of death, the general public may call the Office of Health Status Monitoring at 586-4600. We’ll follow up directly in your case, since you said you had visited the department before contacting Kokua Line and not received this information.

Rail meeting update

The Honolulu Rate Commission has changed the date of a public hearing about policies and fares for Oahu’s future rail transit system. The new date is Sept. 17, from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. at the Mission Memorial Hearing Room next to Honolulu Hale. (The hearing previously had been scheduled for Sept. 10, which also is a Tuesday, at the same time and location.)

If you can’t make it to the meeting, you can submit testimony in writing. You can email testimony to hchee@honolulu.gov or send it by regular mail to Honolulu Rate Commission, c/o Howard “Puni” Chee, Department of Transportation Services (C&C Honolulu), 650 S. King St., Second Floor, Honolulu, HI 96813.

Among the questions to consider are whether bus and rail fares should be the same, with no charge for transfers; whether rail rates should be flat or based on distance traveled; whether discounted monthly and annual passes should be available; whether rates should vary by rider category; a nd whether any category of customer should ride for free.

Write to Kokua Line at Honolulu Star-Advertiser, 7 Waterfront Plaza, Suite 210, 500 Ala Moana Blvd., Honolulu 96813; call 529-4773; fax 529-4750; or email kokualine@staradvertiser.com.