Series 037 - Case Files

The Industrial Accident Boards for the counties of Maui, Kauai, and Hawaii and the City and County of Honolulu had general powers to determine all questions arising under Act 221, SLH 1915. Appointed by the Governor, the boards were composed of five members, who served without salary and attended regular meetings about once a month. The bulk of the daily business and record keeping was done by a salaried secretary for each board.
The main functions of the boards, discussed further below, were: to monitor and ensure employer compliance with maintaining adequate security for payments, reporting injuries and paying out proper benefits per schedule; to hold hearings and render awards in disputed or complex cases; and to keep statistical records of the operation of the act.
Benefits were funded by the employers who were required to provide security for compensation. The boards were responsible for reviewing self insurance applications, and for monitoring compliance with security requirements; were empowered to hold hearings to determine delinquency and assess penalties; and if necessary could refer delinquencies to the county attorneys for prosecution. In furtherance of these duties, the boards had the right to inspect establishments of all employers in the Territory. Upon the occurrence of an injury, it was a board's duty to make sure reports were filed and procedures followed. The majority of the injury claims were settled by agreement between the employer and employee, subject to filing of a final report, which was reviewed and approved by the Board. Disputed or more complex cases were heard before the boards. The members had the power to subpoena witnesses, administer oaths and examine books and records of the parties, and issue an award.
There was correspondence and dialogue between the various boards facilitating uniformity, but each board rendered its own independent rulings and awards. The award was final and enforceable by court decree unless stated procedures for appeal to the respective Circuit Courts were instituted. The Boards kept detailed statistical summaries of the injuries and claims and were required to make annual reports to the governor concerning the operation of the Act.
The records of the industrial accident boards have been organized into eleven series. In some cases the records in the series carry over to the period of the Bureau of Workmen's Compensation.