Series 031 - Minutes

The minutes of the meetings of the Honolulu board run from its inception in 1915 through 1939, when its functions were taken over by the Bureau of Workmen's Compensation. Regular weekly hearings of the Bureau are included from 1940 through 1941. There is a six-month gap in 1917 when the board's activities were suspended pending a court ruling on the constitutionality of the law.
These records are contained in the 13 bound volumes, comprising 31 linear inches, and include fairly detailed summaries of claims before the boards, their disposition and awards, and names of parties present; rulings on the scope and extent of the law; definitions and interpretations of the law; procedural guidelines; rulings on forms of insurance policies; actions taken on self-insurance applications and delinquencies; entries on protests and appeals; notes on opinions solicited from the City & County attorney; notes on correspondence; early news clippings; some statistical data; and internal business matters, such as personnel and funding, etc. Records created after the functions of the Honolulu board were taken over by the Workmen’s Compensation Bureau are less detailed. Also includes copies of the first and second annual reports bound in vol. 1 for the six months ending Dec. 1915 and year ending 1916.

The minutes of the meetings of the Hawaii County board include notes on all cases and hearings, parties present, and issues, facts and findings. Also includes notations on self-insurance applications and delinquent employers. Other matters noted include correspondence and discussion on procedural inquiries and administration. Monthly vouchers and accounts payable are listed. These records are much less detailed than the Honolulu board minutes and are contained in one folder of .75 linear inches.