In the wake of the devastating 2023 Maui wildfires, the Hawaii Department of the Attorney General (AG’s Office) faced a pressing need to review, redact, and release critical video, audio, and image content related to the emergency response. With transparency at the forefront, the AG’s Office sought assistance from Focal Forensics to ensure the public had access to crucial footage while protecting sensitive information. Focal Forensics provided highly technical video and audio redaction services to meet the agency’s needs, delivering ahead of schedule and under budget.
Key Project Details
Project Start Date: April 9, 2024
Project Completion Date: July 17, 2024
Total Duration: 3 months / 99 days
Total Redacted Media:
Video: 738 hours (44,281 minutes)
Audio: 206 hours (12,371 minutes)
Images: 1,305
Personnel Involved: 11 dedicated Focal Forensics employees
Initial Challenge and Project Scope
The Hawaii Department of the Attorney General, represented by David Day, Special Assistant to the Attorney general, and Toni Schwartz, the Public Information Officer (PIO), originally reached out with a clear but challenging request: “We are seeking a company with experience in redaction of video. The company must be able to help redact a large data capacity… We don’t have an endless budget and we need assistance.” Focal Forensics developed a cost-effective solution that balanced meticulous redaction with high-quality output. The initial project scope included:
Video: 21,000 minutes
Audio: 6,000 minutes
Focal Forensics delivered on these requirements, ultimately completing additional work for a total of 738 hours of video, 206 hours of audio, and 1,305 images, all under the originally quoted budget. Focal Forensics set up additional secure sharing infrastructure to allow for easy transfer of digital evidence. The team at Focal Forensics helped with organization and case guidance all while asking the right questions to align with local laws surrounding the redaction of digital evidence.
Execution and Quality Assurance
To ensure data integrity and accuracy, each minute of video and audio, as well as each image, underwent thorough quality checks. Eleven team members dedicated to this project conducted extensive quality assurance, ensuring the highest accuracy rate in redaction. The team’s commitment to precision and transparency helped prevent the unauthorized disclosure of sensitive information, critical for public trust.
Billing and Cost Efficiency
The final invoiced amount was slightly below the initial quoted budget. This cost efficiency was achieved despite an increase in the project’s scope. Focal Forensics was able to deliver all required materials ahead of schedule and under the originally quoted price.
Results and Outcomes
Focal Forensics’ efforts enabled the Hawaii Department of the Attorney General to maintain public transparency while respecting privacy concerns. The project’s success has strengthened the agency’s capacity to handle high volumes of media data for future emergencies. The redacted material has been downloaded over 1 million times by the public. Community members have expressed appreciation for the AG’s Office’s commitment to transparency, noting that the released materials provided crucial insights into the disaster’s timeline and response.
Key impacts include:
Enhanced Transparency: Released video, audio, and images fostered public understanding and trust.
Cost Control: Staying under budget allowed the AG’s Office to maximize resources.
Improved Workflow: The redaction project has increased the agency’s confidence in managing sensitive data for public dissemination.
Client Testimonials
During a post-project Zoom session, key participants from the AG’s Office, including Toni Schwartz (PIO), Dave Day (Assistant to the Attorney General), information technology specialist Brandon Salbedo, and forensic analysts Steven Marceleno, Wade Muraoka, and Dean Tsukada, provided feedback. Highlights included:
Project Objectives and Collaboration:
“Focal Forensics delivered a level of dedication and expertise that allowed us to meet transparency goals without sacrificing privacy. Their collaborative approach made the entire process more manageable.” - Toni Schwartz
Specific Benefits and Future Impact:
“We value the thoroughness and accuracy Focal Forensics brought to this project. They not only delivered under budget but also helped us streamline our internal processes, which will serve us in future transparency efforts.” - Steven Marceleno
Adaptation to Challenges
Throughout the project, the team faced several challenges, including the sheer volume of media and the need to ensure that redactions complied with Hawaii’s specific legal requirements. Unexpected increases in scope required Focal Forensics to quickly scale operations, adding additional staff and resources to meet deadlines.
The team also navigated technical challenges, such as ensuring compatibility between various media formats and maintaining video and audio quality post-redaction. These efforts ensured that the released materials were accessible and understandable to the public while maintaining their integrity.
Future Recommendations
Based on the project’s success, Focal Forensics has outlined several recommendations for government agencies managing sensitive data during emergencies:
Early Engagement of Experts: Involving redaction specialists at the onset of a project ensures that workflows are optimized from the start, minimizing delays and errors.
Investment in Training: Equipping internal staff with knowledge of redaction processes can improve efficiency and decrease turnaround time.
Scalable Technology: Agencies should research scalable redaction services capable of handling sudden increases in scope.
Regular Transparency Initiatives: Proactively sharing redacted materials during non-crisis periods builds public trust and strengthens agencies’ reputations for accountability.
Project Importance: Addressing the 2023 Maui Wildfires
The Maui wildfires of 2023 highlighted the urgent need for reliable, transparent communication between government agencies and the public. The Lahaina wildfire is considered to be the deadliest wildfire in recent history, claiming 102 lives. The fire destroyed thousands of structures and led to widespread evacuations, challenging emergency response teams. Factors such as drought conditions, invasive vegetation, and high winds fueled the blaze, while logistical challenges complicated evacuation and rescue efforts.
Following the fires, the Hawaii Department of the Attorney General sought to release essential video, audio, and image data to provide a transparent account of the response. This project underscored the agency’s commitment to transparency, community safety, and learning from past challenges to improve future responses.
Conclusion
This project has set a precedent for efficient, accurate, and cost-effective video redaction in times of crisis. Through Focal Forensics’ dedication and expertise, the Hawaii Department of the Attorney General has not only met its transparency goals but has also established a model for other agencies in managing sensitive data with efficiency and integrity.
