What's in it: Who owns real estate in Hawai'i; property tax assessments.

Who can get it: General public.

Where to get it: Online.

What you need: Address of property; name of owner.

What it costs: N/A, available online.

Contact number: Honolulu, 527-5539; Big Island, (808) 961-8354; Maui, (808) 270-7297; Kaua'i, (808) 241-6222.

Available online? Yes.

Honolulu, www.honolulupropertytax.com/;

Big Island, www.hawaiipropertytax.com/;

Maui: www.mauipropertytax.com/;

Kaua'i: www.kauaipropertytax.com/.

What you need: N/A

What it costs: The first 120 pages are free and additional pages are 25 cents each.

What's in it: Records of real-estate sales; mortgages; tax liens.

Who can get it: General public.

Where to get it: State Department of Land and Natural Resources, each island.

What you need: Name of owner of property; tax map key is helpful.

What it costs: 50 cents per page.

Contact number: 587-0154.

What's in it: Records of building permits issued in each county. Records include names of applicants/contractors; status of permit; schedule of inspections.

Who can get it: General public.

Where to get it: Building permit departments in each county.

What you need: A valid ID.

What it costs: N/A, available online.

Contact number: City Department of Permitting & Planning, 523-4432; Maui Department of Public Works, (808) 270-7250; Big Island Department of Public Works, (808) 961-8331; Kaua'i Department of Public Works, (808) 241-6655.

Available online? Yes.

Honolulu: gis.hicentral.com/ (click on parcel & zoning, search by address or parcel number);

Maui: www.co.maui.hi.us/online_services/;

Big Island: www.hawaii-county.com/permits/permits.htm (chronological lists of building permits issued);