The Office of the Ombudsman receives and investigates public complaints about injustice or maladministration by executive agencies of State and county governments, to include law enforcement. The ombudsman must accept and investigate these complaints and improve administrative processes and procedures for dealing with complaints. A total of 6,476 inquiries in fiscal year 1995-1996 represented a 3-percent decrease in the office's workload from the previous year. The inquiries dealt with prison inmate complaints, requests for information, staff turnover, and case backlog. The annual report examines national developments in the ombudsman community and legislative issues affecting the Hawaii Office of the Ombudsman. Public policy issues associated with ombudsman activities in Hawaii are discussed that concern devolution, privatization, and public disaffection. Statistical tables on inquiries made to the Hawaii Office of the Ombudsman are provided, along with selected case summaries. 11 tables