Free EASLA Professional Land Surveying State Exam – Hawaii Description Writings (HDW) Practice Questions

Sample Practice Questions

Try these 10 sample questions from the EASLA Professional Land Surveying State Exam – Hawaii Description Writings (HDW) practice bank. Each includes the answer and explanation. Continue with the interactive practice above to review the full question set.

1. 1Which Hawaii Survey Division record contains field data recorded by government surveyors or private surveyors working for the government?

   1. A. A registered field book
   2. B. A File Plan
   3. C. An HSS Plat
   4. D. A file folder

   Answer: A

   Explanation: HAR §3-40-2 calls these "books used by the surveyors to record field data"; therefore a registered field book is the matching record.

   Reference: Har 3 40 Official — HAR §3-40-2, Field book registered definition

2. 2Who may enter the Land Survey Division storage vault under HAR §3-40-3?

   1. A. Any licensed surveyor
   2. B. Any state employee
   3. C. Only authorized personnel
   4. D. Any person who pays a search fee

   Answer: C

   Explanation: HAR §3-40-3 states, "Admittance to the storage vault shall be restricted to authorized personnel only." Thus C is the precise rule.

   Reference: Har 3 40 Official — HAR §3-40-3(a)

3. 3Which traditional Hawaiian land unit may identify a File Plan locality as an alternative to an ili?

   1. A. Ahupuaa
   2. B. Moku
   3. C. Moo aina
   4. D. Kuleana

   Answer: A

   Explanation: HRS §502-17(a)(2) requires "The name of the ahupuaa or ili, district, and island"; A is the express alternative to ili.

   Reference: Hrs 502 17 — HRS §502-17(a)(2)

4. 4What does C.S.F. mean in Hawaii survey records?

   1. A. Certified Shoreline Filing
   2. B. Copy of Survey Furnished
   3. C. County Survey Form
   4. D. Coordinate System Factor

   Answer: B

   Explanation: HAR §3-40-2 defines "CSF No. ____" as "copy surveys furnished"; the standard expansion is Copy of Survey Furnished.

   Reference: Har 3 40 Official — HAR §3-40-2, C.S.F. definition

5. 5A computed parcel area is 87,120 square feet. How many acres is that?

   1. A. 0.5 acre
   2. B. 1 acre
   3. C. 1.5 acres
   4. D. 2 acres

   Answer: D

   Explanation: HRS §502-17 requires the plan to contain its "area". Using 43,560 square feet per acre, 87,120 ÷ 43,560 = 2 acres.

   Reference: Hrs 502 17 — HRS §502-17(a)(6), area shown on plan

6. 6A post-subdivision transfer document uses a separate lot description. Which package satisfies HRS §502-17(d), absent an exemption?

   1. A. A metes-and-bounds description, county-certified plat, and PLS conformity letter
   2. B. A metes-and-bounds description, county-certified plat, and owner conformity letter
   3. C. A metes-and-bounds description, tax-map plat, and PLS conformity letter
   4. D. A deed recital, county-certified plat, and PLS conformity letter

   Answer: A

   Explanation: HRS §502-17(d) lists "A metes and bounds description", "A county certified plat map", and "A letter from a licensed professional surveyor" certifying conformity; only A contains all three statutory items.

   Reference: Hrs 502 17 — HRS §502-17(d)

7. 7A researcher seeks maps and descriptions of a government homestead subdivision organized by island. Which Survey Division record should be requested?

   1. A. A calculation book
   2. B. The appropriate island File Carton
   3. C. A Land Court certificate
   4. D. A correspondence folder

   Answer: B

   Explanation: HAR §3-40-2 says an island File Carton is used to "store and identify maps and descriptions of government subdivisions"; it is therefore the matching record.

   Reference: Har 3 40 Official — HAR §3-40-2, File carton definition

8. 8Which person lacks authority solely by virtue of the stated role to sign a Survey Division certification of authenticity?

   1. A. State land surveyor
   2. B. Assistant state land surveyor
   3. C. Staff member designated in writing
   4. D. Requesting licensed surveyor

   Answer: D

   Explanation: HAR §3-40-5 authorizes "The state land surveyor, assistant state land surveyor, or a land survey division staff member designated in writing". A requesting licensee is not automatically in that closed set.

   Reference: Har 3 40 Official — HAR §3-40-5

9. 9The official Nānākuli context study labels Waiʻanae as which traditional Hawaiian land division?

   1. A. Moku
   2. B. Ahupuaa
   3. C. Ili aina
   4. D. Moo aina

   Answer: A

   Explanation: The study's figure caption identifies the "moku of Waiʻanae"; A is the land-division type applied to Waiʻanae.

   Reference: Dhhl Nanakuli Historical Context — Figure 22 caption and Section 2.1, p. 17

10. 10A plat was officially accepted into Survey Division custody after statehood. Which abbreviation identifies its series?

    1. A. H.S.S. Plat
    2. B. H.T.S. Plat
    3. C. C.S.F.
    4. D. F.P.

    Answer: A

    Explanation: HAR §3-40-2 describes "Hawaii state survey plat maps usually twenty-one inches by thirty-two inches in size" and specifies acceptance since statehood; A is the H.S.S. series.

    Reference: Har 3 40 Official — HAR §3-40-2, HSS Plat definition