After sending out emails to various FAA and Hawaii DOT officials, I received the following two responses:

Subject: FAA query: Camera Confiscation
Date: Mon, 1 Oct 2001 17:56:45 -1000
From: Stanford_Miyamoto@exec.state.hi.us
To: "Joel Aycock"
CC: Marilyn_Kali@exec.state.hi.us, Jerry_Matsuda@exec.state.hi.us, AIR-OAS@HIDOT (96825), "Allen Agor"

Dear Mr. Aycock:

Thank you for bringing this to our attention. Your digital camera, flash card and batteries were given to your friend, <name, SS#, address, phone number deleted> this morning, as requested. The flash car memory was erased to the satisfaction of the FAA.

We appreciate your understanding and cooperation in this matter.

Please call me at 808-836-6533, should you have any further questions.

Aloha,
Stanford N. Miyamoto
Manager
Oahu District Airports

And later:

Subject: Re: FAA query: Camera Confiscation
Date: Wed, 3 Oct 2001 12:08:28 -1000
From: Jerry_Matsuda@exec.state.hi.us
To: Stanford_Miyamoto@exec.state.hi.us
CC: AIR-OAS@HIDOT (96825), "Allen Agor" , "Joel Aycock" , Marilyn_Kali@exec.state.hi.us, Roy_Sakata@exec.state.hi.us, Brian_Minaai@exec.state.hi.us

Very good!!! Thanks for your timely response.