Search Hawaii Court Records
Hawaii court records are maintained by the Hawaii State Judiciary across four judicial circuits that cover every island in the state. The primary tool for public access is eCourt Kokua, the official online portal that lets you search case information by party name, case number, or vehicle details at no cost. You can also visit a courthouse in person or send a written request by mail to get copies of specific filings. This guide explains how Hawaii court records are organized, where they are kept, what fees apply, and which laws govern public access across all circuits and court types.
Hawaii Court Records at a Glance
Hawaii's Judicial Circuits and Court Structure
Hawaii runs a unified state court system. All courts fall under the Hawaii State Judiciary, organized into four circuits that cover the whole island chain. The First Circuit covers Oahu. The Second Circuit serves Maui, Molokai, and Lanai. The Third Circuit handles Hawaii Island, also called the Big Island. The Fifth Circuit covers Kauai and Niihau. There is no Fourth Circuit in the Hawaii system.
Seven types of courts operate within this structure. The Hawaii Supreme Court sits at the top as the state's highest court, based in Honolulu. Below it, the Intermediate Court of Appeals reviews decisions from trial courts. Circuit Courts have general jurisdiction over felony criminal matters and civil disputes above $40,000, including probate and guardianship cases. Family Courts handle divorce, child custody, child support, adoption, domestic violence restraining orders, and juvenile matters. District Courts cover misdemeanors, traffic violations, civil claims under $40,000, small claims up to $5,000, and landlord-tenant disputes. Two specialized courts also operate statewide: the Land Court handles real property registration and title matters, and the Tax Appeal Court hears disputes over property tax assessments.
The Hawaii State Judiciary website is the central hub for all court information, forms, and online record access tools across every circuit. Full contact information for each courthouse is listed there.
The Hawaii State Judiciary homepage is the starting point for case searches, form downloads, courthouse contacts, and access to all court records portals statewide.
The site organizes resources by court type and circuit, so you can quickly navigate to the right tool whether you need a civil case lookup, a family court record, or a traffic citation search.
Search Hawaii Court Records Online
eCourt Kokua is the official public portal for searching Hawaii court records online. It runs on the Judiciary Information Management System, known as JIMS, and gives free public access to case information from courts across all four circuits statewide.
Three main search types are available through eCourt Kokua. Party Search lets you look up cases by person name, business name, or government agency. Vehicle Search finds cases tied to a specific VIN or license plate number. Case Search pulls up records by case ID or citation number. A fourth option lets you view upcoming court hearings by date and court location.
Basic case information is free to view. A typical search result shows the case number, case type, party names, filing date, case status, court location, scheduled hearing dates, and a list of docket entries. Case data updates every evening. A 48-hour lag sometimes exists between when a document is filed and when it appears in the system. No account is needed to run a basic case search. To access the portal directly, visit the eCourt Kokua portal.
Documents are available for purchase when a PDF icon appears next to a docket entry. You click the icon, choose a regular copy or a certified copy, add it to your cart, and pay by credit card. A flat rate of $3 covers documents of 1 to 30 pages. Each page beyond 30 costs $0.10. Certified copies run $5 each. For people who access records often, subscriptions are available at $125 per quarter or $500 per year, which gives unlimited single downloads of all public documents with a PDF icon. Accepted cards include Visa, MasterCard, and American Express.
The eCourt Kokua portal is where you search civil, criminal, traffic, family, land court, and appellate case information without paying a fee for basic case details. Document purchase is available for records that have a PDF icon in the docket section.
The checkout process for documents is straightforward. Add items to a cart, enter credit card details, and most documents download immediately. Some recently filed records may take up to three business days to become available after filing.
Types of Hawaii Court Records Available
eCourt Kokua covers a broad range of case types. Traffic violations and misdemeanor criminal cases from District Court are included. So are felony criminal cases from Circuit Court and criminal matters handled by Family Court. Civil cases from District Court, Circuit Court, and Family Court all appear in the system. Land Court cases and Tax Appeal Court cases are searchable there too. Cases before the Intermediate Court of Appeals and the Hawaii Supreme Court are also accessible through the same portal.
Not every document is available for online purchase. Some records are only at the courthouse where the case was filed. Traffic documents in particular are often available only at the local courthouse. The system indicates which documents can be downloaded by showing a PDF icon. When no icon appears next to a docket entry, you need to request those records in person or submit a written request by mail or fax.
Family Court civil records from 1983 to the present have their own separate lookup portal called Hoʻohiki, covered below. Historical court records predating the electronic systems are held at the Hawaii State Archives.
In-Person Court Records Access in Hawaii
Free public access terminals are available at courthouses across all four circuits. These terminals connect to the same database as eCourt Kokua and let anyone search case records at no cost. You pay only if you request a printed copy from the staff.
On Oahu, Kaʻahumanu Hale (777 Punchbowl Street, Honolulu) is the First Circuit Court building. Terminals are on the first floor of the Legal Documents Branch, open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Honolulu District Court at Kauikeaouli Hale (1111 Alakea Street, Honolulu) has terminals on the third floor, open from 7:45 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Kaneohe District Court at Abner Paki Hale (45-939 Pookela Street) has a terminal in the lobby before the security checkpoint, open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Wahiawa District Court (1034 Kilani Avenue) has a terminal in the lobby near the courtroom, open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Waianae District Court at the Kapolei Judiciary Complex (4675 Kapolei Parkway) has a terminal in the Legal Documents Records Room on the first floor, also open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
On Maui, Hoapili Hale in Wailuku provides public access terminals during regular court hours. On Hawaii Island, terminals are at Hale Kaulike in Hilo and at Keahuolū Courthouse in Kona. For Kauai, the terminal is on the first floor of Puʻuhonoa Kaulike Building in Lihue, left of the Fiscal Section, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. The full list of terminal locations, hours, and phone numbers is on the Legal Documents Public Access Terminals page. For in-person copy requests, walk-in service runs from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at most courthouse locations. Circuit Court locations in Honolulu and Kona require appointments for in-person service. Call ahead before visiting. Full addresses, phone numbers, and hours are on the Court Locations and Addresses page.
The Legal Documents Public Access Terminals page lists every courthouse terminal location statewide, organized by circuit, with exact room locations and hours for each site.
Searching at a terminal is always free. Copy fees apply only when you ask a staff member to print a document for you at the records counter.
Requesting Hawaii Court Records by Mail
Written requests work well when you cannot visit a courthouse in person. The standard form for Circuit Court and Family Court records is Form 1C-P-858, downloadable from the Hawaii State Judiciary Forms Repository. For a written purchase request, use Form 1C-P-827. The statewide form under the Hawaii Court Records Rules is Form 1C-P-855, which applies across all circuits.
A complete written request should include your name and contact information, the case number or names of the parties if you do not have the case number, the type of case, a description of the specific documents you need, how many copies, and whether you need certified copies. Do not send payment with the initial request. You will receive an invoice first. Payment must be by money order, cashier's check, or certified check. Personal checks are generally not accepted by Hawaii courts.
Without a case number, a $5 name search fee may apply. Written requests take at least 10 business days to process. Mailed requests commonly take 15 to 20 business days from the date the court receives them. Cases involving archived records, microfilm, or off-site storage carry additional fees and require extra processing time. Fax requests are also accepted at most courthouse locations. For First Circuit written requests, send to Legal Documents Branch 1, Kaʻahumanu Hale, 777 Punchbowl Street, Honolulu, HI 96813.
Fees for Hawaii Court Records
The cost to get court records depends on how you access them. Through eCourt Kokua online, each document costs $3 for 1 to 30 pages. Pages beyond 30 cost $0.10 each. Certified copies purchased online run $5 each. In-person copies cost $1 for the first page and $0.50 for each additional page. Adding a certification to an in-person copy costs $2 per document. A name search without a case number costs $5 per name. Microfilm records and off-site storage cases carry fees beyond the standard copy rates.
Several types of access are free. Viewing a case on a public access terminal costs nothing. Basic case information on eCourt Kokua is free. Court calendars are viewable at no charge through the Judiciary website. Downloading forms from the Forms Repository is also free.
Note: Fee schedules are set under the Hawaii Court Records Rules and may change periodically. Always confirm current amounts with the specific courthouse before submitting a written request or planning an in-person visit.
Family Court Records in Hawaii
Family Court civil cases have their own dedicated portal. Hoʻohiki is the Hawaii State Judiciary's public access system for Family Court civil case information. The name means "to make known or reveal" in Hawaiian. It covers cases filed from 1983 to the present, including divorce, child custody, child support, adoption, paternity, and domestic relations matters.
Through Hoʻohiki, you can view a case title, case number, party names, list of filed documents, case status, and scheduled hearing dates. Hoʻohiki does not let you view or download the actual documents. To get copies, you contact the Legal Documents Office at the courthouse handling the case, note the case number from Hoʻohiki, and submit a written request using Form 1C-P-858, paying the standard copy fees of $3 per document online or $1 per page in person.
Confidential Family Court records do not appear in Hoʻohiki. Juvenile cases, adoption proceedings, certain domestic violence matters, and cases sealed by court order are excluded from public search results. The Hoʻohiki portal is where most searches for family case information in Hawaii begin. To access it, accept the terms of use, select the circuit where the case was filed, and search by party name or case number.
Historical Court Records at the Hawaii State Archives
Court records that predate the current electronic systems are held by the Hawaii State Archives. The collection covers court case files from the Kingdom of Hawaii period before 1900, territorial court records from 1900 through 1959, early statehood court records, probate records, land commission records, and naturalization records from the territorial era. These older records are not searchable through eCourt Kokua or Hoʻohiki.
The Archives are located in the Kekāuluohi Building at 364 S. King Street in Honolulu, HI 96813. Hours are Monday through Friday, 7:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., closed on state holidays. Phone: (808) 586-0329. To access records, you register on arrival, show a valid photo ID, and request specific materials using finding aids provided at the facility. Staff can help you locate records and explain historical court procedures. Photocopying and digital scanning services are available for a fee. The Archives also maintains an ongoing digital project to make historical records available online over time.
The Hawaii State Archives at 364 S. King Street in Honolulu holds judicial records from the Kingdom period, the territorial era, and early statehood, including probate filings, land commission records, and naturalization documents unavailable in any electronic database.
Researchers working with genealogy projects, historical legal matters, or pre-statehood cases start at the Archives when electronic databases do not reach far enough back in time.
Hawaii's Public Records Law and Your Rights
The law governing public access to government records in Hawaii is Hawaii Revised Statutes Chapter 92F, known as the Uniform Information Practices Act, or UIPA. Under HRS § 92F-11, all government records are presumptively open to public inspection unless access is restricted or closed by law. Court records generally fall within this presumption of openness, meaning anyone can request them without stating a reason.
The UIPA and the Hawaii Court Records Rules each set limits on what is available. Records involving personal privacy, certain law enforcement matters, and records sealed by court order are not accessible to the public. Under the Court Records Rules, filers must redact personal data from public documents. This includes Social Security numbers, financial account numbers, dates of birth, minor children's full names, and home addresses of protected individuals. These redaction requirements apply across all circuits and case types.
When a court or agency denies your request, you can appeal to the Office of Information Practices (OIP) at 250 South Hotel Street, Suite 107, Honolulu, HI 96813, phone (808) 586-1400, email oip@hawaii.gov. OIP administers the UIPA, issues advisory opinions, and offers mediation between requesters and agencies. Agencies must respond to a UIPA record request within 10 business days. If a request is denied, you have 30 days to file an appeal with OIP.
The full text of HRS Chapter 92F (UIPA) is available on the Hawaii State Legislature website, where you can read each section and its specific exceptions to the general rule of public access to government records in Hawaii.
HRS § 92F-11 sets the 10-business-day deadline for agency responses to record requests. HRS § 92F-13 lists specific categories of records that are exempt from public disclosure, which courts and agencies rely on when denying access.
The Office of Information Practices administers Hawaii's public records law. When a request for court records is denied, OIP is the agency that handles appeals, issues formal advisory opinions, and offers a mediation process between the requester and the agency.
OIP's website includes sample UIPA request language, guides on how to write and submit a records request, and contact information for filing an appeal or requesting mediation when access is denied.
Court Forms and Self-Help Centers in Hawaii
The Hawaii State Judiciary Forms Repository has downloadable forms for civil, criminal, family, probate, traffic, and small claims cases. For records access specifically, three forms matter most. Form 1C-P-858 is the Request to Access Court Records used across Circuit Court and Family Court. Form 1C-P-827 is the Written Request to Purchase Court Records, submitted by mail, fax, or email. Form 1C-P-855 is the statewide form under the Hawaii Court Records Rules, which applies to record access across all circuits. Many forms are available in fillable PDF format so you can complete them electronically before printing.
Self-help centers operate at courthouse locations across all four circuits. They provide procedural information, form guidance, and referrals to legal resources. None of these centers can give legal advice or represent you in court. In Honolulu, the Access to Justice Room at Kauikeaouli Hale (1111 Alakea Street, Third Floor) provides free legal information. The Ho'okele Family Court Service Center at the Ronald T.Y. Moon Judiciary Complex in Kapolei (808-954-8290) helps with family law procedures. Maui's self-help center at Hoapili Hale in Wailuku runs on the 2nd and 4th Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., with phone help at 808-909-2841 on select Mondays and Thursdays. In Hilo, walk-in help is available Tuesdays and Fridays from 11:15 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. at 808-961-0609. In Kona, the self-help desk at the Old Kona Hospital law library is open Wednesdays from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Kauai's center at Puʻuhonoa Kaulike Building in Lihue is open Monday and Friday from 9 a.m. to 12 noon at 808-482-2660.
The Hawaii State Law Library system also provides legal research assistance. The main Supreme Court Law Library is at Aliʻiolani Hale, Room 115, 417 South King Street, Honolulu (808-539-4964). Branch libraries are at Hoapili Hale in Wailuku (808-244-2959), Hale Kaulike in Hilo (808-961-7438), the Old Kona Hospital in Kealakekua (808-322-8729), and Puʻuhonoa Kaulike Building in Lihue (808-482-2327).
The Hawaii State Judiciary Forms Repository contains all official forms needed to request court records, file cases, or access documents, organized by case type and available in fillable PDF format for easy completion.
Forms 1C-P-858, 1C-P-827, and 1C-P-855 are the primary request tools used to obtain court documents from any of Hawaii's four circuits. Download them before visiting or submitting a mail request.
A complete directory of courthouse addresses, phone numbers, and hours for every court location in the state is on the Hawaii Court Locations and Addresses page, organized by circuit and court type for easy reference.
Before making an in-person visit to any Hawaii courthouse, call to confirm current hours and whether an appointment is required, since walk-in and by-appointment procedures vary by location and court type.
Browse Hawaii Court Records by County
Hawaii court records are organized by judicial circuit. Every county falls within a specific circuit, and records are maintained at the circuit courthouse. Pick a county below to find courthouse contacts, access procedures, local fees, and resources for court records in that area.
Court Records in Major Hawaii Cities
City residents access court records through the circuit courthouse that serves their area. Select a city below to find which courthouse handles local filings and how to request the records you need.