Hilo Court Records Search

Hilo is home to the Third Circuit's main courthouse, Hale Kaulike, where court records covering criminal, civil, family, and district cases for East Hawaii are filed and maintained. This guide explains how to search and obtain Hilo court records online, by mail, by fax, or in person at the courthouse on Kilauea Avenue.

Hale Kaulike: Hilo's Main Courthouse

All three divisions of the Third Circuit hold court at Hale Kaulike, located at 777 Kilauea Avenue, Hilo, HI 96720. The building houses the Circuit Court, District Court, and Family Court under one roof, which makes it the central hub for nearly all court records filed in East Hawaii. The main courthouse line is 808-961-7440, and it is open Monday through Friday from 7:45 AM to 4:30 PM, except state holidays.

For people who need to access court documents specifically, the Legal Documents Branch at Hale Kaulike handles records requests. Their direct line is 808-961-7400. That branch processes in-person visits, mail requests, and fax requests for case files across all three court divisions. If you walk in, staff can pull records for you on the spot, subject to availability and whether the file has been archived.

Hale Kaulike serves as the main court facility for East Hawaii, housing all three divisions of the Third Circuit. The Circuit Court here handles felony criminal matters, civil cases over $40,000, probate, and jury trials for the region.

The Third Circuit Court contact page provides complete contact details for Hale Kaulike in Hilo, including direct phone numbers for the Legal Documents Branch, law library, and each court division serving East Hawaii.

Confirm hours and any changes to in-person service procedures before visiting by calling 808-961-7440 or checking the contact page for current information.

Hilo Circuit Court Records

The Third Circuit Court at Hale Kaulike handles the most serious cases in Hawaii County. That includes felony criminal cases, civil suits where the amount in dispute exceeds $40,000, probate matters, guardianship proceedings, and jury trials. Records from these cases are public by default, meaning most filings, orders, and judgments can be accessed by anyone who asks.

Circuit Court case files can be substantial. A contested civil suit might include hundreds of documents, from initial complaints and motions to exhibits and final judgments. You don't need to request everything at once. If you know the case number, the Legal Documents Branch can pull specific items. If you don't have a case number, staff can run a name search, though there is a small fee for that service when submitting a written request.

Probate records filed in Hilo are also part of the Circuit Court's docket. These include wills admitted to probate, estate inventories, and final accounting documents. Most probate filings are public. Sealed items, which are rare, require a court order to access.

Hilo District Court Records

The Third Circuit District Court at Hale Kaulike handles a high volume of cases. Traffic violations, misdemeanor criminal charges, civil claims under $40,000, small claims cases under $5,000, landlord-tenant disputes, and temporary restraining orders all go through this court. Because it handles so many routine matters, District Court records are frequently the ones people search for.

District Court records in Hilo include traffic case dispositions, criminal charge records, and small claims judgments. These are accessible at the public access terminals inside Hale Kaulike and through the eCourt Kokua online system.

The accessing court records page explains the step-by-step process for obtaining District Court records in Hilo, including in-person, mail, fax, and online options available through the Third Circuit.

Public access terminals inside Hale Kaulike provide free searching of District Court case records, and staff can assist with copy requests during morning service hours.

Small claims cases are technically part of the District Court's workload. If someone filed a claim against a business or person in East Hawaii for amounts under $5,000, that record would be in the Hilo courthouse. These cases are public, and you can find the outcome by searching online or visiting in person.

Hilo Family Court Records

The Third Circuit Family Court in Hilo processes divorce filings, child custody matters, child support orders, adoptions, domestic violence cases, and juvenile matters. This court handles some of the most sensitive records in the courthouse, and access rules vary by case type.

Divorce records, for example, are generally public. The petition, the decree, and most orders tied to a divorce case can be viewed or copied. However, some exhibits, financial disclosures, or sealed portions may be restricted. Custody orders that relate directly to minor children sometimes have limited access as well. If you're unsure whether a particular document is public, the Legal Documents Branch can tell you before you submit a request.

Adoption records and juvenile court records are confidential. Those are sealed by law and not available to the general public. A court order is required to access sealed records, and even then, access is tightly controlled. If you are looking for family court records that are not adoption or juvenile cases, you can use the Hoohiki online portal to check case information, though Hoohiki shows case data only and does not provide document downloads for Family Court files.

Online Search Tools for Hilo Records

Hawaii's judiciary offers two main online tools for searching court records. Both are free to use for basic searches.

The first is eCourt Kokua, which covers Circuit Court and District Court case information statewide, including Hilo. You can search by name, case number, or citation number. Basic case information is free. When a document icon appears next to a filing, you can purchase that document for $3 for the first 30 pages, with $0.10 per page after that. Certified copies cost $5 each. eCourt Kokua works for civil, criminal, and traffic matters filed in the Third Circuit.

The second tool is Hoohiki, which is specific to Family Court civil cases. It gives you case status and filing history but does not sell document copies. For actual Family Court documents, you need to go in person or submit a mail request to the Legal Documents Branch in Hilo.

Public access terminals are also available inside Hale Kaulike at no cost. These terminals let you search and view records on-site. Staff cannot print from these terminals directly, but you can note what you need and request copies from the Legal Documents Branch nearby.

In-Person and Mail Requests in Hilo

Walking into Hale Kaulike is the most direct way to get records. The Legal Documents Branch is open Monday through Friday, 7:45 AM to 4:30 PM. Bring the case number if you have it. Staff can look up cases by party name as well, though that takes a bit more time. In-person requests are processed while you wait in most cases, assuming the file is on-site and not archived off-site.

Mail requests follow a specific process. You need to use Form 1C-P-858, which is available through the Hawaii Judiciary forms page. Fill it out completely, including the names of the parties, the type of case, the case number if known, which specific documents you want, and how many copies. Send the form to the Legal Documents Branch at Hale Kaulike, 777 Kilauea Avenue, Hilo, HI 96720. Do not send payment with the request. The branch will invoice you first, and then you send payment by money order, cashier's check, or certified check. Processing a written request takes at least 10 business days. If the file needs to be mailed back to you, allow 15 to 20 business days. Old cases that have been archived may take longer and may involve extra fees.

Fax requests go to 808-961-7493. The same Form 1C-P-858 applies. You'll receive an invoice before any documents are sent.

Self-Help Center at Hale Kaulike

The Third Circuit Self-Help Center operates out of Hale Kaulike on Tuesdays and Fridays from 11:15 AM to 12:45 PM. It is walk-in only, no appointments. The center's phone number is 808-961-0609. Staff there can help you understand court procedures, point you to the right forms, and give referrals to legal aid organizations. They cannot give legal advice or tell you what to do in your specific case.

This center is useful for people who need to file their own paperwork but aren't sure where to start. The judiciary's self-help center page has more information about locations and services across the state. For people dealing with family court matters, small claims, or restraining orders, the self-help center is often the right first stop.

Hilo Law Library

The law library at Hale Kaulike is open Monday through Friday, 7:45 AM to 4:30 PM. The phone is 808-961-7438 and fax is 808-961-7416. The library holds legal reference materials, Hawaii statutes, case law reporters, and research guides. It is open to the public, not just attorneys.

Library staff cannot give legal advice. But they can help you find what you need on the shelves or in a database. If you want to read the text of Hawaii's Uniform Information Practices Act, which governs public records access, you can look it up at the library or find it online through the Hawaii State Legislature site. The Office of Information Practices also handles complaints and questions about public records access if a request is denied or ignored.

Kona Division and West Hawaii Cases

Hilo's courthouse serves East Hawaii and the Puna district. That includes communities like Kea'au, Kurtistown, Mountain View, Volcano, Pahoa, and parts of the Hamakua coast. Cases from those areas are filed in Hilo.

West Hawaii is different. The Kona Division of the Third Circuit operates out of the Keahuolu Courthouse in Kailua-Kona, which can be reached at 808-322-8700. If you're searching for records tied to someone who lived in Kona, Waimea, or South Kohala, those cases may be in Kailua-Kona rather than Hilo. Both fall under the Third Circuit, but they maintain separate filing locations. The Hawaii Judiciary court locations page lists all court addresses and contact information across the state.

Hawaii State Archives and Older Records

For older or historical court records, the Hawaii State Archives may hold materials that are no longer at the courthouse. The Archives preserves government records of historical value, including some older court files. If you are researching a case from decades past, the Archives is worth contacting. The Legal Documents Branch in Hilo can also tell you whether an old file has been sent off-site and what the process is for retrieving it.

Cases more than 10 years old may require extra time and additional fees to access. The process is the same, but physical retrieval from off-site storage adds steps. Plan for extra lead time if the case is old.

Public Records Law in Hawaii

Court records in Hawaii are presumptively public under the Uniform Information Practices Act, found at HRS Chapter 92F. That means anyone can ask for them without explaining why. The agency handling the request must respond within 10 business days. If they deny access, they must say why in writing. The Office of Information Practices handles appeals when requests are denied and can provide guidance on your rights under the law.

Some records are confidential by law, including juvenile cases, sealed adoption records, and documents the court has ordered sealed. But the vast majority of civil, criminal, and family court records in Hilo are open to anyone who asks.

Nearby Cities and County Records

Hilo is the only city on Hawaii Island that meets the population threshold for a dedicated city page on this site. Other communities on the Big Island, including Kailua-Kona, Waimea, and Pahoa, do not qualify. For records tied to those areas, the courthouse in Hilo or Kailua-Kona handles the filings depending on the division. You can browse all Hawaii County court records information on the Hawaii County court records page, or see all qualifying cities statewide at the Hawaii cities index.