Hawaii County Court Records

Hawaii County court records are maintained by the Third Circuit Court, which serves the entire Big Island of Hawaii. Whether you need to look up a civil case, find a criminal filing, or get documents from family court, records are available online through eCourt Kokua, in person at courthouses in Hilo and Kona, and by mail request. This guide explains how to search Hawaii County court records, where to go, what it costs, and what to expect from each access method.

Third Circuit Court in Hawaii County

The Third Circuit covers all of Hawaii Island, which is the largest island in the state but also one of the least densely populated. The circuit operates out of two main courthouse complexes: Hale Kaulike in Hilo on the east side of the island, and Keahuolū Courthouse in Kailua-Kona on the west side. A third, smaller location in Kamuela (Waimea) handles district court matters for the South Kohala, Hamakua, and North Kohala regions. Each courthouse holds circuit court, district court, and family court divisions, though some case files and administrative functions are shared across locations.

The circuit court handles the most serious matters. Felony criminal cases, civil disputes over $40,000, probate, guardianship, and jury trials all fall under circuit court jurisdiction. District court covers traffic violations, misdemeanors, civil cases under $40,000, small claims under $5,000, landlord-tenant disputes, and temporary restraining orders. Family court handles divorce, custody, child support, adoption, domestic violence cases, and juvenile matters. Knowing which division held your case will help you figure out the right place to request records.

The Third Circuit Court contact page lists phone numbers, addresses, and hours for all three Hawaii County courthouse locations. Use it as your starting point before you call or visit in person.

The Third Circuit Court contact page provides complete contact details for Hale Kaulike in Hilo, Keahuolū Courthouse in Kona, and the South Kohala District Court in Kamuela for Hawaii County.

Hale Kaulike in Hilo hosts the Legal Documents Branch for the east side of the island and serves as the primary records hub for the Third Circuit.

Search Hawaii County Court Records Online

The Hawaii Judiciary runs an online portal called eCourt Kokua where you can look up case records from the Third Circuit at no charge for basic case data. You can search by party name, case number, or citation number. The system shows case status, hearing dates, charges or claims, and parties involved. It covers circuit court and district court filings. Family court records show up only in limited form because many family matters are confidential under state law.

To purchase documents through eCourt Kokua, you set up an account and pay $3 per document for the first 30 pages, then $0.10 for each additional page. This is often the fastest way to get copies of filings, orders, and judgments without making a trip to the courthouse. Documents are available as PDFs once payment clears. Not every case will have all its documents scanned into the system, especially older cases. If you need records from more than 10 years ago, some may only exist on microfilm or in storage, which can add time and cost to your request.

Hilo Courthouse - Hale Kaulike

Hale Kaulike sits at 777 Kilauea Avenue in Hilo and is the primary courthouse for Hawaii County. The main phone number is 808-961-7440. The legal documents branch, where you go to request copies of court records, can be reached at 808-961-7400. Hours are Monday through Friday, 7:45 AM to 4:30 PM, except on state holidays. In-person copy services run from 8 AM to 1 PM, so plan your visit accordingly if you need certified copies or specific documents pulled from files.

Public access computer terminals are available at Hale Kaulike free of charge. You can use these to search eCourt Kokua and review case information without paying for an online account. In-person copy fees differ from online rates: $1 for the first page and $0.50 for each additional page. Certification costs $2 per document. Name searches run $5 per name. If your case involved microfilm records, expect an additional $5 charge per case.

The Hilo Self-Help Center is available on Tuesdays and Fridays from 11:15 AM to 12:45 PM. It is walk-in only; no appointments are taken. You can call 808-961-0609 for more information. The center helps people with forms, filing questions, and general guidance on how courts work. It does not provide legal advice. The self-help centers page has current hours and locations across the state.

Hilo serves the eastern portion of the island. Its service area includes Hilo city proper, the Puna district communities of Kea'au, Kurtistown, Mountain View, Volcano, and Pahoa, as well as parts of the Hamakua coast.

Kona Courthouse Records - Keahuolū

The Keahuolū Courthouse in Kailua-Kona handles records for the west and south portions of Hawaii Island. The address is 74-5451 Kamakaʻeha Avenue, Kailua-Kona, HI 96740. Main phone: 808-322-8700. The legal documents branch is at 808-322-8750. You can also reach the legal documents staff by email at konalegaldocs.3cc@courts.hawaii.gov. Hours match Hilo: Monday through Friday, 7:45 AM to 4:30 PM, closed on state holidays.

Kona handles filings from a large stretch of the island. North Kona communities include Kailua-Kona, Holualoa, and Keauhou. South Kona covers Honalo, Captain Cook, Honaunau, Ho'okena, Miloli'i, and Kealakekua. The Ka'u district stretches south and includes Wai'ohinu, Na'alehu, Pahala, and Hawaiian Ocean View Estates. If your case was filed by someone living in any of these areas, it is almost certainly in the Kona system.

Public access terminals are available at Keahuolū as well. The Kona Self-Help Desk operates on Wednesdays from 11 AM to 1 PM at the Keakealani Building, also known as the Old Kona Hospital. The Kona Law Library is also at the Old Kona Hospital building at 79-1020 Haukapila Street, Kealakekua, HI 96750. Phone: 808-322-8729. Library hours are Monday through Friday, 7:45 AM to 4:15 PM.

The Hawaii County courts contact page includes the full list of phone numbers and addresses for both the Hilo and Kona divisions of the Third Circuit.

Both courthouses accept in-person records requests, and staff at the legal documents branch can help you identify what you need and how to request it properly.

South Kohala District Court - Kamuela

The South Kohala District Court is at the Waimea Civic Center, 67-5187 Kamāmalu Street, Kamuela, HI 96743. Phone: 808-443-2030. This location serves a wide swath of the island's upper regions. South Kohala includes Kawaihae, Puako, Waikoloa, and Kamuela itself. Hamakua district communities like Pa'auilo, Pa'auhau, Honoka'a, and Kukuihaele also fall in this division. North Kohala communities such as Mahukona, Kapa'au, Hala'ula, and Hawi round out the service area.

One important thing to know: only active case files are stored on-site at the Waimea location. All other files are managed by staff at the Keahuolū Courthouse in Kona. If you need older case records or documents from closed cases handled in South Kohala, you should contact Kona's legal documents branch at 808-322-8750 rather than calling the Waimea number.

Mail Requests for Hawaii County Court Records

You can request court records by mail if you cannot visit in person or access them online. The process requires you to fill out Form 1C-P-858, which is the standard court records request form used across Hawaii's circuit courts. You can find forms through the Hawaii courts forms repository.

Your written request should include your name and contact information, the case number or the names of the parties involved, the type of case, the specific documents you want, how many copies you need, and whether you need certified copies. Send the completed form to the legal documents branch at either Hale Kaulike (Hilo) or Keahuolū Courthouse (Kona), depending on where the case was filed. Do not send payment with your initial request. The court will send you an invoice first. Once you get the invoice, payment must be made by money order, cashier's check, or certified check. Personal checks are not accepted.

Plan for a wait. Written requests typically take 10 or more business days to process. Requests sent by mail can take 15 to 20 business days. Cases older than 10 years may have been moved to archives, which can extend the timeline further. If you need something quickly, in-person or online access will be faster.

Family Court Records in Hawaii County

Family court cases in Hawaii County include divorce, legal separation, child custody, child support, adoption, domestic violence protective orders, and juvenile matters. These cases are filed in the Third Circuit Family Court at either Hilo or Kona, depending on where the parties live.

Not all family court records are open to the public. Adoption records are sealed under state law. Juvenile records have their own confidentiality rules. Divorce decrees and related filings are generally accessible, though certain financial documents or sealed portions of a case may be restricted. The Hoohiki Family Court portal is a separate system from eCourt Kokua and provides access to some family court case information online. Check both systems if you are trying to find family court records for Hawaii County.

Public Access Terminals and In-Person Records

Both Hale Kaulike in Hilo and Keahuolū Courthouse in Kona have public access terminals where you can search court records for free. These terminals connect to the eCourt Kokua system and give you the same search capabilities as the online portal, without any account or payment needed for basic lookups. If you find what you need and want a printed copy, staff at the legal documents branch can help you get it for the standard in-person rates.

The public access terminals information page on the Hawaii Judiciary website has more detail about what is available at terminals statewide and how to use them. For court location addresses and driving directions, the court locations page lists all active courthouse addresses in the state.

The Hawaii courts accessing records guide walks through the full step-by-step process for getting court records, whether online, in person, or by mail. It covers what information you need to gather before making a request.

The Kona Division district court at Keahuolū Courthouse handles misdemeanors, traffic violations, small claims, and landlord-tenant disputes for the west side of Hawaii Island.

Open Records Law and Hawaii County Courts

Court records in Hawaii are presumptively public under the state's Uniform Information Practices Act, found at HRS Chapter 92F. This means courts must generally make records available unless a specific exemption applies. When a court denies a records request or limits access, it has to give you a reason. Agencies must respond to records requests within 10 business days.

Certain categories of records are kept confidential. Juvenile case records, adoption files, mental health proceedings, and any records a judge has ordered sealed are not available to the general public. If you believe your request was wrongly denied, you can appeal to the Office of Information Practices, which is the state agency that oversees UIPA compliance and handles disputes about public records access.

For older historical records that may no longer be held at the courthouse, the Hawaii State Archives is another resource. The archives hold some older government and court documents that predate modern digital systems.

Hilo Law Library

The Hilo Law Library is located inside Hale Kaulike at 777 Kilauea Avenue, Hilo, HI 96720-4212. Phone: 808-961-7438. Fax: 808-961-7416. Hours are Monday through Friday, 7:45 AM to 4:30 PM. The library holds legal reference materials, court forms, statutes, and case law resources. It is open to the public. If you are trying to understand a court filing or need help finding the right form for your situation, the law library is a good first stop before engaging with the legal documents branch directly.

Types of Records You Can Get

The Third Circuit Court in Hawaii County maintains records across several case types. Here is a summary of what is generally available:

• Civil case files from both circuit court (over $40,000) and district court (under $40,000)
• Criminal case files including felonies in circuit court and misdemeanors in district court
• Family court records for divorce, custody, and support cases (non-confidential portions)
• Probate records and guardianship filings
• Traffic citations and small claims records
• Temporary restraining orders and protective order records (public portions)

Availability depends on when the case was filed, whether it has been digitized, and whether any portions are sealed or otherwise restricted. In-person staff at the legal documents branch can help you confirm what is on file and what you can access.

Cities in Hawaii County

Hawaii County spans the entire Big Island. The only city in the county that meets the population threshold for a dedicated page is Hilo, the county seat and largest city on the island.

Other communities including Kailua-Kona, Waimea, and Pahoa do not meet the population threshold for individual city pages. Court records for residents of those areas are handled through the Kona or Hilo courthouse depending on location.

Other Hawaii Counties

Hawaii has four other counties, each with its own court system and records access procedures.