Search Honolulu County Court Records

Honolulu County court records are maintained by the First Circuit Court system, which covers the entire island of Oahu and handles everything from felony criminal cases to family court matters. Whether you need to search a case online, get copies of filed documents, or visit a courthouse in person, this guide walks you through the process for each court in the county.

Honolulu County Court Records Online

The fastest way to search court records in Honolulu County is through eCourt Kokua, the Hawaii judiciary's public case search portal. Searching for a case by name or case number is free. If you want to view actual documents, you pay $3 per document for files up to 30 pages, and $0.10 for each additional page. Certified copies cost $5 per document. You can also search on a name alone, though that costs $5 if you don't have a case number.

Not every case shows up in eCourt Kokua. Juvenile records, adoption proceedings, sealed cases, and certain domestic violence matters are kept confidential by law under Hawaii Court Records Rules. If you search and don't see a result, it doesn't always mean no case exists. It may just mean the case is restricted from public view.

Family Court cases have their own portal. Hoohiki lets you search Family Court civil cases, including divorce filings, custody matters, and restraining orders. Basic case information is free to view. As with eCourt Kokua, confidential family cases won't appear in results.

First Circuit Court in Honolulu County

The First Circuit Court sits at Ka'ahumanu Hale, located at 777 Punchbowl Street in downtown Honolulu. This court handles the most serious and complex cases in the county. That includes felony criminal cases, civil disputes over $40,000, probate and guardianship matters, Land Court filings, Tax Appeal Court cases, and appeals from the District Court. It also handles jury trials.

In-person records access at the Circuit Court is by appointment only. You can visit the Legal Documents Branch on the first floor, but you need to schedule ahead. Hours run from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Monday through Friday, with the last appointment at 3 p.m. Walk-in public access terminals are available on the first floor from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. without an appointment. To reach the Legal Documents Branch, call 808-539-4303. General inquiries go to 808-539-4767, or email civil.1cc@courts.hawaii.gov.

For written or mail requests, you'll use Form 1C-P-827. Don't send payment with your first request. The court sends an invoice, and you pay by money order, cashier's check, or certified check only. Written requests typically take 10 or more business days. Mail requests can run 15 to 20 days.

Family Court Records in Honolulu County

Family Court is housed at the Ronald T.Y. Moon Judiciary Complex, 4675 Kapolei Parkway in Kapolei. It handles divorce and annulment, child custody and visitation, child support, adoption, paternity, domestic violence restraining orders, juvenile matters, and guardianship cases. Like the Circuit Court, in-person service here is by appointment only, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on weekdays.

The Legal Documents Branch for Family Court can be reached at 808-954-8310. For general questions, call 808-954-8000 or email fccivil.1cc@courts.hawaii.gov. If you need procedural guidance, form help, or referrals to services, the Ho'okele Family Court Service Center is a good starting point. Call them at 808-954-8290.

Searching family court records online uses the Hoohiki portal. Keep in mind that confidential case types don't appear there. Juvenile records, adoption filings, and sealed cases are off-limits to the public regardless of how you search. For access to restricted records, you'd generally need a court order or to be a party to the case.

To request documents in writing, use Form 1C-P-858, the Circuit and Family Court Request to Access Court Records form. You can also use the broader statewide form, 1C-P-855, which covers all Hawaii courts. Find both on the First Circuit forms page.

Honolulu District Court Locations and Records

Honolulu County has five district court locations, each covering a different part of Oahu. District courts handle misdemeanor criminal cases, traffic violations and infractions, civil claims under $40,000, small claims under $5,000, landlord-tenant disputes, and non-family temporary restraining orders.

The main Honolulu District Court (Kauikeaouli Hale) sits at 1111 Alakea Street in downtown Honolulu. Call 808-538-5629 for general matters, or reach the Legal Documents Branch at 808-538-5149. For traffic violations, the Traffic Violations Bureau is at 808-538-5500. You can also find traffic information through the court's traffic self-help page. In-person records service runs from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., first come, first served. Public access terminals are on the third floor, open 7:45 a.m. to 4 p.m. The third floor also has the Access to Justice Room, where you can get free legal information, help with forms, and limited attorney consultations.

Here's a quick list of the other district court locations:

• Ewa/Pearl City District Court - 870 4th Street, Pearl City, HI 96782 (phone: 808-534-6900) - covers Halawa to Makakilo, including Pearl City, Waipahu, Ewa Beach, Kapolei, and Makakilo
• Kaneohe District Court (Abner Paki Hale) - 45-939 Pookela Street, Kaneohe, HI 96744 (phone: 808-534-6300) - covers Windward Oahu from Waimanalo to Waimea, including Kailua and Kaneohe
• Wahiawa District Court - 1034 Kilani Avenue, Wahiawa, HI 96786 (phone: 808-534-6200) - covers Mililani, Wahiawa, and the Waialua area
• Waianae District Court - 4675 Kapolei Parkway, Kapolei, HI 96707 (phone: 808-954-8575) - covers the Waianae Coast from Maili to Kaena Point

All district court locations offer in-person records service in the morning hours. Most operate first come, first served. Public access terminals are available at several locations during regular courthouse hours. The Kaneohe courthouse has a terminal near the main entrance before security. Wahiawa and Waianae both have terminals in their lobby areas.

In-Person Records Access in Honolulu County

Walk-in access works differently depending on which court you visit. The Circuit Court and Family Court require appointments. District courts are first come, first served during morning hours. Public access terminals let you search and print records on-site for free, or pay for printouts at the standard copy rates.

In-person copy fees are lower than online fees. Copies cost $1 for the first page and $0.50 for each additional page. Certification adds $2 per document. If you're searching by name without a case number, there's a $5 name search fee. Microfilm and archived records may carry additional charges depending on the request.

You can find full contact information and directions for all First Circuit locations through the First Circuit Court contact page. That page covers the Circuit Court, Family Court, and all district court branches on Oahu.

Types of Court Records in Honolulu County

The First Circuit generates several categories of public records. Criminal records include arrest-to-disposition information for felony cases at the Circuit Court level, and misdemeanor and infraction records at the district court level. Civil records cover lawsuits, judgments, liens, and appeals. Probate records include wills, estate filings, guardianship petitions, and conservatorship matters. Family Court records include divorce decrees, custody orders, support orders, and domestic violence restraining orders (where not sealed).

Land Court records are a distinct category in Hawaii. The Land Court system handles title registration and land transfers, and those records sit with the First Circuit. Tax Appeal Court records, which involve disputes over property assessments and tax decisions, are also part of the First Circuit's docket.

Small claims records are public but limited in scope. They cover disputes under $5,000 and are filed at the district court level. Landlord-tenant cases work similarly. Both types are accessible through the same in-person and online channels as other district court records.

Hawaii law under HRS Chapter 92F, the Uniform Information Practices Act, establishes that government records are presumptively open to the public. Courts must respond to records requests within 10 business days. If a request is denied, you can appeal to the Office of Information Practices. Some categories are exempt from disclosure, including records that would invade personal privacy or those sealed by court order.

Court Records Forms for Honolulu County

Three main forms handle most court records requests in Honolulu County. Form 1C-P-858 is used for requests at the Circuit Court and Family Court. Form 1C-P-827 handles written, mail, fax, or email requests to purchase copies. Form 1C-P-855 is the statewide form that works across all Hawaii courts. All three are available through the judiciary's forms pages.

The First Circuit records request forms page has the Oahu-specific versions. For other forms used across the state, the statewide court forms repository has a full list organized by case type and court. Both pages are maintained by the Hawaii Judiciary and updated when forms change.

When submitting written requests by mail, don't include payment upfront. The court reviews the request, locates the records, calculates the cost, and sends you an invoice. Payment must be by money order, cashier's check, or certified check. Personal checks and cash are not accepted for mail-in requests.

Public Access Terminals and Self-Help Resources

Every courthouse in Honolulu County has at least one public access terminal. These let you search case records and view documents at no charge. If you want to print something, standard copy fees apply. Terminals are generally available during courthouse hours, though some locations open earlier than the records windows.

The public access terminal page from the Hawaii Judiciary explains what's available at each First Circuit location and how to use the terminals. First-time users may find it helpful to review that page before visiting.

The Access to Justice Room at the Honolulu District Court (1111 Alakea Street, third floor) is worth knowing about. It's free to use. Staff there can help you understand what forms you need, how to fill them out, and what steps to take. Limited attorney consultations are sometimes available. The Legal Navigator Hawaii resource page for the First Circuit District Court has more on what's offered and when.

Historical and archived records not held by the courts may be at the Hawaii State Archives. Older cases, particularly those predating digital records, may exist only in paper or microfilm format at the archives rather than at the courthouse.

Honolulu County Court Fees

Fees are consistent across the First Circuit system. Online copies through eCourt Kokua cost $3 per document for the first 30 pages. Pages beyond 30 add $0.10 each. Certified copies are $5 per document online. In-person copies cost $1 for the first page and $0.50 for each additional page, with $2 per document for certification. If you search by name without a case number, add a $5 name search fee to your total.

Public access terminal use is free. Searching eCourt Kokua or Hoohiki for case information is free. You only pay when you want to download or print documents. That's a useful distinction if you just need to confirm a case exists or check a case status.

Court Locations on Oahu

The Hawaii Judiciary court locations page lists every courthouse with full addresses and contact details. For the First Circuit specifically, that includes Ka'ahumanu Hale (Circuit Court), the Ronald T.Y. Moon Judiciary Complex (Family Court and Waianae District Court), Kauikeaouli Hale (Honolulu District Court), and the Pearl City, Kaneohe, and Wahiawa district court buildings.

The First Circuit Court contact page on the Hawaii Judiciary site has detailed information for each location. The photograph below shows the court facility that serves Oahu's main court functions.

For more about what's handled at each court location and how to reach the right office, the First Circuit contact page breaks it down clearly.

The First Circuit Court on Oahu is the hub of Honolulu County's judicial system, handling cases from across the island.

This page from the Hawaii Judiciary site lists phone numbers, addresses, hours, and email contacts for all First Circuit locations.

The First Circuit Court forms page provides the documents you need to request records from the Circuit Court or Family Court in Honolulu County.

Forms available here include the 1C-P-858 and 1C-P-827 request forms, which cover both in-person and written purchase requests for court documents.

Cities in Honolulu County

Honolulu County covers all of Oahu. The following cities and communities on the island have dedicated court records pages.

Other Hawaii Counties

Hawaii has four counties. Each has its own court system and records access procedures.