Kauai County Court Records
Kauai County court records are held by the Fifth Circuit Court in Lihue and cover all civil, criminal, family, and district court cases filed on the island. This guide explains how to search for and obtain those records, whether you prefer to look online, visit in person, or send a written request by mail.
Kauai County Court Records
Fifth Circuit Court in Kauai County
All court activity on Kauai Island runs through the Fifth Judicial Circuit. The main facility is the Puuhonua Kaulike Building at 3970 Kaana Street in Lihue. The courthouse serves both Kauai and the privately held island of Niihau. Because no court facilities exist on Niihau, any cases arising there are handled entirely at the Lihue courthouse. The building holds the Circuit Court, District Court, and Family Court divisions, along with the Law Library and a Self-Help Center.
The Legal Documents Branch at the courthouse is the office you contact when you need court records. Their direct line is 808-482-2330. General courthouse inquiries go to the main number, 808-482-2300. Staff are available Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and work on a first-come, first-served basis for walk-in visitors. The fax number for record requests is 808-482-2553.
The Fifth Circuit Court contact page lists phone numbers, fax lines, and email addresses for the Lihue courthouse, which handles all civil, criminal, and family court cases for Kauai and Niihau islands.
The Puuhonua Kaulike Building in Lihue is the only court facility for all of Kauai County. Call 808-482-2330 to reach the Legal Documents Branch directly before submitting a request.
What Records the Fifth Circuit Keeps
The Fifth Circuit handles several different case types, and knowing which court filed a case helps you search faster. Circuit Court takes felony criminal cases, civil matters above $40,000, probate and guardianship proceedings, and jury trials. District Court deals with traffic violations, misdemeanor and petty misdemeanor offenses, small claims up to $5,000, and civil claims up to $40,000. Family Court handles divorce, legal separation, child custody, child support, adoption, domestic violence restraining orders, juvenile matters, and paternity cases.
Not every record type is open to the public. Juvenile records are sealed under state law and are not available to the general public. Adoption proceedings and any case a judge has specifically sealed are also off limits. Beyond those exceptions, court records in Kauai County are presumptively public under Hawaii's Uniform Information Practices Act, found at HRS Chapter 92F. That law says public agencies must respond to record requests within 10 business days.
Search Kauai Court Records Online
The Hawaii Judiciary offers two online tools that cover Kauai County cases. The first is eCourt Kokua, a case search system that lets you look up basic case information at no charge. To find a Kauai case, go to eCourt Kokua, choose Fifth Circuit from the court selector, then enter a case ID, party name, or citation number. Results show case status, hearing dates, and parties involved. If the record includes documents with a PDF icon, you can download those files for $3 per document up to 30 pages, with an additional $0.10 per page after that.
The second tool is Hoohiki, which covers Family Court civil cases. You can search by party name or case number and view basic case information. Hoohiki does not offer document downloads, so it is best used to confirm a case exists before making a formal records request.
Keep in mind that not all court documents are available online. Hawaii Court Records Rules restrict some sensitive documents from online access even when the physical files are available at the courthouse. If you cannot find what you need through eCourt Kokua or Hoohiki, a direct request to the Legal Documents Branch is the next step.
The Fifth Circuit contact page provides phone numbers and email addresses for requesting Kauai County court records by mail or fax, including the direct lines for the Legal Documents Branch and each court division.
When eCourt Kokua or Hoohiki do not have what you need, submitting a written request by mail or fax to the Lihue courthouse is the next step for accessing physical case files.
In-Person Access at the Lihue Courthouse
The Fifth Circuit has a public access terminal on the first floor of the Puuhonua Kaulike Building, just to the left of the Fiscal Section. You can use it Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. The phone number for the terminal area is 808-482-2330. At the terminal you can look up case information and view documents for free while you are on site, which is useful if you need to review a file without paying download fees.
One thing worth knowing before you make the trip: cases older than 10 years may be stored off-site. If you are looking for an older file, call 808-482-2330 ahead of time to confirm the records are at the courthouse and not in storage. This can save you a wasted visit.
The Law Library is also in the Puuhonua Kaulike Building, in Suite 100. Its phone number is 808-482-2327 and it is open Monday through Friday from 7:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Library staff cannot give legal advice, but the collection is available for your own research. The Self-Help Center in the same building is open Monday and Friday from 9 a.m. to noon; call 808-482-2660 to confirm hours before visiting.
How to Request Kauai County Records by Mail
Written requests are a practical option if you cannot visit in person. Start by identifying the case number, the names of the parties, and the specific documents you need. The more detail you provide, the faster the office can locate what you are looking for. Use Form 1C-P-858 from the Hawaii Judiciary forms repository, or write a plain letter that includes the same information.
For Circuit Court or Family Court civil matters, email your request to LegalDocs.5CC@courts.hawaii.gov. For District Court civil matters, use LegalDocs.5DC@courts.hawaii.gov. You can also fax to 808-482-2553. If you prefer regular mail, send your request to:
- Fifth Circuit Courts
- Puuhonua Kaulike Building
- 3970 Kaana Street
- Lihue, Kauai 96766-1256
Do not send payment with your initial request. The office will review what you need and send an invoice. Payment must be made by money order, cashier's check, or certified check. Personal checks are not accepted. In-person copies cost $1 for the first page and $0.50 for each additional page. Certification of a document adds $2. A name search costs $5 per name.
Criminal case records for Kauai County are maintained by the Fifth Circuit Court Records Department, reachable at 808-482-2347, which handles criminal history requests alongside the Legal Documents Branch.
For official criminal history checks rather than court case documents, contact the Hawaii Criminal Justice Data Center at 465 South King Street, Room 101, Honolulu, HI 96813, phone 808-587-3100.
Kauai County Criminal Records
Criminal case records filed with the Fifth Circuit are available through the same Legal Documents Branch as other court records. Call 808-482-2347 specifically for criminal records inquiries. When you visit in person, bring a valid photo ID and be ready to provide the full name of the subject, date of birth, and a case number if you have one. The court can search its records and provide copies of criminal case filings, charging documents, and court orders.
If you need an official criminal history record rather than just court case documents, the right agency is the Hawaii Criminal Justice Data Center. They are located at 465 South King Street, Room 101, in Honolulu. Their phone number is 808-587-3100. A name-based check costs $25 and a fingerprint-based check costs $35. These official background checks carry more weight than a simple court record search and are the standard used for licensing and similar purposes.
The Kauai Police Department also maintains arrest records. For records that predate a case being filed with the court, or for arrest records without a corresponding court case, the police department is the appropriate contact.
Records Request Process for Kauai Courts
The court records request page on the Hawaii Judiciary website explains the general process for all circuits, including the Fifth. While that page is labeled for Oahu, the procedures and forms apply statewide. You can download the correct request form there and find guidance on what information to include.
The Hawaii Judiciary records request page provides forms and instructions that apply to Fifth Circuit records requests for Kauai County, including Form 1C-P-858 and guidance on what information to include.
While the page is labeled for Oahu, the procedures and forms apply statewide and are the correct reference for Kauai County records requests through the Fifth Circuit.
The Office of Information Practices at 808-586-1400 handles appeals when a records request is denied or goes unanswered past the 10-day response window. If the court tells you a record is confidential and you believe that determination is wrong, the OIP is the body that reviews those disputes. You can also contact the Hawaii State Archives for older historical court documents that may have been transferred out of the active court records system.
Self-Help and Legal Resources in Kauai County
The Hawaii Judiciary runs a Self-Help Center at the Puuhonua Kaulike Building in Lihue. It is open Monday and Friday mornings from 9 a.m. to noon. Staff there can help you understand how to fill out court forms and navigate the records request process, though they cannot give legal advice. Call 808-482-2660 before you go to confirm current hours.
The Law Library in the same building is another practical resource. It holds legal materials you can use to research case law, statutes, and court rules on your own. Again, staff cannot advise you on your legal situation, but they can help you find the right materials. Hours are Monday through Friday, 7:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and the number is 808-482-2327.
For families involved in child welfare matters, the Children's Justice Center serves Kauai at 4473 Pahee Street, Suite M, in Lihue. Their phone number is 808-246-0923. This center works alongside the Family Court for cases involving children. Public access terminals are also available at other circuit court locations statewide for cases filed outside Kauai.
Criminal Offense Types in Fifth Circuit Cases
Knowing how Hawaii classifies criminal offenses helps you understand which court handled a case and what the potential penalties were. Felonies carry more than one year of imprisonment and are filed with Circuit Court. Misdemeanors carry up to one year in jail and are handled by District Court. Petty misdemeanors carry up to 30 days in jail, also in District Court. Violations are non-criminal infractions punishable only by fines. When you search eCourt Kokua, the case type code will indicate which division filed the case, which tells you what level of offense was involved.
Cities in Kauai County
Kauai County does not have any incorporated cities that meet the 100,000 population threshold for dedicated city pages on this site. Lihue, the county seat, and other communities on the island such as Kapaa, Waimea, and Princeville are unincorporated places. All court records for residents across Kauai, regardless of which community they live in, are filed with the Fifth Circuit in Lihue. You can browse major Hawaii cities for cities in other counties that do have dedicated pages.
Other Hawaii Counties
Hawaii is divided into four counties, each with its own circuit court. If the records you need were filed in a different county, use the links below to find the right courthouse.