Court records in Hawaii are maintained by the clerk of the circuit court in each judicial circuit and can be accessed through online tools, official court portals, and the clerk's office. HawaiiCourt.us can help find publicly available court record information for Hawaii. The Hawaii State Judiciary's eCourt Kokua system, the clerk's office at each circuit courthouse, and other state government resources also provide access to case records, dockets, and related documents.
Hawaii Court System Overview
Hawaii has a unified, statewide court system — unlike most states, there are no county-level courts. The Hawaii State Judiciary operates four judicial circuits that correspond to the state's four counties: the First Circuit (City and County of Honolulu), the Second Circuit (Maui County, including Molokaʻi and Lānaʻi), the Third Circuit (Hawaiʻi County, covering Hawaiʻi Island), and the Fifth Circuit (Kauaʻi County). Each circuit has a Circuit Court that handles major cases and a District Court that handles lower-level matters. Above these trial courts sit the Intermediate Court of Appeals and the Supreme Court of Hawaii. Hawaii also has separate Family Courts within each circuit. The Third Circuit, which serves Hawaiʻi Island, holds court at locations in both Hilo and Kona.
Courts Serving Hawaii
Residents of Hawaiʻi County (Hawaiʻi Island) are served by the following courts:
State Courts
Federal Court
All federal cases originating in Hawaiʻi County are filed with the U.S. District Court in Honolulu, as Hawaii has a single federal judicial district covering the entire state.
What Types of Cases Hawaii Courts Hear
Courts in Hawaii handle a wide range of case types across the Circuit Court, District Court, and Family Court divisions:
- Criminal: Felonies, misdemeanors, petty misdemeanors, violations
- Civil: Lawsuits of all dollar amounts, small claims, landlord-tenant disputes
- Family: Divorce, custody, child support, paternity, protective orders, adoption, termination of parental rights
- Probate: Decedent estates, guardianships, conservatorships, trust matters
- Juvenile: Juvenile law violations, child protective cases, status offenses
- Traffic: Moving violations, DUI, non-criminal infractions
- Other: Land Court matters, Tax Appeal Court cases (handled at the state level)
District Court Cases in Hawaii
In Hawaii's court structure, the District Court handles cases that in other states might be split between a magistrate court and a lower-level trial court. The District Court of the Third Circuit hears:
- Criminal misdemeanors, petty misdemeanors, and violations
- Civil cases where the amount in controversy does not exceed $40,000
- Small claims cases up to $5,000
- Traffic infractions and violations
- DUI arraignments and proceedings
- Temporary restraining orders in certain situations
District Court judges in Hawaii are appointed and preside over bench trials — there are no jury trials at the District Court level. If a defendant in a criminal case demands a jury trial, the case is transferred to Circuit Court.
Magistrate Court Cases in Hawaii
Hawaii does not have a separate magistrate court division in the way many mainland states do. The functions typically handled by magistrate judges — such as initial appearances, preliminary hearings, misdemeanor trials, small claims, and traffic matters — are all handled by District Court judges within each circuit. In the Third Circuit, District Court judges in Hilo and Kona hear:
- Misdemeanors and petty misdemeanors
- Civil disputes up to $40,000
- Small claims up to $5,000 (informal proceedings without attorneys)
- Traffic violations and infractions
- Preliminary hearings for felony cases before transfer to Circuit Court
The small claims jurisdictional limit in Hawaii is $5,000 under Hawaii Revised Statutes § 633-27. Cases exceeding the District Court's civil jurisdiction are filed directly in Circuit Court.
Family Law, Probate, and Juvenile Matters in Hawaii
Family Law: Hawaii's Family Courts operate as a separate division within each circuit and handle divorce, child custody, child support, paternity, adoption, protective orders, and termination of parental rights. In the Third Circuit, Family Court matters are heard at both the Hilo and Kona courthouses.
Probate: Probate cases — including decedent estates, guardianships, conservatorships, and trust matters — are heard by the Circuit Court. Filings are made with the clerk of the Third Circuit Court.
Juvenile: Juvenile law violations and child protective cases are handled by the Family Court. Juvenile records in Hawaii are confidential and generally not available to the public. The Family Court also oversees status offense cases and may order services through juvenile court staff.
How Cases Move Through the Hawaii Court System
- Filing / Initiation: Criminal cases begin with a complaint or indictment filed by the prosecutor. Civil cases start with a complaint filed by the plaintiff. Family and probate matters are initiated by petition.
- Initial Hearing: In criminal cases, the defendant is arraigned and enters a plea. In civil cases, a scheduling or case management conference is set. Family Court cases typically begin with a hearing on temporary orders.
- Pre-Trial Phase: Parties exchange discovery, file motions, and may engage in settlement negotiations or mediation. In criminal cases, plea negotiations often occur during this phase.
- Trial or Resolution: Cases proceed to trial (bench or jury in Circuit Court; bench only in District Court), or are resolved by plea agreement, settlement, or default judgment.
- Post-Judgment: Criminal cases may involve sentencing, probation, or appeals. Civil cases may involve enforcement of judgments or post-trial motions. Appeals from Circuit Court go to the Intermediate Court of Appeals; appeals from District Court go to Circuit Court.
Court Administration, Local Rules, and Public Access in Hawaii
The Third Circuit is administered by a Chief Judge and supported by a court administrator. The Hawaii State Judiciary publishes court rules — including the Hawaii Rules of Civil Procedure, Hawaii Rules of Penal Procedure, and local circuit court rules — on its official website.
Public Access: Under Hawaii's Judiciary Records Rules, most court records are open to the public. Exceptions include sealed records, juvenile case files, adoption records, and certain Family Court proceedings. The eCourt Kokua system provides free online access to case information from Circuit Court civil, Family Court civil, District Court, and other case types. The system draws from official records, though some case types and documents may not be available online.
Attending Hearings: Court hearings in Hawaii are generally open to the public. Some proceedings — particularly in Family Court and juvenile matters — may be closed. The Hawaii Judiciary has implemented remote hearing options for certain case types; check with the clerk's office for current procedures.
Court Records and Related Court Resources in Hawaii
- Court Case Search: The eCourt Kokua portal allows free searches of Circuit Court civil, District Court criminal, Family Court civil, and appellate cases statewide. The system availability page provides current status and hours of operation for the database.
- Criminal History Records: The Hawaii Criminal Justice Data Center (HCJDC), part of the Attorney General's office, maintains criminal history records. The eCrim portal allows online searches of adult criminal conviction information.
- Police Reports and Booking Logs: The Hawaiʻi Police Department accepts written requests for copies of police reports. Recent booking logs are published online and cover individuals arrested within the past 48 hours.
- Sex Offender Registry: The Hawaii Sex Offender Search provides public access to registered sex offender information based on criminal convictions.
- Inmate Information: The Hawaiʻi Police Department's inmate information page links to VINE, which allows the public to monitor the custody status of inmates in Hawaii jails and prisons. The Hawaii Community Correctional Center in Hilo serves Hawaiʻi County.
- Bench Warrants: The eBench Warrant system is available to authorized law enforcement and criminal justice agencies for electronic warrant processing.
- Vital Records: Birth, marriage, civil union, death, and divorce certificates are managed by the Hawaii Department of Health, Office of Health Status Monitoring. Certified copies can be ordered through the Hawaii Vital Records online portal.
- Property Records: Land documents and conveyances are recorded through the Bureau of Conveyances. Real property tax information for Hawaiʻi County can be accessed through the County of Hawaiʻi online property tax portal.
- Court Forms and Self-Help: The Hawaii State Judiciary website provides downloadable court forms and self-help resources for individuals representing themselves. Contact the clerk's office at the Third Circuit Court for guidance on filing procedures and available forms.