Divorce records in Hawaii can be accessed through several channels, including online tools, the court that issued the decree, and the state vital records office. HawaiiCourt.us can help find publicly available divorce record information for cases filed in Hawaii. The Family Court that handled the divorce maintains the case file, while the Hawaii Department of Health's Vital Records office issues divorce certificates. These offices serve as the primary access points for anyone seeking divorce-related documents in the state.
Hawaii Divorce Records Search
In Hawaii, divorce cases are handled exclusively by the Family Court, which is a division of the Circuit Court in each judicial circuit. The Family Court clerk maintains the complete case file, including the divorce decree, motions, settlement agreements, custody orders, and all related filings. The Hawaii State Department of Health, Office of Health Status Monitoring, separately maintains an index of divorce records and can issue certified divorce certificates or letters of verification.
Court records for Family Court civil cases — including divorces — can be searched through the Hawaii Judiciary's eCourt Kokua online system, which provides case information for cases statewide. For the Third Circuit (Hawaii County), the primary court office is:
Third Circuit Court — Family Court (Hilo)
A second location serves West Hawaii:
Third Circuit Court — Family Court (Kona)
Where Divorce Records Are Filed in Hawaii
Hawaii uses a unified Family Court system rather than a separate district or superior court for divorce matters. All divorce petitions in Hawaii County are filed with the Family Court of the Third Circuit. After a divorce decree is entered, the court clerk retains the full case record. The court also reports the divorce to the Department of Health, which maintains a statewide index.
Which office to contact depends on what you need:
- Full case file, decree, settlement agreement, or custody orders — Contact the Family Court clerk at the Third Circuit courthouse where the case was filed (Hilo or Kona).
- Certified divorce certificate or letter of verification — Contact the Hawaii Department of Health, Office of Health Status Monitoring (Vital Records).
- Online case search — Use the eCourt Kokua portal to look up Family Court civil case information by party name or case number.
Hawaii Department of Health — Vital Records Section
You can also order vital record certificates online through the Department of Health's electronic ordering system. Note that divorce certificates from the Department of Health confirm that a divorce occurred and provide basic details, but they do not include the full terms of the settlement or custody arrangements — only the court file contains those documents.
Under Hawaii law (HRS § 338-13 and § 338-18), certified copies of vital records including divorce certificates are restricted to individuals with a direct and tangible interest, such as a party to the divorce, their legal representative, or certain government agencies.
Divorce Record Search Fees, Copy Costs, and Processing Times in Hawaii
| Service | Fee | Typical Processing Time |
|---|---|---|
| Certified divorce certificate (Department of Health — first copy) | $10.00 | 4–6 weeks by mail |
| Each additional copy of same certificate (same order) | $4.00 | Same as above |
| Court record copy (per page, uncertified) — Family Court clerk | $1.00 | While you wait (in person) or 1–2 weeks by mail |
| Court record certification fee | $5.00 per document | Varies |
| eCourt Kokua online case search | Free | Immediate |
| Online vital records order (Department of Health) | $10.00 + processing/shipping fees | Varies; expedited options may be available |