Hawaii County Court Records

    Please enter a valid first name
    Please enter a valid last name

    HawaiiCourts.us is not a consumer reporting agency as defined by the FCRA and does not provide consumer reports. All searches conducted on HawaiiCourts.us are subject to the Terms of Service and Privacy Notice.

    Hawaii County — often called the Big Island to distinguish it from the state itself — covers the largest landmass in the Hawaiian archipelago. Its court system operates under the Third Circuit of the Hawaii State Judiciary and serves residents through courthouses in Hilo, Kona, and Waimea. The Third Circuit includes a Circuit Court division, a District Court division, and a Family Court division, each handling its own categories of cases. Knowing where to direct your search and which office maintains the records you need will save you a lot of time, especially given how spread out the island's court facilities are.

    If you're looking for court case information in Hawaii County, start with the resources available from the state judiciary. HawaiiCourts.us may help you identify publicly available case data and find the relevant court offices. From there, you can search through the Judiciary's electronic portal, eCourt Kokua, visit or contact the clerk's offices at each courthouse, or use public-access terminals on-site. The best method depends on the type of record, how old the case is, and whether you need a certified copy.

    How to Look Up a Court Case in Hawaii County?

    Hawaii County court cases can be searched online or in person. The main electronic tool is eCourt Kokua, the public interface for the Judiciary Information Management System (JIMS). This portal covers traffic cases, District Court and Circuit Court criminal and civil matters, Family Court criminal and civil cases, Tax Appeal Court proceedings, Land Court cases, and appellate filings.

    Searching through eCourt Kokua

    1. Go to the eCourt Kokua disclaimer page and accept the terms.
    2. Choose a search type: Party Search, Case Search, Vehicle Search, Upcoming Court Hearings Search, or View/Purchase Documents.
    3. Enter available details such as a party name, case number, or vehicle information.
    4. Review results and, if needed, purchase document copies electronically.

    Keep in mind that eCourt Kokua displays official case data but does not include every document from the court file. If you need certified copies, you'll have to obtain those in paper form from the courthouse.

    In-Person Searches

    You can visit any of the Third Circuit courthouse locations during business hours to inspect or request copies of records. Bring the name of at least one party, the case number if you have it, the case type, and the court where the case was filed. Under the Hawaii Court Records Rules (HCRR), the clerk may ask you to submit a written request using HCRR Form 3.

    Third Circuit Courthouse Locations

    LocationAddressKey Phone Numbers
    Hilo (Hale Kaulike)777 Kilauea Avenue, Hilo, HI 96720Court Administrator: (808) 961-7440; Legal Documents: (808) 961-7400; District Court: (808) 961-7470
    Kona (Keahuolu Courthouse)74-5451 Kamakaeha Avenue, Kailua-Kona, HI 96740General: (808) 322-8700; Legal Documents: (808) 322-8750
    Waimea (South Kohala District Court)67-5187 Kamamalu Street, Kamuela, HI 96743General: (808) 443-2030

    All Third Circuit courthouses are open Monday through Friday, 7:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., except state holidays. Counter hours run from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

    Copy Fees

    Fees for paper copies are set by the Rules of the Circuit Courts and District Courts:

    • $1.00 for the first page of each document
    • $0.50 for each additional page
    • Documents stored off-site: an additional $5.00 retrieval charge plus the copying fee
    • Certification under seal: $2.00
    • Telefaxing within Hawaii: $2.00 for the first page, $1.00 for each additional page
    • Expedited or rush requests (copies provided within four hours): $10.00 plus applicable copy charges

    Are Court Records Public in Hawaii County?

    Court records in Hawaii County are generally accessible to the public. Two overlapping legal frameworks govern access: the Uniform Information Practices Act (UIPA), codified in HRS Chapter 92F, and the Hawaii Court Records Rules (HCRR), adopted by the Hawaii Supreme Court and applied specifically to judiciary records.

    Under HCRR Rule 10.1, court records are accessible during regular business hours, subject to the court's own priority use. When requested records are freely available through eCourt Kokua at no cost, the clerk may direct you there instead of making physical copies.

    Records that are not publicly accessible include:

    • Documents designated confidential, protected, restricted, or sealed under HCRR Rule 2.9
    • Personal information such as Social Security numbers, dates of birth, names of minor children, and bank account numbers (HCRR Rule 2.19)
    • Materials submitted for in camera judicial review (HCRR Rule 10.5)
    • Family court records involving juveniles, which are generally confidential under HRS 571-84
    • Records exempted under UIPA (HRS 92F-13), including those related to personal privacy, ongoing government investigations, and matters protected by court order
    • Adoption records
    • Sealed records, including certain expunged criminal records

    When filing documents that contain personal information, parties must use a Confidential Information Form (HCRR Form 2) and an accompanying fly sheet (HCRR Form 1). This keeps sensitive data separate from the publicly accessible part of the file.

    If access to a confidential record is denied, you may file a motion with the court within ten days of the denial. The clerk will notify all parties, and any party may file an opposition within ten days. If you want to challenge a final access determination, you can petition the Hawaii Supreme Court under Rule 21 of the Hawaii Rules of Appellate Procedure.

    Hawaii County Criminal Court Records

    Felony criminal cases in Hawaii County are prosecuted in the Third Circuit Court, while misdemeanor offenses, traffic infractions, and criminal offenses punishable by up to one year of incarceration fall under the Third Circuit District Court. Both types of criminal case records are searchable through eCourt Kokua by party name or case number.

    In-Person Criminal Record Access

    To request records in person, go to the Legal Documents Section at the relevant courthouse. For felony matters filed in Hilo, call Legal Documents at (808) 961-7400. For Kona cases, call (808) 322-8750. Bring specific case details and a government-issued photo ID.

    The Criminal Division at the General Division of the Circuit Court handles all felony indictments returned by the grand jury. After an indictment, the clerk creates and issues either an arrest warrant or a summons.

    Criminal History Background Checks

    A court case search through eCourt Kokua or the clerk's office shows individual case records, but that's not the same as a comprehensive criminal history check. For a full arrest record search covering the State of Hawaii, you'll need to submit to a fingerprint-based check administered by the Hawaii Criminal Justice Data Center (HCJDC).

    • In-office appointments: Call (808) 587-3279 to schedule. The service fee is $55. Office hours are 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday (closed 12:00–1:00 p.m. for lunch and on state holidays). Download the HCJDC-073 form before your visit. Optional certification adds $20; notarization is available at no extra cost. Accepted payment: credit, debit, Apple Pay, money order, or cashier's check payable to State of Hawaii. No cash. A 3% non-refundable fee applies to electronic payments.

    • By mail: The service fee is $35. Contact the CHRC Unit at (808) 587-3279 to obtain a fingerprint packet. Have your fingerprints taken at a local law enforcement agency and mail the completed packet to:

      Hawaii Criminal Justice Data Center
      Attn: CHRC Unit
      465 S. King Street, Room 102
      Honolulu, HI 96813

      Processing takes 3–5 business days, or 7–10 business days if notarization is requested. Payment by money order or cashier's check only.

    Local Fingerprinting and Criminal Abstracts

    The Hawaii Police Department offers fingerprinting services and local criminal abstracts (Hawaii-only background checks) at its Hilo and Kona stations. The fee is $25.00 per fingerprint card or abstract copy, payable by cashier's check or money order to Hawaii Criminal Justice Data Center. Hilo hours are Monday through Friday, 7:45 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.; Kona hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

    Non-conviction criminal history information is generally accessible only to criminal justice agencies and certain authorized entities, as outlined under HRS Chapter 704.

    Hawaii County Civil Court Records

    Civil litigation in Hawaii County is split between the Circuit Court and the District Court based on the amount in dispute and the type of action.

    Circuit Court handles civil cases where the disputed amount exceeds $40,000, as well as appeals from District Court civil judgments. It shares concurrent jurisdiction with the District Court for non-jury civil cases involving amounts between $10,000 and $40,000. Filing a civil complaint in Circuit Court costs $315, which includes the Indigent Legal Services Surcharge. A demand for a jury trial adds $200.

    District Court handles civil claims up to $40,000, summary possession (eviction) actions, ejectment proceedings without real estate title disputes, specific performance cases valued under $20,000, and petitions for temporary restraining orders and injunctions against harassment. Small claims cases — where the amount in dispute is $5,000 or less — also go through the District Court.

    District Court Filing Fees (selected)

    Filing TypeFee
    Regular civil complaint$155.00
    Summary possession complaint$155.00
    Small claims$35.00
    Temporary restraining order$15.00
    Foreign judgment$220.00
    Counterclaim/cross-claim (regular)$65.00
    Counterclaim/cross-claim (small claims)$10.00
    Demand for jury trial (District Court)$200.00
    Appeal to appellate court (civil)$285.00

    The full fee schedules for both courts are published by the Hawaii State Judiciary: Circuit Court fees and District Court fees.

    Searching Civil Records

    Civil case records for both courts are available through eCourt Kokua. For in-person requests, contact the Legal Documents Section at the Hilo courthouse at (808) 961-7400 or the Kona courthouse at (808) 322-8750. For District Court civil and small claims inquiries in Hilo specifically, call (808) 961-7515.

    Hawaii County Family Court Records

    The Third Circuit Family Court handles a wide range of matters involving domestic relations and minors. Its docket includes divorce, annulment, legal separation, child custody, child support, paternity, adoption, guardianship of minors, juvenile delinquency, child abuse and neglect, and civil restraining orders related to domestic violence and abuse of family or household members.

    Family Court offices are at all three Third Circuit courthouses:

    • Hilo: (808) 961-7500 (general Family Court); (808) 961-7670 (adoption records, juvenile intake)
    • Kona: (808) 443-2112 (general Family Court, documents, domestic abuse/TROs); (808) 443-2190 (juvenile intake)
    • Waimea: (808) 443-2112 (documents, domestic abuse/TROs); (808) 443-2000 (juvenile intake)

    Family Court forms are available online and at each courthouse. If you need help completing TRO forms, contact Child & Family Service at (808) 935-2188 (Hilo/South Kohala) or (808) 323-2664 (Kailua-Kona).

    Confidentiality of Family Court Records

    Under HRS 571-84, Family Court records other than social records are open to inspection only by specific people: the parties and their attorneys, institutions or agencies to which a minor has been committed, guardians, and persons who can show a legitimate interest in the welfare of the minor. Social records — reports filed during proceedings — have even stricter access limits. Adoption records carry additional layers of confidentiality.

    Certain Family Court adult criminal matters and civil proceedings are publicly accessible through eCourt Kokua, but records involving juvenile proceedings are not displayed on the public portal.

    Marriage Records

    Marriage records are maintained by the Hawaii State Department of Health, not the courts. Certified copies are available only to people with a direct and tangible interest, as defined in HRS 338-18. Eligible individuals include the registrant, spouse, parent, descendant, legal guardian, or estate representative. Requests can be submitted online or by mail using the marriage record request form. Certified copies cost $10.00 for the first copy and $4.00 for each additional copy, plus a $2.50 general administration fee per five copies. If you don't qualify for a certified copy, you may request a Letter of Verification for $5.00 under HRS 338-14.3.

    Divorce Records

    The Department of Health maintains divorce records only for divorces finalized between January 1951 and December 2002. For divorce decrees outside that range, contact the court directly: call the Hilo Legal Documents Branch at (808) 961-7404 or the Kona courthouse at (808) 443-2112.

    Birth and Death Records

    Birth and death certificates are issued by the Department of Health under the same eligibility rules (HRS 338-18) and fee structure as marriage records above. Birth records can be ordered online or by mail. Death certificates cannot be ordered online — those must be requested in person or by mail. All mail requests go to:

    State Department of Health
    Office of Health Status Monitoring
    Issuance/Vital Statistics Section
    P.O. Box 3378
    Honolulu, HI 96801

    In-person requests can be made at the Department of Health's Honolulu office at 1250 Punchbowl Street, Room 103, open Monday through Friday, 7:45 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

    Hawaii County Probate Court Records

    Probate matters in Hawaii County fall under the exclusive jurisdiction of the Third Circuit Court. The court handles estate administration (both testate and intestate), guardianships of incapacitated persons, conservatorships, and trust proceedings. The Estate and Guardianship Branch in Hilo can be reached at (808) 961-7650. For probate filing fees, which vary depending on the type of proceeding, contact the Estate and Guardianship Branch directly, as the filing fee schedule directs requesters to do so.

    Common Probate Filings

    The Circuit Court filing fee for probate, conservatorship, conservator-guardianship, trust, or equity proceedings is set on a case-by-case basis through the Estate and Guardianship Branch. The general Circuit Court civil filing fee of $315 may apply as a baseline for certain probate matters. Confirm specific deposits or fees directly with the branch before submitting anything.

    Searching Probate Records

    Probate case records are available through eCourt Kokua using the Case Search or Party Search functions. Select the Third Circuit and the appropriate case type to locate probate filings. In-person access is available at the Hilo courthouse (Hale Kaulike, 777 Kilauea Avenue) during regular business hours. For cases filed in Kona, contact the Keahuolu Courthouse at (808) 322-8700.

    Standard copy fees apply: $1.00 for the first page and $0.50 for each additional page. Certification adds $2.00. If the probate file has been moved to off-site storage, there's a $5.00 retrieval charge on top of the copying fees. The clerk must make the record available within a reasonable time; if it can't be fulfilled within ten business days, the clerk will notify you with an estimated date.

    Probate forms adopted by the Hawaii Supreme Court are available on the Judiciary website. If you need guidance on which forms to file or how to proceed without an attorney, you can visit the Self-Help Center at the Keahuolu Courthouse in Kona or consult resources at the courthouse law libraries. The Hilo law library can be reached at (808) 961-7438 and the Kona law library at (808) 322-8729.

    Property records for Hawaii County, while separate from court records, are often relevant to probate and estate matters. You can access them through the County of Hawaii Real Property Tax Office or the online property database, which allows searches by parcel number, owner name, or property address.