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Honolulu County Court Records

What Is Honolulu County Court Records

Honolulu County court records are official documents created and maintained by the courts in Honolulu County, Hawaii. These records document legal proceedings, including criminal cases, civil lawsuits, family court matters, traffic violations, and more. Court records typically include filings, motions, orders, judgments, and other documents related to court cases. The Hawaii State Judiciary maintains these records, which serve as the official documentation of court activities and decisions in Honolulu County.

Are Court Records Public In Honolulu County

Yes, most court records in Honolulu County are public information. Under Hawaii's public records laws and the constitutional right to access court proceedings, the majority of court documents are available for public inspection. However, certain records may be sealed or redacted to protect privacy, particularly in cases involving juveniles, adoptions, certain family court matters, or when the court determines that confidentiality is necessary. Additionally, some records may be temporarily restricted during ongoing investigations or by specific court orders.

How To Find Court Records in Honolulu County in 2025

To find court records in Honolulu County in 2025, you have several options:

  1. Visit the courthouse in person at the First Circuit Court. First Circuit Court, Ka'ahumanu Hale, 777 Punchbowl Street, Honolulu, HI 96813

  2. Use the Hawaii State Judiciary's online systems:

    • eCourt Kokua for most case types
    • Ho'ohiki for family court cases

  3. Submit a written request to the Legal Documents Branch. Legal Documents Branch, 777 Punchbowl Street, Honolulu, HI 96813

  4. Contact the specific court division where the case was heard:

    • Circuit Court for felonies and civil cases over $40,000
    • District Court for misdemeanors and civil cases under $40,000
    • Family Court for domestic relations matters

  5. Use the Records Request Form available on the Hawaii State Judiciary website and submit it to the appropriate court clerk's office.

How To Look Up Court Records in Honolulu County Online?

Looking up court records in Honolulu County online is straightforward through the Hawaii State Judiciary's electronic systems:

  1. eCourt Kokua: This system provides access to traffic, criminal, civil, and appellate case information. Visit the Hawaii State Judiciary website (www.courts.state.hi.us) and navigate to the eCourt Kokua portal. You can search by case ID, citation number, party name, or attorney.

  2. Ho'ohiki: This system is specifically for family court records. Access is available through the Judiciary website, though some information may be restricted due to the sensitive nature of family court cases.

  3. PACER: For federal cases in the U.S. District Court for the District of Hawaii, use the federal PACER (Public Access to Court Electronic Records) system.

  4. Hawaii Supreme Court and Intermediate Court of Appeals: Appellate case information is available through the Judiciary's website.

Note that while basic case information is typically available online, full documents may require an in-person visit or formal request.

Can You Search Honolulu County Court Records for Free?

Yes, you can search basic Honolulu County court records for free, but there are limitations:

  • eCourt Kokua and Ho'ohiki: Basic case information searches are free through these online systems.

  • In-Person Searches: You can visit the courthouse to view records at no cost. First Circuit Court, Ka'ahumanu Hale, 777 Punchbowl Street, Honolulu, HI 96813

  • Fees Apply For:

    • Copies of documents (typically $1 per page)
    • Certified copies (additional certification fee)
    • Extensive research requests
    • Some specialized searches

  • PACER: For federal court records, PACER charges $0.10 per page viewed, but fees are waived if you accrue less than $30 in charges per quarter.

The Hawaii State Judiciary provides public access terminals at courthouse locations where you can search records without paying search fees, though printing will still incur costs.

What's Included in a Honolulu County Court Record?

A typical Honolulu County court record includes:

  1. Case Information: Case number, filing date, case type, and status
  2. Party Information: Names of plaintiffs, defendants, petitioners, respondents, and their attorneys
  3. Docket Sheet: Chronological list of all filings and court actions
  4. Court Documents:
    • Complaints or petitions
    • Answers and responses
    • Motions and supporting memoranda
    • Court orders and decisions
    • Judgments and decrees
    • Exhibits (in some cases)
    • Transcripts (if requested and prepared)
  5. Hearing and Trial Information: Dates, times, and outcomes
  6. Financial Information: Filing fees, fines, restitution orders, and payment records
  7. Case Disposition: Final outcome of the case

The specific contents vary by case type. Criminal cases include charging documents and sentencing information, while civil cases contain complaints and settlement details.

How Long Does Honolulu County Keep Court Records?

Honolulu County, as part of the Hawaii State Judiciary, maintains court records according to the following retention schedules:

  • Felony Cases: Permanently maintained
  • Misdemeanor Cases: Generally kept for 10 years after final disposition
  • Traffic Violations: Typically retained for 7 years
  • Civil Cases: Usually kept for 10 years after final judgment
  • Family Court Cases: Retention varies by case type:
    • Divorce records are permanent
    • Paternity cases are maintained until the child reaches age 23
    • Adoption records are permanent but sealed
  • Probate Cases: Permanently maintained

The Hawaii State Judiciary Records Management Department (Judiciary Records Center, 777 Punchbowl Street, Honolulu, HI 96813) oversees the retention and eventual destruction or archiving of court records according to state law and administrative rules. Some historically significant cases may be preserved permanently regardless of type.

Types of Courts In Honolulu County

Honolulu County's court system includes several types of courts, each with specific jurisdictions:

  1. Hawaii Supreme Court: The highest court in the state, handling appeals from lower courts and questions of law. Supreme Court Building, Ali'iolani Hale, 417 South King Street, Honolulu, HI 96813

  2. Intermediate Court of Appeals: Reviews appeals from trial courts before they potentially move to the Supreme Court. Kapuaiwa Building, 426 Queen Street, Honolulu, HI 96813

  3. First Circuit Court: Handles felony criminal cases, civil cases involving claims over $40,000, probate matters, and certain appeals. Ka'ahumanu Hale, 777 Punchbowl Street, Honolulu, HI 96813

  4. First Circuit Family Court: Oversees divorce, child custody, domestic violence, juvenile matters, and adoption cases. Ronald T.Y. Moon Judiciary Complex, 4675 Kapolei Parkway, Kapolei, HI 96707

  5. District Court: Manages misdemeanors, traffic violations, small claims (up to $5,000), and civil cases up to $40,000. Kauikeaouli Hale, 1111 Alakea Street, Honolulu, HI 96813

  6. Land Court: Handles land registration and title matters. Ka'ahumanu Hale, 777 Punchbowl Street, Honolulu, HI 96813

  7. Tax Appeal Court: Resolves disputes between taxpayers and the state Department of Taxation. Ka'ahumanu Hale, 777 Punchbowl Street, Honolulu, HI 96813

  8. U.S. District Court for the District of Hawaii: Federal court handling federal crimes, civil cases involving federal law, and bankruptcy. Prince Kuhio Federal Building, 300 Ala Moana Boulevard, Honolulu, HI 96850

What Types of Cases Do Honolulu County Courts Hear?

Honolulu County courts hear a wide variety of cases:

Circuit Court:

  • Felony criminal prosecutions
  • Civil lawsuits exceeding $40,000
  • Probate and estate matters
  • Land title disputes
  • Administrative appeals

Family Court:

  • Divorce and separation
  • Child custody and support
  • Adoption proceedings
  • Juvenile delinquency
  • Domestic violence and restraining orders
  • Paternity establishment
  • Child welfare cases

District Court:

  • Misdemeanor criminal cases
  • Traffic violations
  • Civil cases up to $40,000
  • Small claims (up to $5,000)
  • Landlord-tenant disputes
  • Temporary restraining orders

Specialty Courts and Programs:

  • Drug Court
  • Mental Health Court
  • Veterans Treatment Court
  • DWI Court
  • Girls Court
  • Environmental Court

Federal Court (U.S. District Court):

  • Federal criminal prosecutions
  • Civil rights cases
  • Bankruptcy proceedings
  • Patent and copyright disputes
  • Maritime law cases
  • Cases involving federal statutes

How To Find a Court Docket In Honolulu County

To find a court docket in Honolulu County, you have several options:

  1. Online Access:

    • Use eCourt Kokua on the Hawaii State Judiciary website for most case types
    • Access Ho'ohiki for family court cases
    • Search by case number, party name, or attorney name

  2. In-Person at the Courthouse:

    • Visit the clerk's office at the appropriate court. First Circuit Court, Ka'ahumanu Hale, 777 Punchbowl Street, Honolulu, HI 96813
    • Request to view the docket for a specific case
    • Public terminals are available for searching

  3. Written Request:

    • Submit a Records Request Form to the Legal Documents Branch
    • Include case information and specify that you need the docket sheet

  4. Daily Calendars:

    • Court calendars listing scheduled hearings are posted daily at courthouses
    • Some calendars are available on the Judiciary website

  5. By Phone:

    • Contact the specific court division clerk's office
    • Provide case information to request docket information

For federal cases, use the PACER system or visit the U.S. District Court clerk's office. Prince Kuhio Federal Building, 300 Ala Moana Boulevard, Honolulu, HI 96850

Which Courts in Honolulu County Are Not Courts of Record?

In Honolulu County, the following courts are not courts of record:

  1. Small Claims Division of the District Court: Proceedings in small claims court (for cases up to $5,000) are not typically recorded verbatim. While written documentation of judgments exists, there is no official transcript of the proceedings.

  2. Certain Administrative Hearings: Some administrative proceedings, while quasi-judicial in nature, are not courts of record. These might include certain licensing board hearings or administrative reviews.

  3. Alternative Dispute Resolution Proceedings: Mediation, arbitration, and other alternative dispute resolution methods that may be court-connected are not courts of record, though their outcomes may be filed with the court.

Courts of record in Honolulu County include:

  • Hawaii Supreme Court
  • Intermediate Court of Appeals
  • Circuit Court
  • Family Court
  • District Court (except small claims)
  • Land Court
  • Tax Appeal Court
  • U.S. District Court

A "court of record" maintains a verbatim record of proceedings, typically through audio recording or court reporters, allowing for the creation of official transcripts that can be used in appeals or as legal evidence of what occurred during the proceedings.

Lookup Court Records in Honolulu County

  • Search Court Records - Information on how to search for court records in Hawaii, including access to eCourt Kokua and Ho'ohiki systems.

  • eCourt Kokua - Access to various court case types including traffic, criminal, civil, and appellate cases.

  • Request Court Records - Details on how to request court records in Oahu, including contact information for different courts.

  • Vexatious Litigants List - A list of individuals deemed vexatious litigants in Hawaii, which is relevant for understanding court restrictions.

  • Rural Paternity Advocate Pilot Project (Third Circuit) - Details about a pilot project related to paternity advocacy in Hawaii's Third Circuit.

Other Categories in Hawaii
Criminal Records Court Records Inmate Records Arrest records Warrant Search Property Records Divorce Records