Court records in Honolulu, Hawaii are maintained by the clerk of the First Circuit Court and can be accessed through online tools, official court portals, and the clerk's office. HonoluluCourt.us can help you find publicly available court record information for the City and County of Honolulu. You can also search records through the Hawaii Judiciary's eCourt Kokua portal, request copies directly from the First Circuit clerk's office on Oʻahu, or explore additional government resources described below.
Honolulu Court System Overview
The City and County of Honolulu encompasses the entire island of Oʻahu and falls within the Hawaii State Judiciary's First Circuit. Hawaii's court system is unified and state-administered — there are no separate county-level courts. The First Circuit is the largest of Hawaii's four judicial circuits and serves only Honolulu County. Circuit Court judges and District Court judges in the First Circuit hear cases at courthouses in downtown Honolulu and at the Kapolei Judiciary Complex. The main courthouse, Kaʻahumanu Hale, is located at 777 Punchbowl Street, Honolulu, HI 96813. The general information line for the First Circuit is (808) 539-4300, and offices are typically open Monday through Friday, 7:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Courts Serving Honolulu
Several state and federal courts serve Honolulu residents:
First Circuit Court (Circuit Court)
District Court of the First Circuit
Family Court of the First Circuit
United States District Court, District of Hawaii
Federal case records are available through PACER. Visit the U.S. District Court – District of Hawaii website for local information.
United States Bankruptcy Court, District of Hawaii
The U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Hawaii handles all federal bankruptcy filings statewide from its Honolulu office.
What Types of Cases Honolulu Courts Hear
Courts serving Honolulu handle a broad range of case types across the Circuit Court, District Court, and Family Court divisions:
- Criminal: Felonies, misdemeanors, petty misdemeanors, violations
- Traffic: Moving violations, DUI, license-related offenses
- Civil: General civil litigation, contract disputes, tort claims, injunctions
- Small claims: Disputes up to the statutory dollar limit
- Family law: Divorce, custody, child support, paternity, protective orders, adoption
- Probate: Decedent estates, guardianships, conservatorships, trusts
- Juvenile: Delinquency proceedings, status offenses, child protective cases
- Land Court: Registered land title matters (unique to Hawaii)
District Court Cases in Honolulu
The District Court of the First Circuit, located at Kauikeaouli Hale, handles criminal offenses classified as misdemeanors, petty misdemeanors, and violations. It also hears civil cases where the amount in controversy does not exceed $40,000, as well as small claims matters. Traffic cases — including DUI arraignments — are processed through the District Court. District Court judges preside over these matters without a jury. Cases typically begin with a citation, complaint, or summons, and a judge is assigned based on internal scheduling. If a defendant in a criminal case is entitled to a jury trial, the case may be transferred to Circuit Court.
Magistrate Court Cases in Honolulu
Hawaii does not operate a separate magistrate court division in the way many mainland states do. Instead, the District Court functions as the limited-jurisdiction trial court. In Honolulu's First Circuit, District Court judges handle:
- Misdemeanors and petty misdemeanors
- Civil disputes up to $40,000
- Small claims up to $5,000 (or $10,000 for certain security deposit claims)
- Traffic violations and infractions
- DUI arraignments and non-jury proceedings
- Temporary restraining orders
Felony preliminary hearings are conducted in District Court before cases are committed to Circuit Court for further proceedings. Due to the high volume of cases on Oʻahu, District Court judges are often assigned to specific calendars such as traffic, criminal, or civil.
Family Law, Probate, and Juvenile Matters in Honolulu
Family Law
Divorce, custody, child support, paternity, adoption, and civil protective orders are handled by the Family Court of the First Circuit. Most Family Court operations on Oʻahu are based at the Kapolei Judiciary Complex. Divorce records on Oʻahu can be requested from the Legal Documents Branch at Kapolei; for guidance on obtaining divorce certificates, contact the Hawaii Department of Health, Vital Records office as well.
Probate
Decedent estates, guardianships, conservatorships, and trust matters are heard by the Circuit Court at Kaʻahumanu Hale. Probate filings and records are maintained by the Legal Documents Branch at 777 Punchbowl Street, Honolulu.
Juvenile
Juvenile law violations, status offenses, and Child Protective Act cases are handled by the Family Court. Juvenile records are confidential under Hawaii law and are not available through public court record searches. For questions about juvenile court services, contact the Family Court at Kapolei at (808) 954-8000.
How Cases Move Through the Honolulu Court System
- Filing / Initiation: A case begins with a criminal complaint, citation, civil complaint, or petition filed with the appropriate court clerk.
- Assignment: The case is assigned to a judge based on case type and the court's internal calendar system.
- Initial Hearing: Criminal defendants appear for arraignment; civil parties attend a scheduling or return hearing.
- Pre-Trial Phase: Parties engage in discovery, file motions, and — in criminal cases — may negotiate plea agreements.
- Trial or Resolution: Cases proceed to bench trial, jury trial, settlement, plea, or default judgment.
- Post-Judgment: Criminal cases move to sentencing; civil judgments may involve enforcement proceedings. Either party may file an appeal to the Intermediate Court of Appeals.
Case progress and upcoming hearing dates can often be tracked through eCourt Kokua.
Court Administration, Local Rules, and Public Access in Honolulu
The First Circuit is administered by the Senior Judge and a Trial Court Administrator. Local court rules, including the Rules of the Circuit Courts and the Rules of the District Courts, are published on the Hawaii State Judiciary website.
Public Access to Records
- Most adult criminal, civil, and traffic case records are public and can be searched online through eCourt Kokua.
- Family Court records involving minors, adoption, and certain protective orders are restricted.
- Hawaii's Uniform Information Practices Act (UIPA) governs public access to government records, including court-related documents held by executive agencies.
- Sealed or expunged records are not publicly accessible. For expungement questions, see the HCJDC expungement FAQs.
Attending Hearings
Most hearings in Honolulu courts are open to the public. Some proceedings — particularly in Family Court — may be closed. The Hawaii Judiciary has used remote hearing technology for certain case types; check with the clerk's office or the court's website for current procedures.
Contact — First Circuit Administration
Court Records and Related Court Resources in Honolulu
- Court record search: Use eCourt Kokua to look up traffic, District Court, Circuit Court, and Family Court (adult) criminal case information online.
- Request court record copies: Submit requests to the Legal Documents Branch on Oʻahu for certified or uncertified copies of court filings, judgments, and orders.
- Criminal history checks: The Hawaii Criminal Justice Data Center processes official criminal history record checks. The eCrim portal provides public access to adult criminal conviction information.
- Court forms and self-help: The Hawaii Courts Self-Help Center offers free legal information, court forms, and guidance for self-represented litigants.
- Inmate lookup: The Oahu Community Correctional Center (OCCC) is the primary jail facility in Honolulu. For federal detainees, see the Federal Detention Center Honolulu.
- Sex offender registry: Search the Hawaii Sex Offender Registry for registered offenders in Honolulu County.
- Arrest logs: The Honolulu Police Department publishes arrest logs online.
- Legal research: The Hawaii State Law Library in Honolulu provides free access to legal research materials, statutes, and case law.
- Vital records: Birth, death, and marriage certificates are available through the Hawaii Department of Health Vital Records office. Divorce records for cases granted on Oʻahu can be requested from the Kapolei Judiciary Complex.