Honolulu County Court Records

Honolulu County court records are legal documents containing information from legal proceedings of different trial courts (circuit, district, and family courts) in the county. They help facilitate transparent communication with the public as they provide accurate details of current and past lawsuits. They also help Honolulu County residents to understand and participate in the judicial process.

Typical information found in Honolulu court records includes:

• Personal information of the litigants, such as name, birth date, and address
• Case details such as transcripts, notes of evidence, and charges
• Statement of facts
• Judgements
• Grounds of decision

Are Court Records Public in Honolulu County?

Yes, court records are open records in Honolulu County. According to the Hawaii State Uniform Information Practice Act (UIPA), upon request, individuals have the right to inspect and copy public records, including court records, during business hours except when restricted or barred by law. Individuals can be legally restricted from having access to court records for the following reasons:

• To prevent personal privacy invasion
• To protect confidential official documents necessary for governmental functions
• To protect juvenile records sealed by statute, rule, or court order
• To shield sensitive financial information such as tax and account numbers
• To preserve public safety

Examples of Honolulu County court records limited from public disclosure include juvenile records, adoption and guardianship records, and commitment to mental institution records.

Honolulu County Court Records Search

Honolulu County court records can generally be accessed in electronic or paper format. For electronic format, interested persons can either search the Hawaii State Judiciary’s eCourt Kokua or consult third-party websites. Visiting the clerks of the courthouses where the case records were generated and submitting completed forms along with the applicable fees is another way to access court records. In addition, older court case records are available upon request from the Hawaii State Archives and may also require in-person visits.

Honolulu County Court Records Search by Name

Honolulu County court records can be searched by name via the eCourt Kokua web service. Name-based court record searches using this service, although subject to certain fees, can be accessed for free by a requestor who is a party to a case. However, they must register as Judiciary Electronic Filing System users (JEFs users) to enjoy free access to their case documents. Any requestor who is not a party to a case is required to purchase quarterly or annual online subscriptions before they can access case documents. A flat rate of $3 is charged for downloading or printing up to 30 pages of individual documents, while an additional charge of 10 cents is billed per extra page of individual documents above 30 pages.

Honolulu County Courts

Honolulu County Court system, which is within the First Judicial District (Oahu), is composed of three trial courts, namely circuit court, district court, and family court. The specific court names, addresses, and contact information of Honolulu County’s trial courts are listed below:

Oahu First Circuit Court
Ka`ahumanu Hale
777 Punchbowl Street,
Honolulu, HI 96813
Phone: (808) 539-4767

Oahu First Circuit District Court
Kauikeaouli Hale
1111 Alakea Street,
Honolulu, HI 96813
Phone: (808) 538-5767

Oahu First Circuit District Court - Ewa/Pearl City
870 Fourth Street,
Pearl City, HI 96782
Phone: (808) 534-6900

Oahu First Circuit District Court - Kaneohe
Abner Paki Hale
45-939 Pookela Street,
Kaneohe, HI 96744
Phone: (808) 534-6300

Oahu First Circuit District Court - Wahiawa
1034 Kilani Avenue,
Wahiawa, HI 96786
Phone: (808) 534-6200

Oahu First Circuit District Court - Waianae
4675 Kapolei Parkway,
Kapolei, HI 96707
Phone: (808) 954-8575

Oahu First Circuit Family Court
Kapolei Judiciary Complex
4675 Kapolei Parkway,
Kapolei, HI 96707
Phone: (808) 954-8000

Honolulu County Superior Court Case Search

The Honolulu County Superior Court is commonly referred to as the Honolulu County First Circuit Court (also called Oahu First Circuit Court). It is one of the four circuit courts situated in each of Hawaii State’s four judicial circuits with general jurisdiction over all criminal and civil cases. Other cases under the Honolulu County First Circuit Court’s purview include:

• Probate cases
• Guardianships
• Mechanics liens
• Jury misdemeanor cases (transferred from district courts)
• Criminal felony cases

Honolulu County First Circuit Court records are open to public access and can be searched both online and in person. Online access to Honolulu County Circuit Court records is available via eCourt Kokua. Circuit Court records purchase are subject to the payment of applicable fees. Records can also be requested via mail, e-mail, or fax by submitting the official request form. Furthermore, they can be obtained by submitting completed records request forms in person at the Clerk’s Office of the First Circuit Court.

Honolulu County District Court Records

Honolulu County District Court records are legal documentation providing details of proceedings in the different county district courts. These records are generated from adjudicating cases involving:

• Misdemeanors and petty misdemeanors
• Landlord-tenant matters
• Traffic violations
• County ordinance offenses
• State law violations
• Small claims for amounts below $5,000
• Civil claims for amounts not exceeding $40,000

Five District Courts, located in Oahu Island, Pearl City, Kaneohe, Wahiawa, and Waianae, serve Honolulu County and its rural areas. Most Honolulu County District Court records are generally available to the public except for cases involving juveniles, which are usually not publicly disclosed by statutes. Interested persons can look up Honolulu County District Court records online using eCourt Kokua. To make in-person requests, they can visit the courthouses where such cases were filed, submit completed record request forms, and pay the stipulated fees. They can also opt to mail, fax, or e-mail (where applicable) their completed forms to the specific court clerk’s office that has custody of their records of interest.

Honolulu County Criminal Records

Honolulu County criminal records detail criminal charges and information compiled by county law enforcement agencies for violations of the Hawaii State penal code that resulted in convictions. Although the UIPA permits Honolulu County arrest records and criminal history records to be made publicly available, non-conviction charges and criminal cases with pending convictions are classified as confidential and are, therefore, not open to public access. The Hawaii Criminal Justice Data Center (HCJDC) disseminates criminal history records upon request and payment of applicable fees. Records requesters can perform name-based or fingerprint-based background checks, and the information provided is solely for state and county adult criminal convictions. Juvenile criminal convictions are excluded as they constitute confidential and publicly non-accessible records. Requestors may also opt for any of these additional request channels to access Honolulu County criminal records:

• Online: Via eCrim, the Hawaii Adult Criminal Information website
• Public Access: Via Public Access Locations where convictions have resulted, although for a fee
• In-Person/In-Office: By submitting a completed Request for Criminal Record Check form or visiting the Hawaii Criminal Justice Data Center during operating hours in person at:

Kekuanaoa Building
465 S. King Street, Rm 102
Honolulu, HI 96813

• Mail: By mailing a printed, downloaded HCJDC-073 Form to the HCJDC’s Criminal History Records Check Unit

Honolulu County Criminal Court Case Lookup

Interested individuals can look up Honolulu County criminal court cases by either using the eCourt Kokua or the eCrim online portal. These web portals help requesters view and retrieve adult conviction information for Hawaiians, including Honolulu County residents. For the eCrim portal, the search can be done by name, social security number, gender, or date of birth. While each search costs $5, an eCrim report printout costs $10. However, for eCourt Kokua, orders for uncertified and certified copies of case records cost $3 and $5 each, respectively.

Get Honolulu County Civil Court Records

In Honolulu County, civil court records contain legal information regarding the trial proceedings of disputes between two or more parties. The county’s circuit, district, and family courts typically adjudicate civil cases. While the Circuit Court has jurisdiction for claims above $40,000, the District Court hears civil claims under $40,000 along with small claims cases under $5,000. Typical civil court records in Honolulu County include case information from court proceedings involving:

• Landlord-tenant disputes
• Business contracts disputes
• Probate matters
• Personal injury cases
• Family-related issues

The Clerk of the Oahu First Circuit Court and the clerks of the Honolulu County District and Family Courts are the official custodians of civil case records in Honolulu County. Anyone looking to access civil case records can visit the specific courthouses where the civil action was filed with a completed Request to Access Court Records (HCRR) Form (1CP858). Alternatively, they can mail or fax the completed form to the respective clerk’s office of the courthouse maintaining the civil case they seek. Note, however, that any form submitted without a case identification number will attract a $5 name-search fee.

Interested persons can also view basic civil court case information online at no charge using eCourt Kokua. However, to obtain copies of civil case documents, requestors will pay $3 per 30 pages of documents and an extra 10 cents for each additional page before they can successfully access downloads.

Honolulu County Family Court Records

Honolulu County Family Court records contain details of court proceedings relating to family and children matters. The First Circuit Family Court, a division of the Honolulu County Circuit Court, is in charge of adjudicating family court cases. Typical cases within Honolulu County Family Court’s jurisdiction include:

• Divorce
• Juvenile delinquency
• Child custody and support
• Guardianships
• Domestic violence
• Domestic abuse protective orders

The First Circuit Family Court Clerk’s Office oversees and manages family court records in the county. To access these records, interested members of the public can visit the clerk’s office during service hours (from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.). Honolulu County Family Court records can also be accessed on eCourt Kokua or by mail or fax using completed request forms.

However, per Hawaii Court Records Rules, only adult family court records are open to the public. Juvenile family court records are sealed by statute and are, therefore, barred from public access. Also, personal identifying information such as social security numbers, tax details, account numbers, and passwords, which are classified as confidential information, are generally redacted within publicly accessible court records.

Honolulu County Family Court records help in resolving various family contentions, especially in the best interest of children. They also provide a legal framework for protecting children’s welfare and offer Honolulu County residents a legally secure pathway for improving children’s chances of becoming responsible future citizens.

Honolulu County Dissolution of Marriage Records

Honolulu County dissolution of marriage records refer to official documents detailing the discontinuation of marriages in the county. The Clerk of the Honolulu County Family Court maintains these records since the marriage dissolution process is filed there. Typical Honolulu County dissolution of marriage records include such forms as:

• Uncontested Divorce (without children) Checklist and Instructions
• Notice of Confidential Information
• Complaint for Divorce, Automatic Restraining Order, and Summons to Answer Complaint
• Answer to Complaint for Divorce
• Divorce Decree

Honolulu County Marriage and Divorce Records

In Honolulu County, marriage and divorce records are documents pertaining to marital unions and dissolutions. Honolulu County marriage and divorce records are also classified as vital records, and certified copies of these records can be obtained online from the Hawaii State Department of Health. General case information on marriages and divorces can also be accessed via eCourt Kokua. In addition, a requestor can opt to visit the clerk of the courthouse where the marriage or divorce proceedings occurred to inspect and obtain copies of Honolulu County marriage or divorce records.

Honolulu County Birth and Death Records

Honolulu County birth and death records show information related to birth and death events within the county. The Hawaii State Department of Health (DOH)’s Vital Records Unit keeps a record of all Honolulu births and deaths and issues certificates for these events.

Honolulu birth certificates can be requested online or via mail requests. To order one online, a requestor must submit a completed Request for Certified Copy of Birth Certificate form and attach their pre-uploaded government-issued identification such as a passport, Hawaii State ID, or driver's license. Requesters are required to provide a return address for certificate delivery and must make the applicable payment using only a debit or credit card. A mail-in requestor is required to mail a printout of their request form along with a copy of their government-issued ID. Payments for certificates can be made using a cashier's check, certified check, or money order and should be made payable to the State DOH.

Honolulu death certificates can also be ordered in person. In-person orders involve submitting a completed Request for Certified Copy of Death Certificate form, a valid photo ID, and documentary evidence to confirm their eligibility to order the death certificate. Accepted payment forms include cash, cashier’s check, money order, and certified check. Each certified copy of a Honolulu birth or death certificate costs $10, and $4 for each additional copy. Note, however, that access to vital records, including birth and death certificates, is restricted to authorized persons, per Hawaii State law.

Honolulu birth records provide useful data for health and family planning, while death records are an essential source of information about an individual’s spouse, parents, and birth.

Honolulu County Probate Court Records

In Honolulu County, probate court records are documents containing legal information on the adjudication of decedents’ estates. Probate court proceedings generally involve court cases related to wills, guardianships, conservatorships, adoptions, and other estate-related matters.

The Honolulu County First Circuit Court has exclusive jurisdiction over all probate cases. Individuals interested in Viewing or obtaining recent probate records can visit the Oahu First Circuit Court Clerk’s Office in person. They can also access microfilmed online historical probate records dating from 1847 to 1917 from the Hawaii Department of Accounting and General Services’ Digital Archives of Hawaii.

Honolulu County Property Records

Honolulu County property records are legal documents that show the transfer of ownership of a parcel of land or real estate between parties within the county. The Bureau of Conveyance (BOC) of the Hawaii State Department of Land and Natural Resources is the state-wide agency that maintains property records. Property documents recorded with the BOC become public records and can be viewed or copied by the public.

Honolulu County property records can be accessed online via the BOC’s Document Search and Ordering System. A requestor can begin their search by clicking on the Daily Purchases, Non-subscriber Account link to create a new user account. A registered requestor can then search and review Honolulu County property records at no cost. Payment will only be required when purchasing property documents using a credit card or via a monthly subscription. While each downloaded page of a property record costs $1, monthly subscriptions cost $1,000 for unlimited downloads and $50 for $3 per downloaded page.

In Honolulu County, property records commonly contain information such as:

• Certificate of title (Deed)
• Tax liens
• Mortgage liens
• Plat maps

Honolulu County Court Records Online

Interested persons can use third-party websites like Hawaiicourtrecords.us to access Honolulu County court records. Several third-party sites offer record seekers another convenient alternative to accessing a broad range of legal case information in the county. They typically charge subscription fees but do not guarantee the accuracy of search results since they are not government-run websites.