How to Search Honolulu County Court Records
The Hawaii State Judiciary runs eCourt Kōkua, the free public portal for Honolulu County Court records. The portal covers Traffic, District, Circuit, and Family civil and criminal cases, plus Land Court, Tax Appeal, the Intermediate Court of Appeals, and the Hawaiʻi Supreme Court. Confidential, juvenile, and sealed files are not shown. The portal pulls First Circuit cases from the same database used by court staff, so the case data is the same data the clerks see.
Before starting, gather what you can. A full name helps. A case number is better. License plate, VIN, or filing date range can also narrow a search. The portal allows Party Search, Vehicle Search, Case Search, Upcoming Court Hearings Search, and View/Purchase Documents. Google reCAPTCHA may appear during the session if traffic looks unusual.
- Open the Hawaii Judiciary court record access page and click into eCourt Kōkua.
- Read the disclaimer and accept it. The home screen shows tiles for Party, Vehicle, Case, Hearings, and Documents.
- Pick a search tile. For most people, Party Search by last name and first name returns the right case quickly.
- Open the case from the result list. Review the Summary, Events, Dockets, and Offenses tabs.
- If a PDF icon appears next to a docket entry, you can buy a regular or certified copy from the same screen.
Public access terminals at most Oʻahu courthouses let visitors view records on screen at no charge. That option matters when a record is too old to show online or when no PDF icon appears in a docket entry.
The Honolulu County Judicial System
Honolulu County sits inside the First Circuit of the Hawaii state court system. The First Circuit covers the island of Oʻahu and a few small offshore islands. Above the trial courts are the Intermediate Court of Appeals and the Hawaiʻi Supreme Court. The trial level holds the Circuit Court, the Family Court, the District Court, and statewide specialty courts for Land and Tax Appeal cases. Environmental Court matters are heard within District or Circuit Court depending on the case type.
Trial-level Honolulu County Court cases are split by subject and dollar amount. The Circuit Court handles felonies, civil claims over $40,000, probate, and guardianship. The District Court handles misdemeanors, traffic, small claims, landlord-tenant disputes, and civil claims up to $40,000. Family Court handles divorce, custody, support, juvenile, adoption, abuse and neglect, and termination of parental rights.
Case flow: District Court › Circuit Court › Intermediate Court of Appeals › Hawaiʻi Supreme Court
| Court | Jurisdiction | Case Types |
|---|---|---|
| Hawaiʻi Supreme Court | Statewide | Discretionary review, attorney discipline, court rules |
| Intermediate Court of Appeals | Statewide | Appeals from trial courts and state agencies |
| First Circuit Court | Oʻahu / Honolulu County | Felonies, civil over $40,000, probate, guardianship |
| First Circuit Family Court | Oʻahu / Honolulu County | Divorce, custody, juvenile, adoption, TROs |
| Honolulu District Court | Oʻahu / Honolulu County | Misdemeanors, traffic, small claims, civil up to $40,000 |
| Land Court / Tax Appeal Court | Statewide, sits in Honolulu | Land-title registration, tax disputes |
Note: Hawaii does not use the mainland model of a county sheriff and a county clerk who runs the local court. Court files belong to the state Judiciary, not to a county office.
Honolulu County Courthouses
Honolulu County operates from three main court buildings on Oʻahu. The downtown buildings are within walking distance of each other, while the Kapolei complex serves the west side of the island for Family Court and Waiʻanae District Court matters. The official First Circuit contact page lists the addresses, hours, and branch phone numbers.
Kaʻahumanu Hale
First Circuit Court
777 Punchbowl Street
Honolulu, HI 96813-5093
(808) 539-4767
Kauikeaouli Hale
Honolulu District Court
1111 Alakea Street
Honolulu, HI 96813
(808) 538-5767
Kapolei Judiciary Complex
First Circuit Family Court
4675 Kapolei Parkway
Kapolei, HI 96707-3272
(808) 954-8000
Rural District Court divisions also serve parts of Oʻahu: ʻEwa/Pearl City at (808) 534-6900, Kāneʻohe at (808) 534-6300, Wahiawā/Waialua at (808) 534-6200, and Waiʻanae at Kapolei at (808) 954-8575. Each rural office hears small claims, landlord-tenant, traffic, and other local District Court matters without sending people downtown.
Types of Honolulu County Court Records
Honolulu County Court records cover civil, criminal, family, probate, traffic, and land matters. The list below points to the courts that file each record type and to the deeper subpage on this site for each one.
- Civil and criminal court records — complaints, motions, orders, judgments, sentencing, and dockets from Circuit and District Court.
- Arrest and criminal records — HPD arrest logs, felony indictments, misdemeanor complaints, and bail or bond information.
- Marriage and divorce records — DOH marriage licenses and Family Court divorce decrees.
- Probate records — wills, estates, guardianships, and conservatorships from the First Circuit Estate & Probate Branch.
- Traffic court records — citations, fine status, court dates, and eTraffic payments.
- Family Court records — custody, support, TROs, adoption, and juvenile matters at Kapolei.
- Public records — police reports, vital records, and agency records under HRS Chapter 92F.
Each record type follows its own access rules. Civil filings are usually open to the public. Family Court files often have heightened confidentiality, and juvenile records are restricted by statute.
What Honolulu County Court Records Show
A typical Honolulu County Court case file in eCourt Kōkua includes basic case identifiers, party information, events, dockets, and offense entries for criminal files. The official 2026 eCourt Kōkua user manual walks through every screen.
| Field | What It Shows |
|---|---|
| Case ID | Modern hyphenated case number or legacy 12-character JIMS/JEFS number. |
| Case Type | Civil, criminal, family, traffic, probate, land, or appellate category. |
| Status | Open, closed, pending hearing, on appeal, or other case state. |
| Filing Date | Date the case was opened in the court. |
| Court / Location | Specific court branch, building, and division. |
| Parties | Plaintiff, defendant, petitioner, respondent, attorneys, and aliases. |
| Bail / Bond | Bond amounts and posting status for criminal cases. |
| Events | Hearings past and future, with disposition where set. |
| Dockets | Each filing or court action with date and document link when available. |
| Offenses | Charge codes and descriptions on criminal cases only. |
Sealed dockets and in-camera material appear as masked entries. PDF icons mark documents that can be bought from the public portal. No PDF icon means the document is not online, although the clerk may still hold it on paper or microfilm.
Public Access Laws for Honolulu County Court Records
Two sets of rules govern access to Honolulu County records. The Uniform Information Practices Act in HRS Chapter 92F handles state and county agency records like HPD reports, DCR custody data, and city files. The Hawaiʻi Court Records Rules govern court files filed with the Judiciary. The Judiciary states that most court records are open for viewing or purchase, but confidential documents may require court approval and fees may apply.
Key Hawaii Statutes for Court and Public Records:
HRS Chapter 92F — the Uniform Information Practices Act sets the open-records framework for Hawaii state and county agencies.
HCRR Rule 9 — bars parties from placing Social Security numbers, account numbers, and other protected data in accessible court filings.
HRS § 831-3.2 — authorizes expungement of eligible nonconviction arrest records through the Attorney General and HCJDC.
HRS Chapter 846 — controls criminal history record information, including limits on dissemination of nonconviction data.
HRS Chapter 571 — sets Family Court jurisdiction and the confidentiality rules for juvenile cases.
The Office of Information Practices reviews UIPA denials and issues opinions. A person who is told no by an agency can ask OIP for a written ruling or go to court. Court-record disputes go through the Judiciary's own access rules and the assigned trial judge, not OIP.
Records That Are Restricted or Confidential
Some Honolulu County Court records are not public. Juvenile arrest and Family Court juvenile files are restricted under HRS Chapter 571 and HPD policy. Adoption records, sealed files, in-camera filings, and confidential family documents are excluded from eCourt Kōkua. Mental health and assisted community treatment files include protected medical data.
HCRR Rule 9 also forces the redaction of Social Security numbers, full birth dates, the names of minor children, bank or investment account numbers, and medical or health records. Expunged arrests under HRS § 831-3.2 are annulled and the related court records are removed. A person who needs to see a confidential or sealed Honolulu County Court record must file a written request, show a legal basis, and usually get a court order from the assigned judge.
Specialty Courts in Honolulu County
The First Circuit runs several specialty programs that handle Honolulu County Court cases with treatment-focused or population-specific tracks. The November 2025 Judiciary release on the most recent specialty court graduation celebrated the First Circuit Drug Court's 92nd class, the Mental Health Court's 44th class, and the Veterans Treatment Court's 43rd class.
Drug Court at (808) 599-3700 uses intense supervision, treatment, and frequent reviews instead of straight incarceration for eligible defendants whose cases tie back to substance use. The Mental Health Court serves defendants whose criminal involvement is linked to behavioral health, pairing the court date with case management and care providers. The Veterans Treatment Court, which began in the First Circuit in 2013, connects veterans with VA benefits, peer mentors, and treatment.
HOPE Probation at (808) 441-8989 uses swift, certain consequences for violations, and is a Hawaii-originated probation model. Family Treatment Court at (808) 534-6600 and Juvenile Drug Court at (808) 534-6588 work inside the Family Court structure. Environmental Court matters are heard in District or Circuit Court depending on case type.
Honolulu County Jail and Police Records
Oʻahu does not have a mainland-style county sheriff with a county jail. The Honolulu Police Department handles arrests and short police-cellblock custody, while the state Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation runs the Oʻahu Community Correctional Center at 2199 Kamehameha Highway. OCCC is a 950-bed jail and the largest in Hawaii. HPD posts adult arrest logs daily, but logs rotate off the site after fourteen days.
For deeper detail, see Honolulu County inmate records for OCCC custody status, released inmate searches for VINELink notifications, jail population data for facility numbers, and warrant records for active warrant guidance.
Marriage, Divorce, and Probate Records
Marriage licenses and certified marriage certificates are issued by the Hawaii Department of Health, not the court. Divorce decrees are court records filed in Family Court. As of February 1, 2026, the DOH no longer maintains divorce records, so divorce copies for Honolulu County now come from Kaʻahumanu Hale Legal Documents Branch or the Kapolei Family Court Legal Documents Branch. Full detail lives on the marriage and divorce records page. Probate, wills, guardianship, and conservatorship cases go to the Estate & Probate Branch of the First Circuit, with deeper coverage on the probate records page.
- Testator
- The person who made a will.
- Executor / Personal Representative
- The person named to manage and close the estate.
- Conservator
- A court-appointed manager of an adult's finances.
- Guardian
- A court-appointed decision-maker for a minor or incapacitated adult.
- Intestate
- Dying without a valid will; HRS Chapter 560 controls who inherits.
Honolulu County Court Records Fees
The Judiciary sets fees for copies of Honolulu County Court records. Public terminal viewing is free. Buying a copy from eCourt Kōkua follows the schedule below. The court also offers subscription access for high-volume document users at $125 quarterly or $500 yearly.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Regular document, 1-30 pages | $3 flat |
| Each page over 30 | $0.10 |
| Electronic certification surcharge | $2 per document |
| Quarterly subscription | $125 |
| Yearly subscription | $500 |
| Public terminal viewing on screen | Free |
Note: Subscription fees are non-refundable, and payment runs through the Kala Payment Gateway operated by Tyler Technologies, not directly through the court website.
How to Read a Honolulu County Court Record
Honolulu County Court records use a mix of plain words and shorthand. Case IDs hold information in their structure. A modern hyphenated case ID like 1PC-17-0000001 lists the First Circuit, the court type (PC, Penal Circuit), the year, and a sequence number. Legacy 12-character IDs use the same data but pack it into a fixed-width string. Old-format examples in the Judiciary user manual include 1CU000000008 and 1PC151005678.
On the dockets tab, an entry shows the date, a short description, and sometimes a PDF link. Common labels include "Complaint Filed," "Order on Motion," "Notice of Hearing," "Bench Warrant Issued," and "Disposition." A disposition tells you the result of a charge or motion. An arrest log entry is not a disposition. Charges are accusations, not findings of guilt; convictions appear after a plea or verdict and are tracked in the offenses and dockets tabs.
Recent Updates to Honolulu County Court Access
Several changes have reshaped how the public reaches Honolulu County Court records since 2024. In January 2024, the state renamed the Department of Public Safety to the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation and moved law enforcement into a separate Department of Law Enforcement. On July 1, 2025, expungement of nonconviction arrest records and removal of related court records moved into a streamlined one-step process at HCJDC.
On February 1, 2025, OCCC updated its visiting schedule. Visits run seven days a week except holidays, from 7:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., scheduled by phone at (808) 832-1633. As of February 1, 2026, the Department of Health no longer keeps divorce records and now sends requestors directly to the court where the case was filed. The state is also studying a replacement facility for OCCC through a UH proof-of-concept study released in February 2025.
History of Honolulu County Courts
Hawaii's modern court structure is unified under the Chief Justice and the administrative director of courts. The First Circuit covers Honolulu County and dates to statehood-era reforms that organized the state into four judicial circuits after the Fourth Circuit was merged into the Third in 1943. Kaʻahumanu Hale and Kauikeaouli Hale are named for Hawaiian royalty and anchor the downtown court district. The Kapolei Judiciary Complex opened to shift family and west-side workloads off downtown and closer to where many Oʻahu residents live and work.
The OCCC site at 2199 Kamehameha Highway carries its own long history, going back to 1916. The current jail opened in 1975 with a 628-inmate capacity. The DCR page now lists 950 beds.
Honolulu County Court Records FAQ
How do I search Honolulu County Court records online?
Use eCourt Kōkua through the Hawaii Judiciary website. Pick Party Search, Vehicle Search, Case Search, or Upcoming Court Hearings Search. The portal covers public Traffic, District, Circuit, Family civil and criminal, Land Court, Tax Appeal, ICA, and Supreme Court cases. Confidential, juvenile, and sealed cases do not appear.
Is eCourt Kōkua free?
Searching is free. Viewing documents on courthouse public terminals is free. Buying a copy costs $3 for 1-30 pages, with a $2 certification surcharge for electronically certified copies. Documents over 30 pages add ten cents per page.
Does Honolulu County have a county clerk for court files?
No. Hawaii courts are state-run. Court records are held by the First Circuit Legal Documents Branch, the District Court Legal Documents Branch, the Family Court Legal Documents Branch, and the Estate & Probate Branch. The Clerk of Court page covers each branch in detail.
What is the main Honolulu County courthouse?
Kaʻahumanu Hale at 777 Punchbowl Street is the main Circuit Court building. Kauikeaouli Hale at 1111 Alakea Street holds the Honolulu District Court. The Kapolei Judiciary Complex at 4675 Kapolei Parkway holds the First Circuit Family Court.
More answers live on the Honolulu County Court Records FAQ page.