Use this Hawaii court-records page as a starting point for statewide court research, appellate information, local court directories, and related PRC record topics. The layout has been modernized, the old private-ownership banner has been removed, and the page family now includes stronger cross-links to court, criminal, bankruptcy, and expungement resources.

Quick Links

Start here for the fastest path into Hawaii court-record research.

Official Hawaii Court Resources

Use these statewide and official court resources for case information, court structure, forms, clerk access, or public search tools.

  • Hawaii State Court StructureOfficial or statewide court resource.
  • Hawaii District CourtsExclusive jurisdiction over summary possession,Ejectment proceedings, non jury trial civil cases where the relief sought is under $10,000 and small claims cases where the amount claimed does not exceed $3,500
  • Hawaii Family CourtsThe Family Court hears domestic relations cases, including divorce, child support, paternity, uniform child custody jurisdiction cases and miscellaneous custody matters
  • Hawaii Land and Tax Appeal CourtsJurisdiction over applications for the registration of title to land easements or rights in land held and possessed in fee simple within the State, with power to hear and determine all questions arising upon the applications
  • Hawaii Commission on Judicial ConductInvestigates allegations of judicial misconduct and disability, and has jurisdiction over all justices and judges of the State of Hawaii. Search contact information and listing of Commission members
  • Hawaii Small Claims Self HelpThe Small Claims Court is the division of District Court that handles certain disputes between two or more parties. Search weblinks for brochures and small claims forms

Hawaii Court Directory & Local Resources

Legacy directory content has been retained inside the updated layout so county-level links, clerk references, and older court research notes remain available in one place.

Hawaii State Court Records Search Suggestions

As there may be more one source to obtaining Hawaii criminal, civil and divorce records, it is important to search multiple state courts to find the correct records.

Hawaii State Court Structure:

The Hawaii family courts hear legal matters involving children. These include delinquency, status offenses abuse and neglect, termination of parental rights, adoption, guardianships and detention. The court also hears civil commitment cases, guardianships of adults, and adult abuse cases. The Hawaii district courts are the state's trial courts. These courts hear tort claims, contract claims, real property rights claims ($0/$20,000) [concurrent from $10,000-$20,000 (civil nonjury)], and other miscellaneous civil matters. The district courts have exclusive jurisdiction over small claims, with amounts in controversy of $3,500 and below. District courts hear various felony, misdemeanor, and DWI or DUI matters. Additionally, moving traffic violations, and other miscellaneous traffic matters. District courts have exclusive jurisdiction over cases involving parking violations, and ordinance violations. District courts hold venue for preliminary hearings. Hawaii's circuit courts and family courts hear tort, contract, real property rights, and other miscellaneous civil claims ($10,000/no maximum) [concurrent from $10,000-$20,000]. Hawaii's circuit courts have exclusive mental health, estate, administrative agency appeals jurisdiction. Hawaii circuit courts also have exclusive domestic relations jurisdiction. The circuit courts hear various felony, misdemeanor, DWI or DUI, and other miscellaneous criminal matters. Additionally, hear moving traffic violation cases, and other miscellaneous traffic matters. Circuit courts hold exclusive jurisdiction over various juvenile matters. Hawaii's intermediate court of appeals have mandatory jurisdiction in various civil, criminal, administrative agency, juvenile, original proceedings, and interlocutory decision cases assigned by supreme court. The intermediate court of appeals has no discretionary jurisdiction. Hawaii's highest court is the supreme court. Hawaii's supreme court has mandatory jurisdiction to hear cases involving various civil matters, criminal matters, administrative agency matters, juvenile matters, disciplinary matters, certified questions from federal courts, and original proceeding matters. Hawaii's supreme court has discretionary jurisdiction to hear various civil matters, criminal matters, administrative agency matters, juvenile matters, original proceedings, and interlocutory decision matters.

Directory of Links and Resources to Access County, State or Federal Court Records Online

Hawaii Civil and Divorce Court Records
Judgments, lawsuits, dissolution of marriage, civil court cases.

 Hawaii Criminal Court Records
Felony, misdemeanors and traffic violations.		 Hawaii District Court Records
Filings in my District courthouses.
Civil, family law cases and divorces, personal injury cases, lawsuits, estate planning and probate matters.
  • Hawaii District Courts
    Exclusive jurisdiction over summary possession,Ejectment proceedings, non jury trial civil cases where the relief sought is under $10,000 and small claims cases where the amount claimed does not exceed $3,500.

  • Hawaii Family Courts
    The Family Court hears domestic relations cases, including divorce, child support, paternity, uniform child custody jurisdiction cases and miscellaneous custody matters.

  • Hawaii Land and Tax Appeal Courts
    Jurisdiction over applications for the registration of title to land easements or rights in land held and possessed in fee simple within the State, with power to hear and determine all questions arising upon the applications.

  • Hawaii Commission on Judicial Conduct
    Investigates allegations of judicial misconduct and disability, and has jurisdiction over all justices and judges of the State of Hawaii. Search contact information and listing of Commission members.

  • Hawaii Small Claims Self Help
    The Small Claims Court is the division of District Court that handles certain disputes between two or more parties. Search weblinks for brochures and small claims forms.

  • Hawaii Supreme Court
    The Supreme Court of Hawaii is the State's court of last resort. The Supreme Court hears appeals that are properly brought before the court upon applications for writs of certiorari to the Intermediate Court of Appeals and applications for transfer from the Intermediate Court of Appeals.

  • Hawaii Intermediate Court of Appeals
    The Intermediate Court of Appeals is the court that hears nearly all appeals from trial courts and some state agencies.

  • Hawaii Bankruptcy Courts
    Search Bankruptcy filings and view cases from the courthouses and jurisdictions. Link to free forms, use electronic filing systems and other judicial tools available to the public.

  • Hawaii Judgments and Liens
    Court look up sources, electronic forms and self help tools. Link to information for defaults, recovery, default, cases and files that can show civil judgments.
 Most criminal cases are started when a prosecutor, either a district attorney (who represents a county) or the attorney general (who represents the state), files a complaint with the court.
  • Hawaii District Courts
    The District Courts have exclusive jurisdiction over traffic infractions. The District Courts also have jurisdiction over criminal offenses punishable by fine or by imprisonment do not exceed one year.

  • Hawaii Family Courts
    Domestic violence cases include requests for civil restraining orders involving family members, persons charged with the offense of abuse of family and household members and felony charges limited to offenses against household members.

  • Hawaii Traffic Cases Self Help
    Direct weblinks for forms, types of traffic offenses, parking violations and moving or equipment violations. View traffic case records, traffic abstracts and pay fines.

  • Hawaii Supreme Court
    Mandatory jurisdiction in criminal cases. Discretionary jurisdiction in criminal cases. Contact the courthouse, read the rules of court and recent appellate opinions.

  • Hawaii Intermediate Court of Appeals
    Mandatory jurisdiction in criminal cases assigned to it by the supreme court. Search direct weblinks for court forms and court fees.

  • Hawaii Adult Client Victim Services
    Adult Client Services of the First Judicial Circuit provides services to assist victims and their families as they proceed through the criminal justice system. Search weblinks to your rights as a victim of a criminal act, where to go for help and more.

Hawaii jury trials are held in the Circuit Courts, which have general jurisdiction in civil and criminal cases. They also have exclusive jurisdiction in probate, guardianship and criminal felony cases, as well as civil cases where the contested amount exceeds $25,000.
Oahu (First Circuit)
Maui (Second Circuit)
Molokai (Second Circuit)
Lanai (Second Circuit)
Hawaii (Third Circuit)
Kauai (Fifth Circuit)

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Research Notes

  • Search more than one court level.Trial courts, appellate courts, bankruptcy courts, and specialty courts may each hold different parts of a case trail.
  • Use the clerk for official copies.Certified documents and official record copies should come directly from the responsible court or clerk office.
  • Online access varies by county and court type.Some courts provide full searchable dockets, while others provide only calendars, indexes, or request instructions.
  • Cross-check related record categories.Criminal records, judgments and liens, bankruptcy filings, inmate searches, and public-record hubs often help complete a statewide research path.

Related Hawaii Court Topics

Continue into related Hawaii specialty pages and supporting court-research topics.