Hawaii County Court Records Lookup

The following is for information purposes only

Located in the State of Hawaii, Hawaii County is home to over 202,163 people according to the statistics provided in 2022. The county was named for the island of Hawaii, which is most often called ‘the big island,' and the county seat is Hilo. Hawaii County is part of the 2nd Congressional District and handles justice claims via its court system, comprising three Circuit Courts, three District Courts, and three Family Courts.

Family Courts in Hawaii County are Divisions of the Circuit and District Courts. These courts hear cases of divorce, paternity, child support, guardianships of adults and children, and matters of domestic violence. They have exclusive jurisdiction over juvenile matters, child neglect, child custody, adoption, and termination of parental rights. The District Courts hold jury trials and have limited jurisdiction over some civil and criminal cases. Districts Courts in the county can issue restraining orders against harassment and hear cases of county ordinance violations and infractions. The Circuit Courts have general jurisdiction over all criminal and civil cases. They have exclusive jurisdiction over most felony criminal cases, probate cases, and guardianship cases for incapacitated adults. Most civil cases where more than $20,000 is in dispute are heard in the Circuit Courts. Hawaii County Courts are located in Hilo, Kamuela, and Kealakekua.

On the average, a crime occurs every 14 minutes in Hawaii County. Typically, the county records a crime rate of 176.8 incidents per 1,000 residents in a year. Courts in the county handle about 4,000 cases annually. Court records are available to the public except where they have been sealed by a court order. Examples of closed records include adoption and juvenile records. To obtain Hawaii County court records, visit the office of the County Clerk. In addition, online access to Hawaii County court case information is available via the Hawaii eCourt Kokua portal. Through the portal, users can access Traffic Cases, Circuit Court, District, and Family Court case information.

The court system in Hawaii County is a strong support system for governance and administration of justice in the county. Via the Circuit, District, and Family Courts, the county is able to resolve a wide range of legal matters, providing transparency in justice in the process. Court records can be obtained from the Hawaii County Clerk's Office, while case information for cases heard in the county courts are available via the Hawaii eCourt Kokua system.