Hawaii Court Records Search by Name: Use eCourt Kōkua, Certified Copies, eCrim, Land Records & PACER Correctly
Hawaii court records are searched mainly through the Hawaiʻi State Judiciary’s eCourt Kōkua system, but the correct route depends on whether you need traffic, District Court, Circuit Court, Family Court, Land Court, Tax Appeal Court, appellate records, a certified copy, a criminal-history check, a Bureau of Conveyances record, or a federal PACER case.
Public-Court-Records.us is independent. This website is not the Hawaiʻi State Judiciary, eCourt Kōkua, JEFS, HCJDC, eCrim, the Bureau of Conveyances, PACER, a courthouse, a law firm, a government agency or a Consumer Reporting Agency. This page provides general record-access information only.
Responsible-use warning: a matching name does not prove identity. A complaint, petition, charge, citation, warrant, arrest, indictment or docket entry does not prove guilt, liability or final outcome. Court records may be incomplete, delayed, sealed, confidential, restricted, expunged, corrected later or available only through the official custodian.
Hawaii court records start with eCourt Kōkua, but the case type still matters
The Hawaiʻi State Judiciary says basic court case information may be viewed at no cost through eCourt Kōkua. The same official guidance also warns that eCourt Kōkua information comes from official records but does not include all public court-record information, and certified court records are available in paper form at each courthouse.
First Circuit Oʻahu, Second Circuit Maui County, Third Circuit Hawaiʻi Island and Fifth Circuit Kauaʻi.
Many downloadable eCourt Kōkua public documents cost $3 for 1–30 pages.
Traffic cases before November 1995 are not available in eCourt Kōkua.
HCJDC lists online eCrim name-based checks at $5 per name search.
Hawaii court-record route finder
Select the record type you are trying to locate. This tool runs in your browser, does not send information anywhere and does not ask for a name, date of birth, case number or address.
Use eCourt Kōkua for public case information from traffic cases, District Court and Circuit Court criminal, Family Adult Court criminal, District and Circuit civil, Family Court civil, Land Court, Tax Appeal Court and appellate cases. Search by exact case ID or citation number when possible.
Choose the correct Hawaii court-record route before searching by name
Search failure usually happens when users use an old Ho‘ohiki bookmark, search a criminal-history need in eCourt Kōkua, search a recorded land document in court records, or search a federal case in a state system.
| Need | Correct court or system | Best starting route |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic case, District Court case, Circuit Court case, Family Court adult criminal/civil, Land Court, Tax Appeal Court or appellate case information | Hawaiʻi State Judiciary / eCourt Kōkua | Use Search Court Records and eCourt Kōkua. Search by case ID, citation, party name, vehicle or upcoming hearing where available. |
| Traffic or parking infraction payment | eTraffic Hawaiʻi / District Court | Use eTraffic only if the citation is payable without going to court and you admit responsibility. The ticket may take 13 days or longer to enter the system. |
| Felony, probate, guardianship, jury trial or civil case exceeding $40,000 | Circuit Court | Use eCourt Kōkua first, then request official copies from the courthouse in the circuit where the complaint or petition was filed. |
| Traffic infraction, landlord-tenant dispute, many smaller civil cases, misdemeanor or county ordinance case | District Court | Use eCourt Kōkua and the District Court location tied to the island or place where the infraction, rental property or case arose. |
| Divorce, child support, paternity, custody, domestic violence, child welfare, juvenile or adoption matter | Family Court | Use eCourt Kōkua only where public information is available. Juvenile, adoption, child-protection and confidential family matters may not be publicly accessible. |
| Land title registration case or Tax Appeal Court matter | Land Court / Tax Appeal Court | Use eCourt Kōkua for case information, then contact Land Court or Tax Appeal Court for official-file or copy questions. |
| Certified copy or document not online | Court that maintains custody of the case | Visit the courthouse in the jurisdiction where the case was filed or submit a written request. Do not send money before receiving an invoice for written requests. |
| Hawaii adult criminal conviction check or police clearance | HCJDC / eCrim | Use eCrim or HCJDC criminal-history routes. This is different from a court docket search and generally includes adult conviction information only. |
| Recorded deed, mortgage, Land Court certificate, UCC or real-property document | Bureau of Conveyances | Use the Bureau of Conveyances Document Search & Ordering system. This is not the same as a court case docket. |
| Federal civil, criminal or bankruptcy case | U.S. District Court / U.S. Bankruptcy Court / PACER | Use PACER and the District of Hawaii federal court route. State eCourt Kōkua does not contain federal cases. |
How to use eCourt Kōkua for Hawaii court records
eCourt Kōkua is the current public case information route for many Hawaiʻi State Judiciary case types. It provides basic case information at no cost and may allow purchase of public documents when a PDF icon appears next to a docket entry.
Open the Hawaiʻi State Judiciary Search Court Records page, then follow the eCourt Kōkua route. Do not use old Ho‘ohiki bookmarks.
Use case ID, citation number or exact case information when available. If searching by name, try spelling variations and verify the court, island, case type and party role.
eCourt Kōkua covers traffic, District, Circuit, Family adult criminal, Family civil, Land Court, Tax Appeal Court and appellate case information where available.
If a PDF icon appears next to a docket entry, the associated public document may be available online for purchase and download.
Some documents may not be immediately available after filing, but the Judiciary states they should be available within three business days where online availability applies.
For certified court records, older records, confidential-access questions or documents not available online, use the courthouse or written-request route.
Hawaii court records search by name: avoid false matches
Name search can help locate a docket, but a name result should not be treated as identity proof. Hawaii has statewide courts across multiple islands, common names, name changes, business names, older records, sealed cases, confidential records, juvenile records and cases that are not included in eCourt Kōkua.
- Finding a District Court or Circuit Court civil case when the case ID is unknown.
- Searching a party in Family Court civil records where public access exists.
- Finding Land Court, Tax Appeal Court or appellate case information.
- Locating a case before requesting certified copies from a courthouse.
- Common names, aliases, middle initials, suffixes or changed names.
- Traffic cases where citation or vehicle information may be more precise.
- Juvenile, adoption, confidential, sealed or expunged matters.
- Using a court docket as a criminal-history or screening report.
Important eCourt Kōkua coverage limits and old-case traps
eCourt Kōkua is powerful, but it is not a complete archive of every Hawaii court record. The Judiciary lists several older-record limits and reminds users that some public court pleadings that can be viewed and copied at a courthouse may not be available through the website.
| Record type or issue | Official access clue | What to do next |
|---|---|---|
| Basic public case information | May be viewed at no cost through the Hawaiʻi State Judiciary website. | Use eCourt Kōkua first, then request official copies if the online information is not enough. |
| Downloadable public documents | A PDF icon next to a docket entry may indicate a document is available for online purchase and download. | Purchase only the exact document needed; payments are non-refundable. |
| Newly filed documents | Some documents may not be immediately available after filing but should be available within three business days where online access applies. | Check again later or contact the courthouse if a deadline or hearing depends on the document. |
| Traffic cases before November 1995 | Not available in eCourt Kōkua. | Use courthouse or written-request procedures. |
| District Court criminal cases before August 2012 | Not available in eCourt Kōkua. | Contact the District Court in the circuit where the case arose. |
| Appellate cases before September 2010 | Not available in eCourt Kōkua. | Contact the appellate clerk’s office for record-access direction. |
| Confidential, sealed or restricted records | Access may require prior court approval or may not be public. | Use the official motion, request or courthouse procedure. Do not try to bypass restrictions. |
| Parties to a case | The Judiciary says parties should not buy a subscription for their own case; they should register as JEFS users so they can e-file and access documents in their case at no charge. | Use the JEFS/self-represented litigant registration route if you are a party and eligible. |
Official Hawaii court-record links and what to do after opening each one
Each official link below includes next steps so this page works as a practical guide, not just a list of links.
Use this as the safest official starting point for Hawaii court-record lookup.
- Confirm you are on courts.state.hi.us.
- Read the eCourt Kōkua disclaimer.
- Open eCourt Kōkua for public case information.
- Use courthouse or written-request options for official certified records.
Use this for access details, document purchasing, subscriptions, browser requirements and help contacts.
- Open the Search Court Cases link from the official page.
- Use case ID, party search, vehicle search or upcoming hearing search where available.
- Look for a PDF icon if you need a public document.
- Call 808-539-4909 or email pao@courts.hawaii.gov for general eCourt Kōkua questions.
Use this to understand free case information, document availability, online purchase prices and old-record limits.
- Review the list of case types available in eCourt Kōkua.
- Check whether your record type has an older-record cutoff.
- Use the PDF icon only for the document you need.
- Use courthouse access if the document is not online.
Use this when you need free public-terminal viewing, courthouse document access or circuit-specific Legal Documents Branch locations.
- Choose the island/circuit where the case was filed.
- Visit the courthouse where the complaint or petition was filed or where the infraction/crime occurred.
- Use public access terminals where available for on-screen viewing.
- Expect extra time/fees for multiple files, microfilm or off-site storage.
Use this if you cannot go to the courthouse and need to purchase court documents.
- Download the correct Oʻahu or Neighbor Island request form.
- Send the completed request to the court that maintains custody of the case.
- Do not send money with the form.
- Wait for the invoice and prepay only invoiced fees using accepted payment forms.
Use this to confirm the old Ho‘ohiki route has been retired.
- Do not use saved Ho‘ohiki bookmarks.
- Go to eCourt Kōkua instead.
- Search Traffic, District, Circuit, Family, Land, Tax Appeal and appellate case information there.
- Contact the court for records not available online.
Use this before visiting a courthouse or sending a records request.
- Choose First, Second, Third or Fifth Circuit.
- Confirm Circuit Court, Family Court, District Court, Land Court, Tax Appeal Court or appellate location.
- Check phone numbers before traveling.
- Use the address tied to the court that holds the record.
Use this if you do not know which Hawaii court class handled the case.
- Review Supreme Court, Intermediate Court of Appeals, Land Court, Tax Appeal Court, Circuit Court, Family Court and District Court roles.
- Match the case type to the correct court level.
- Use eCourt Kōkua or the courthouse custodian next.
- Do not confuse court dockets with criminal-history checks.
Use this for eligible traffic or parking infractions you admit and can pay without going to court.
- Confirm the citation is payable without appearing in court.
- Do not use eTraffic if you deny the offense or want to explain mitigating circumstances.
- Check the 21-day payment rule and 13-day-or-longer system-entry warning.
- Use mail or in-person District Court payment if online payment is not available.
Use this for court-date reminders by text or email where the Judiciary service applies.
- Register using the official Judiciary eReminder route.
- Enter case details carefully.
- Do not rely only on reminders.
- You remain responsible for attending your hearing even if a reminder is not received.
Use this for Hawaii criminal-history / police-clearance routes, not ordinary court docket lookup.
- Read the difference between name-based and fingerprint-based checks.
- Understand that the check includes adult criminal conviction information.
- Use eCrim for online adult conviction searches.
- Contact HCJDC for certified, in-office, mail or access-and-review questions.
Use this for recorded real-property documents, not ordinary court case dockets.
- Create an account for the Document Search & Ordering system.
- Search recorded documents without cost after registration.
- Pay only when purchasing a document or subscription.
- Remember name matches can produce false positives in recorded-document systems too.
Hawaii court-record copies, certified records and document fees
Hawaii copy costs depend on how you access the record: online eCourt Kōkua purchase, courthouse copy request, written request, certified copy, microfilm/off-site storage, transcript, traffic report, appellate record or federal PACER record. Always verify the current quote with the official custodian.
| Item | Published amount or instruction | Practical note |
|---|---|---|
| Basic case information online | No cost to view basic court case information through the Judiciary website | This does not mean every public document is available online for free. |
| eCourt Kōkua downloadable document, 1–30 pages | $3.00 flat rate | Purchase only the specific document needed; online payments are non-refundable. |
| eCourt Kōkua downloadable document over 30 pages | $3.00 plus $0.10 for each page over 30 | Older guidance also describes the price as $3.00 or 10 cents per page, whichever is greater. |
| eCourt Kōkua subscription | $125.00 per quarter or $500.00 per year | Do not subscribe unless you are sure; subscription purchases are non-refundable. |
| In-clerk-office copy of public record | $1.00 first page and $0.50 each additional page under District Court Rule 2.2 | Circuit, District, Family, appellate and special records may have separate schedules; verify with the office. |
| Certification under seal after initial filing | $2.00 under District Court Rule 2.2 | Certified records requested online or at a courthouse can include copy plus certification charges. |
| Clerk search without case number | $5.00 when a request does not include a case number available through self-search indexes | Finding the case ID first can reduce cost and delay. |
| Written request payment | Do not send money first; the court sends an invoice and requires prepayment of invoiced fees | Acceptable payment forms are listed as money order, cashier’s check or certified check. |
eCourt Kōkua document-cost estimator
This browser-only estimator is for planning. The Judiciary’s official checkout, invoice or fee schedule controls the actual charge.
Save the case ID, citation number, court, island/circuit, party names, filing date and document title.
If the document is downloadable in eCourt Kōkua, online purchase may be faster than a courthouse request.
The Judiciary says most courthouses have public access terminals for viewing documents on-screen at no charge.
Send the completed form to the court maintaining custody of the case and wait for an invoice before payment.
Hawaii court structure and island/circuit routing
Hawaiʻi is a unified state court system under the Chief Justice of the Hawaiʻi Supreme Court. Trial-court access is organized by island-based circuits, and the correct Legal Documents Branch or courthouse depends on where the complaint or petition was filed or where the infraction or crime took place.
| Court level | Typical matters | Record-search note |
|---|---|---|
| Supreme Court | Highest court; discretionary appeal, transfer matters and cases eligible for direct Supreme Court review. | Use eCourt Kōkua for appellate case information and the appellate clerk for official records. |
| Intermediate Court of Appeals | Reviews appeals from state trial courts and agencies; decisions may be reviewed by the Supreme Court. | Use appellate case information in eCourt Kōkua and the appellate clerk’s office for record questions. |
| Circuit Courts | Jury trials, general civil and criminal jurisdiction, felony cases, probate, guardianship and civil cases exceeding $40,000. | Use eCourt Kōkua, then request official documents from the circuit courthouse where the case was filed. |
| District Courts | Traffic infractions, landlord-tenant disputes, many civil cases up to $40,000, misdemeanors, county ordinances and restraining-order petitions. | Use eCourt Kōkua or eTraffic depending on whether you need case information or eligible payment. |
| Family Courts | Children, delinquency, status offenses, abuse and neglect, termination of parental rights, adoption, guardianship, divorce, child support, paternity, custody and domestic violence. | Some Family Court civil/adult criminal information may be available; juvenile and confidential matters may not be public. |
| Land Court | Applications for registration of title to land, easements or rights in land held in fee simple; other Land Court registration law questions. | Use eCourt Kōkua for case information and Land Court contact for official papers, documents and registrar issues. |
| Tax Appeal Court | Appeals involving real property taxation and other tax disputes. | Use eCourt Kōkua and Tax Appeal Court contact routes; this is not a general property-record search. |
| Circuit / island | Key courthouse address | Record-access note |
|---|---|---|
| First Circuit – Oʻahu Circuit Court | Kaʻahumanu Hale, 777 Punchbowl Street, Honolulu, HI 96813-5093 | Circuit Court Legal Documents Branch. Use for First Circuit Circuit Court records and official copy requests. |
| First Circuit – Oʻahu Family Court | Ronald T. Y. Moon Judiciary Complex, 4675 Kapolei Parkway, Kapolei, HI 96707-3272 | Use Family Court Legal Documents Branch for authorized family-record requests. |
| First Circuit – Oʻahu District Court | Kauikeaouli Hale, 1111 Alakea Street, Honolulu, HI 96813-2801 | Use Legal Documents Branch 2 for District Court document questions; Traffic Violations Bureau handles traffic routes. |
| Second Circuit – Maui, Molokaʻi and Lānaʻi | Hoapili Hale, 2145 Main Street, Wailuku, Maui, HI 96793-1679 | Use Second Circuit Legal Documents Branch for Maui County Circuit/District/Family document routing. |
| Third Circuit – Hawaiʻi Island, Hilo | Hale Kaulike, 777 Kīlauea Avenue, Hilo, HI 96720-4212 | Use Third Circuit Hilo Legal Documents Branch for Hilo-side records. |
| Third Circuit – Hawaiʻi Island, Kona | Keahuolū Courthouse, 74-5451 Kamakaʻeha Avenue, Kailua-Kona, HI 96740 | Kona legal-document requests list konalegaldocs.3cc@courts.hawaii.gov and fax 808-322-8730. |
| Fifth Circuit – Kauaʻi and Niʻihau | Puʻuhonua Kaulike Building, 3970 Kaʻana Street, Līhuʻe, HI 96766-1256 | Use Fifth Circuit Legal Documents Branch for Circuit and Family Court document requests; District civil, criminal and traffic requests have separate handling notes. |
| Appellate / Land / Tax Appeal | Aliʻiōlani Hale, 417 South King Street, Honolulu, HI 96813-2943; Land/Tax Appeal at Kaʻahumanu Hale, 777 Punchbowl Street | Use appellate clerk, Land Court or Tax Appeal Court contacts depending on the record type. |
Hawaii traffic records: eCourt Kōkua vs eTraffic Hawaiʻi
Traffic record lookup and traffic payment are different actions. eCourt Kōkua displays traffic case information, while eTraffic Hawaiʻi is the payment route for eligible traffic or parking infractions that can be paid without court appearance and for which the person admits responsibility.
- Viewing traffic case information.
- Checking whether a citation appears in the court system.
- Reviewing case status, hearing information and docket entries.
- Understanding that eCourt Kōkua is not a certified traffic abstract.
- Paying payable traffic or parking infractions online.
- Only when you admit responsibility.
- Within 21 days after receiving the citation.
- After the ticket has entered the system, which may take 13 days or longer.
Hawaii court records are not the same as eCrim or a police clearance
A court docket search shows case activity. HCJDC criminal-history checks, sometimes called Police Clearance or Police Abstract searches, are separate. HCJDC states that Hawaii criminal-history record checks include adult criminal conviction information only, and arrest records that resulted in non-convictions or are still pending are confidential and not available to the general public.
| Need | Use this route | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Case docket, hearing, filing, party role, court event or public court document | eCourt Kōkua / courthouse record request | Court records are maintained by the Judiciary and may include civil, criminal, traffic, family, land, tax and appellate records. |
| Online Hawaii adult criminal conviction search | eCrim | HCJDC lists online name-based eCrim checks at $5 per name search and $12 for each resulting certified record. |
| Official in-office or mail name-based criminal-history check | HCJDC Criminal History Record Checks Unit | HCJDC lists in-office/mail service at $30, with additional certification and notary options. |
| Juvenile record check | Hawaiʻi State Judiciary Family Court Juvenile Records Department | HCJDC’s name-based page directs juvenile record checks to Family Court Juvenile Records at 808-954-8190. |
| National background check | FBI Identity History Summary or authorized fingerprint route | HCJDC name-based Hawaii checks are for the State of Hawaii only, not a national record search. |
Court records are not the same as Bureau of Conveyances records
Hawaii has both court records and statewide real-property recording records. The Bureau of Conveyances operates the recording system for Hawaii property documents, including Regular System and Land Court recordings. That does not make every Bureau document a court case docket.
- Civil lawsuits and criminal cases.
- Traffic and District Court cases.
- Family Court civil/adult criminal information where public.
- Land Court and Tax Appeal Court case information.
- Appellate dockets and filings where public.
- Recorded deeds and mortgages.
- Land Court certificates and recorded property instruments.
- UCC-related document research.
- Recorded document ordering.
- Property Watch alerts and recording-fraud monitoring clues.
Why some Hawaii court records may not appear online
A missing eCourt Kōkua result does not always mean no case exists. The record may be older than the online coverage period, sealed, confidential, juvenile-related, restricted, not yet entered, not imaged, held in another circuit, available only by written request or located in a non-court system such as eCrim, Bureau of Conveyances or PACER.
- Using old Ho‘ohiki links instead of eCourt Kōkua.
- Searching the wrong island/circuit or court type.
- Wrong spelling, alias, middle name, business name or suffix.
- Case ID entered with missing circuit, case type or leading zeroes.
- Searching for an online document that is viewable only at a courthouse.
- Traffic cases before November 1995.
- District Court criminal cases before August 2012.
- Appellate cases before September 2010.
- Sealed, confidential, juvenile, adoption, abuse/neglect or restricted family records.
- Federal cases that belong in PACER.
Hawaii federal court records use PACER, not eCourt Kōkua
Federal civil, federal criminal and bankruptcy records are separate from Hawaiʻi State Judiciary records. Use the U.S. District Court for the District of Hawaii, the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Hawaii and PACER for federal dockets and documents.
- Confirm the case is federal, not state.
- Use PACER or CM/ECF for federal docket and document access.
- Use the federal fee schedule for certified federal copies.
- Do not pay state-court fees through the federal court’s payment page.
- Use this for Chapter 7, 11, 12, 13 and adversary bankruptcy matters.
- Use PACER for online bankruptcy dockets and documents.
- Note that bankruptcy documents filed before 1998 may not be available in the electronic record.
- Email copies@hib.uscourts.gov for debtor copy requests if applicable.
- Search the national index if the federal court is unknown.
- Use a specific federal court for the most current docket access.
- Save the court, case number and party names.
- Review PACER charges before opening documents.
PACER lists access at $0.10 per page, a $3.00 maximum for many documents, no maximum for search results or non-case-specific reports, $2.40 per audio file, and quarterly billing only when charges exceed $30.00.
PACER cost estimator
This browser-only estimator is for planning. PACER’s official receipt controls the actual charge.
What to do if your Hawaii court-record search returns no result
- Wrong route: eCourt Kōkua, eTraffic, eCrim, Bureau of Conveyances or PACER.
- Wrong island/circuit: First, Second, Third or Fifth Circuit.
- Wrong court type: Circuit, District, Family, Land, Tax Appeal or appellate.
- Wrong spelling, alias, maiden name, business punctuation or suffix.
- Old case outside eCourt Kōkua coverage.
- Confidential, sealed, juvenile, adoption or restricted family matter.
- Newly filed document not yet available online.
- Public document available at courthouse but not online.
- Certified copy requires courthouse or written request.
- Federal case belongs in PACER.
Use Hawaii court records responsibly
- A filing is not proof that an allegation is true.
- A charge, citation, warrant or arrest is not a conviction.
- A judgment may not show whether it was paid, satisfied, appealed or vacated.
- An online docket may not show the newest filing or the complete official file.
- Do not harass, threaten, shame or retaliate against anyone named in records.
- Do not publish unnecessary addresses, children’s names, financial numbers or sensitive family details.
- Do not bypass sealing, confidentiality, juvenile, adoption or Rule 9 restrictions.
- Contact the official custodian for corrections, copy requests, sealing, expungement or access questions.
Frequently asked questions about Hawaii court records
How do I search Hawaii court records by name?
Start from the Hawaiʻi State Judiciary Search Court Records page and open eCourt Kōkua. Use case ID or citation number when available. If you search by name, verify the court, island or circuit, case type, party role, filing date, hearing date and disposition before relying on the result.
Is Ho‘ohiki still available for Hawaii court records?
No. The Hawaiʻi State Judiciary page says Ho‘ohiki is no longer available. For Traffic cases, District Court, Circuit Court, Family Court criminal and civil, Land Court, Tax Appeal Court and appellate case information, users should go to eCourt Kōkua.
What case types are available in eCourt Kōkua?
eCourt Kōkua provides public information from traffic cases, District Court and Circuit Court criminal, Family Adult Court criminal, District Court and Circuit Court civil, Family Court civil, Land Court, Tax Appeal Court and appellate cases.
Is eCourt Kōkua the complete official court record?
No. The Judiciary says information displayed in eCourt Kōkua is from official records, but it does not include all information from court records available to the public. Certified court records are available in paper form at each courthouse, and official copies should be requested from the court that maintains the file.
How much do Hawaii eCourt Kōkua documents cost?
Basic court case information may be viewed at no cost. Downloadable public documents are generally $3.00 for documents from 1 to 30 pages, and documents exceeding 30 pages cost an additional $0.10 for each additional page. Subscription options are listed at $125.00 per quarter or $500.00 per year.
What older Hawaii cases are not available in eCourt Kōkua?
The Judiciary states that eCourt Kōkua does not include traffic cases prior to November 1995, District Court criminal cases prior to August 2012, or appellate cases prior to September 2010. Older records may require courthouse access or a written request.
How do I request certified Hawaii court records?
Use eCourt Kōkua if a downloadable public document is available, visit the courthouse in the jurisdiction where the case was filed or the infraction or crime occurred, or submit a written request to the court that maintains custody of the case. For written requests, the Judiciary says not to send money first; an invoice is sent and prepayment of invoiced fees is required.
Which Hawaii court handles felony, probate, district, traffic and family cases?
Circuit Courts handle jury trials, general civil and criminal cases, felony cases, probate, guardianship and civil cases where the contested amount exceeds $40,000. District Courts handle traffic infractions, landlord-tenant disputes, many smaller civil cases, misdemeanors and county ordinance matters. Family Courts handle matters involving children, divorce, child support, paternity, custody and domestic-violence matters.
Are Hawaii court records the same as eCrim criminal-history checks?
No. eCourt Kōkua is a court case information system, while eCrim is a Hawaii Criminal Justice Data Center route for adult criminal conviction information. HCJDC says criminal history checks for Hawaii include adult criminal conviction information only, and non-conviction or pending arrest records are confidential and not available to the general public.
Can I use this page for employment, tenant, credit or insurance screening?
No. Public-Court-Records.us is not a Consumer Reporting Agency, and this article is not an FCRA-regulated background-check product. Do not use this page to make employment, tenant, housing, credit, insurance or eligibility decisions.
Publication review checklist
This guide was reviewed for official-source accuracy, eCourt Kōkua routing, Ho‘ohiki retirement warning, free basic case-information note, online document fee logic, courthouse and written-request procedures, old-case coverage limits, court structure, island/circuit routing, eTraffic distinction, eCrim/HCJDC distinction, Bureau of Conveyances distinction, appellate and federal PACER separation, responsible-use warnings, mobile layout, accessibility, Yoast-safe schema and low-value-content risk. Verification date: September 2, 2026.