| Circuit Court | First Circuit Court — Legal Documents Branch (Circuit Court) |
|---|---|
| Clerk address | Circuit Court: Kaahumanu Hale, 777 Punchbowl Street, Honolulu, HI 96813-5093. District Court: Kauikeaouli Hale, 1111 Alakea Street, Honolulu, HI 96813-2801. Family Court: Ronald T.Y. Moon Judiciary Complex, 4675 Kapolei Parkway, Kapolei, HI 96707-3272 |
| Phone | Circuit Court Legal Documents Branch 1 (808) 539-4300; Circuit Court Files and Services Section (records requests) (808) 539-4308; District Court Legal Documents Branch 2 (808) 538-5149; Family Court Legal Documents (808) 954-8310 |
| Hours | Circuit Court filing window and file room 8:00 a.m.-4:15 p.m.; District Court Legal Documents Branch 8:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.; Monday-Friday except state holidays. In-person records requests: District Court first come 8 a.m.-1 p.m.; Circuit Court and Family Court by appointment, 9 a.m. to last appointment at 3 p.m. |
| Earliest records noted | Varies by court — older files may be on paper or microfilm |
| Plain copy fee | $1.00 for the first page of each document, plus $0.50 for each additional page |
| Certified copy fee | $2.00 certification fee per document, in addition to the copy charges |
Honolulu is not just a city — it is the City and County of Honolulu, a single consolidated government that covers the entire island of Oahu. It corresponds to the state Judiciary's First Circuit, so every Circuit, District, and Family Court case filed anywhere on Oahu is handled by First Circuit courts, not by any office of the city and county government itself. The county runs police and prosecution, but court records live with the state.
The First Circuit's Legal Documents Branch is split by courthouse and case type: Kaʻahumanu Hale on Punchbowl Street handles Circuit Court civil and criminal cases, the Ronald T.Y. Moon Judiciary Complex in Kapolei handles Family Court cases, and Kauikeaouli Hale on Alakea Street handles District Court cases. Each branch has its own contact address and email, so knowing which court heard the case determines which branch to contact.
Case information for all First Circuit courts is searchable for free through the statewide eCourt Kōkua system. Because Oahu accounts for roughly two-thirds of Hawaii's population, its Circuit Court has separate divisions (criminal, civil, family, and land/tax) with more caseload than any other circuit in the state.
Search Honolulu court records online
Circuit Court
First Circuit Court — Legal Documents Branch (Circuit Court)
- Cost
- Free case search on eCourt Kokua; per-page and certification fees for copies
- Coverage
- First Circuit Court felony criminal, civil, land court, tax appeal, and probate cases filed on Oahu
- Records
- Civil, Criminal, Probate
Located at Kaahumanu Hale, 777 Punchbowl Street, Honolulu. Submit written record requests on form 1CP858; the Files and Services Section (fileroom, non-confidential Circuit Court criminal and civil documents) is (808) 539-4308.
Other courts
First Circuit District Court — Legal Documents Branch
- Cost
- Free case search on eCourt Kokua; per-page and certification fees for copies
- Coverage
- Misdemeanors, traffic citations, small claims, and civil cases up to the district court limit for Oahu
- Records
- Criminal, Civil, Traffic
Located at Kauikeaouli Hale, 1111 Alakea Street, Honolulu. Submit written record requests on form 1CP855. Legal Documents Branch 2 in-person records service is first come, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Other courts
First Circuit Family Court — Legal Documents Branch
- Cost
- Free case search on eCourt Kokua for non-confidential cases; per-page and certification fees for copies
- Coverage
- Divorce, custody, paternity, guardianship, and domestic violence cases for Oahu
- Records
- Family
Located at the Ronald T.Y. Moon Judiciary Complex, 4675 Kapolei Parkway, Kapolei. Many family cases (juvenile, adoption, some domestic violence) are confidential and not searchable online.
Other courts
eCourt Kōkua (statewide case search)
- Cost
- Free to search; document purchase $3.00 or $0.10/page, whichever is greater
- Coverage
- Statewide case search that includes all First Circuit Court, District Court, and Family Court cases
- Records
- Civil, Criminal, Family, Probate, Traffic
Start at the Judiciary's Search Court Records page for current eCourt access and system availability; the direct service may close for maintenance. The fastest way to check whether a First Circuit case exists before contacting a specific branch.
What is available online
eCourt Kokua covers case dockets for all First Circuit Court, District Court, and Family Court cases that are not confidential, and documents with a PDF icon can be purchased and downloaded. Because Oahu courts process the largest volume of any circuit, expect a short lag between a filing and its appearance online. Family Court cases involving minors, adoption, and many domestic-violence matters are excluded from public search regardless of which courthouse handled them.
Which clerk has your record
In Hawaii, the clerk who keeps a file depends on which court heard the case. Check the court name on the case notice, citation, or order, then use the office and coverage details above to identify the record holder. Court names and responsibilities differ by state; a county clerk may not keep court case files. For federal cases, see the PACER guide. The full court structure is on the Hawaii page.
| Court | Typical cases | Records kept by |
|---|---|---|
| Circuit Courts (First, Second, Third, and Fifth Circuits) | Felony criminal cases; Civil cases above the district court's jurisdictional limit; Land Court and Tax Appeal Court matters | Legal Documents Branch (Chief Clerk's Office) of the Circuit Court for that circuit |
| District Courts | Misdemeanors and violations; Traffic citations; Civil claims up to the district court limit | Legal Documents Branch (Chief Clerk's Office) of the District Court for that circuit |
| Family Courts | Divorce, custody, and paternity; Adoption; Child protective and juvenile cases | Legal Documents Branch (Chief Clerk's Office) of the Family Court for that circuit |
Request records in person or by mail
Honolulu clerk offices
Circuit Court: Kaahumanu Hale, 777 Punchbowl Street, Honolulu, HI 96813-5093. District Court: Kauikeaouli Hale, 1111 Alakea Street, Honolulu, HI 96813-2801. Family Court: Ronald T.Y. Moon Judiciary Complex, 4675 Kapolei Parkway, Kapolei, HI 96707-3272
Phone: Circuit Court Legal Documents Branch 1 (808) 539-4300; Circuit Court Files and Services Section (records requests) (808) 539-4308; District Court Legal Documents Branch 2 (808) 538-5149; Family Court Legal Documents (808) 954-8310
Hours: Circuit Court filing window and file room 8:00 a.m.-4:15 p.m.; District Court Legal Documents Branch 8:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.; Monday-Friday except state holidays. In-person records requests: District Court first come 8 a.m.-1 p.m.; Circuit Court and Family Court by appointment, 9 a.m. to last appointment at 3 p.m.
Circuit Court records (felony, civil, probate, land, tax appeal). Contact the Legal Documents Branch at Kaahumanu Hale, 777 Punchbowl Street, Honolulu, or submit form 1CP858 by mail. Do not send payment with the form — the branch invoices copying and handling fees, payable by money order or certified/cashier's check, before sending copies.
District Court records (misdemeanor, traffic, small claims). Contact the Legal Documents Branch at Kauikeaouli Hale, 1111 Alakea Street, Honolulu, or submit form 1CP855 by mail.
Family Court records (divorce, custody, guardianship). Contact the Legal Documents Branch at the Ronald T.Y. Moon Judiciary Complex, 4675 Kapolei Parkway, Kapolei. Confidential family cases may require the requester to be a party or attorney of record.
Fees
| Item | Typical cost in Hawaii |
|---|---|
| Plain copy | $1.00 for the first page of each document, plus $0.50 for each additional page |
| Certified copy | $2.00 certification fee per document, in addition to the copy charges |
Fees are set under HRS §607-5 and the fee schedules in the Rules of the Circuit Courts (RCCH 2.2) and Rules of the District Courts (RDCH 2.2); the amounts above are printed on the Judiciary's current Request to Access Court Record forms (1CP855, revised 08/2025, and SCP351). A $5.00 per-name search fee applies when no case number is given, and the Judiciary's Schedule of Fees and Costs (form 2DP331) adds $1.00 per page for microfilmed documents, $5.00 microfilm and off-site retrieval fees, $10.00 for rush requests, and fax charges. Invoices for written requests include certification unless the request says "no certification service needed." eCourt Kokua downloads are a flat $3.00 for documents up to 30 pages plus $0.10 per page beyond that; a $125 quarterly or $500 annual subscription covers unlimited downloads.
Need a copy an agency will accept? See how to get certified copies of court records.
Sealed and restricted records
Hawaii's Hawaii Court Records Rules (HCRR), adopted by the Supreme Court, govern which case information the Legal Documents Branch can show the public. Rule 9 covers how confidential personal information must be filed separately, and Rule 10.4 governs access to documents that a court has sealed or restricted. The clerks of each court are required to give public access to non-confidential dockets and documents through courthouse public-access terminals, but must restrict confidential, sealed, or restricted records to the parties and their attorneys.
The Hawaii guide lists every category of sealed and restricted record, and our guide to expunging or sealing a criminal record explains how to remove one from public view.
Frequently asked questions
Does the City and County of Honolulu keep court records?
No. Honolulu's city and county government runs police, prosecution, and local services, but every court file on Oahu is kept by the state Judiciary's First Circuit Court, District Court, or Family Court, through their Legal Documents Branches.
Which Oahu courthouse has my case?
It depends on the case type. Felony, civil, probate, and land/tax cases are at Kaahumanu Hale on Punchbowl Street; misdemeanor and traffic cases are at Kauikeaouli Hale on Alakea Street; and family cases are at the Ronald T.Y. Moon Judiciary Complex in Kapolei.
Can I search First Circuit cases online for free?
Yes. eCourt Kokua is free and covers Circuit, District, and Family Court cases for Oahu along with the rest of the state. Confidential cases, including most family matters involving minors, will not show up.
How do I request a certified copy of an Oahu court record?
Submit the appropriate form (1CP858 for Circuit or Family Court, 1CP855 for District Court) to the Legal Documents Branch that handled the case. Do not include payment with the form; the branch will mail or email an invoice first.
Sources
- Hawaii State Judiciary — How to Access Court Records, First Circuit (form 1FP1091) — https://www.courts.state.hi.us/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/1FP1091.pdf
- Hawaii State Judiciary — General Information Contact (Oahu) — https://www.courts.state.hi.us/general_information/contact/oahu
- eCourt Kōkua — https://www.courts.state.hi.us/legal_references/records/search_court_records
- City and County of Honolulu — official website — https://www.honolulu.gov/
- Hawaii State Judiciary — Courts — https://www.courts.state.hi.us/courts/circuit/circuit_courts
- Hawaii Criminal Justice Data Center — eCrim — https://ecrim.ehawaii.gov/ahewa/
- Hawaii Criminal Justice Data Center — Name-Based Background Check — https://ag.hawaii.gov/hcjdc/criminal-history-records-check/name-base-background-check/
- Hawaii State Judiciary — Instructions for Accessing Court Records — https://www.courts.state.hi.us/hawaii-state-judiciary-instructions-for-accessing-court-records
- Hawaii State Judiciary — Submit a Written Request to Access/Purchase a Court Record — https://www.courts.state.hi.us/accessing_court_records_step3
- Hawaii Court Records Rules (HCRR) — https://www.courts.state.hi.us/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/hcrr.pdf
- Hawaii State Judiciary — Request to Access Court or ADLRO Record, District Court (form 1CP855, fees) — https://www.courts.state.hi.us/docs/1FP/1CP855.pdf
- Hawaii State Judiciary — Schedule of Fees and Costs for Frequently Requested Services (form 2DP331) — https://www.courts.state.hi.us/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/2DP331.pdf
- HRS §607-5 — Costs; Circuit Courts — https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/hrscurrent/Vol13_Ch0601-0676/HRS0607/HRS_0607-0005.htm
- HRS §831-3.2 — Expungement Orders — https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/hrscurrent/Vol14_Ch0801-0853/HRS0831/HRS_0831-0003_0002.htm
- United States District Court for the District of Hawaii — https://www.hid.uscourts.gov/
See also: all Hawaii counties.