Find Hilo Criminal Court Records

Hilo criminal court records are maintained by the Third Circuit Court — Hilo Division, the main courthouse for all of Hawaii County. Hilo is the county seat and home to the primary Third Circuit judicial facilities for the Big Island. If you need to search criminal cases, obtain certified court documents, or check conviction history in Hilo, you can use eCourt Kokua online for free, visit the courthouse in person, or contact the state's criminal history agency. This guide covers every access method.

Hilo Courthouse and Criminal Court Records

Hilo is the county seat of Hawaii County and home to the Third Circuit Court — Hilo Division. This courthouse handles Circuit Court matters for the island including felony criminal cases, civil disputes over $40,000, probate records, and family law. The District Court in Hilo handles misdemeanors, traffic violations, and civil cases under $40,000. Public access terminals at the courthouse allow free electronic record searching during business hours.

Criminal court records for Hilo cases are public once charges are formally filed. The clerk at the Hilo courthouse can provide copies during business hours. The Hilo court maintained jurisdiction historically over Hilo, Puna, and Kau districts on the east side of the Big Island. Historical court records from 1850 are available at the Hawaii State Archives. The Third Circuit's Criminal Case Files (Series 014) and Civil and Criminal Minute Books (Series 244) cover records from the earliest days of organized Hawaii Island courts.

The Hilo Division at 777 Kilauea Avenue is the primary courthouse for Hawaii County criminal court records, handling all circuit-level criminal cases for the eastern side of the Big Island.

Searching Hilo Criminal Court Records Online

The primary online tool for Hilo criminal court records is eCourt Kokua. Select Third Circuit when searching to find Hawaii County and Hilo cases. Basic case information is free. Search by case ID, party name, attorney name, or citation number. Results show case status, hearing dates, docket entries, and party names. The system covers traffic, District Court criminal, Circuit Court criminal, civil, and appellate cases. Available Monday through Saturday, 4 a.m. to midnight HST, and Sunday from noon to midnight.

To search Hilo criminal court records effectively, you need:

• Full name of at least one party to the case
• Third Circuit filter to find Big Island cases
• Case ID or citation number if available

Some older records are not in the online system. Traffic cases before November 1995, District Court criminal before August 2012, and appellate cases before September 2010 require a courthouse visit or mail request. Contact the Hilo courthouse at (808) 961-7400 for those older files. Documents in eCourt Kokua cost $3 for 1 to 30 pages and 10 cents per page after that. Subscriptions cost $125 per quarter or $500 per year.

For Hilo Family Court civil cases, the Ho'ohiki portal provides access to Third Circuit Family Court civil cases from 1983 forward. Actual documents require a visit to the Hilo courthouse.

Hilo Criminal History Record Checks

For criminal history information related to Hilo arrests and convictions, contact the Hawaii Criminal Justice Data Center. Their eCrim portal provides online name-based searches for $5, showing only Hawaii conviction information. Non-conviction records and pending cases are not publicly available. An official printed report costs $12. Only Hawaii arrests are included — records from other states require a separate national check.

For in-person requests at the Hilo courthouse, bring valid government-issued photo ID, the subject's name and date of birth, and case number if known. Pay applicable fees at the window. Standard copies cost $1 for the first page and 50 cents for each additional page. Certified copies add $2 per document. The Hawaii Police Department's Hilo station maintains local arrest records and incident reports as law enforcement records, separate from court case files.

Hilo residents can access criminal court records at the Third Circuit courthouse on Kilauea Avenue or through eCourt Kokua online, with conviction history checks available through HCJDC's statewide system.

Hilo Criminal Records: What's Public

Hilo criminal court records follow Hawaii's public access framework under Chapter 92F HRS. Once charges are filed, case files are public. Available records include the criminal complaint, arraignment records, bail orders, hearing dates, motions, court orders, and final judgments. Records are accessible at the courthouse or through eCourt Kokua basic case searches at no cost.

Restricted records include juvenile proceedings sealed under HRS 571-84, cases sealed by court order, ongoing investigations, and family court domestic relations matters. Social Security numbers are redacted from all public files. Non-conviction information is confidential under HRS Section 846-2.7. Historical records less than 80 years old at the Hawaii State Archives may have restricted access for adoption and guardianship matters under HRS 578-15 and HRS 571-84.

Hilo serves as the administrative center for Hawaii County court services, with the Third Circuit Court maintaining criminal court records for all Big Island communities under the UIPA public records framework.

Hawaii County Criminal Court Records

Hilo is the county seat of Hawaii County. All criminal court records for the Big Island are maintained through the Third Circuit Court system. The county page covers all courthouse locations, fees, and access resources for Hawaii County residents.

View Hawaii County Criminal Court Records