Hawaii County Criminal Court Records

Hawaii County criminal court records are maintained by the Third Circuit Court, which covers the entire island of Hawaii, commonly known as the Big Island. The county seat is Hilo, where the main Third Circuit courthouse handles felony criminal cases, civil matters, probate, and family law. A second major courthouse in Kailua-Kona serves the west side of the island. You can search records online at no cost through eCourt Kokua, or request copies in person at either courthouse.

Third Circuit Court - Hawaii County

The Third Circuit Court handles all judicial matters for Hawaii County (the Big Island). The Hilo Division is the main courthouse and handles the full range of Circuit Court criminal matters including felony arraignments, trials, and sentencing. The Kona Division handles west side matters. Both facilities allow in-person record requests and have public access terminals for free electronic record searching during business hours. Hours at both locations are Monday through Friday, 7:45 AM to 4:30 PM.

The Circuit Court in Hilo handles felony criminal cases, civil disputes over $40,000, probate records, and family law matters. The District Court in Hilo handles misdemeanors, traffic violations, civil cases under $40,000, and small claims. Criminal court records that include a conviction are public and available from the clerk during business hours at either courthouse location.

Hawaii County's Third Circuit Court operates from two main locations on the Big Island, with the Hilo Division as the primary facility for circuit-level criminal court records.

How to Search Hawaii County Criminal Court Records

The primary online tool for Hawaii County criminal court records is the statewide eCourt Kokua system. It is free for basic case information. Select Third Circuit when searching to see Hawaii County cases. You can search by case ID, party name, attorney name, or citation number. The system shows case status, hearing dates, docket entries, and case history.

To search Hawaii County criminal court records online, you will need:

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

The system is available Monday through Saturday, 4 a.m. to midnight HST, and Sunday from noon to midnight. Traffic cases before November 1995, District Court criminal before August 2012, and appellate cases before September 2010 are not in the online system. For those older records, contact the Hilo courthouse at (808) 961-7400 or the Kona courthouse at (808) 322-8700. Documents cost $3 for 1 to 30 pages online, plus 10 cents per page after that. The Ho'ohiki portal at hoohiki.courts.hawaii.gov provides access to Third Circuit Family Court civil cases from 1983 forward.

Hawaii County Criminal History Checks

For criminal history checks related to Hawaii County arrests and convictions, contact the Hawaii Criminal Justice Data Center. HCJDC maintains the statewide criminal history system covering all Big Island arrests. Their eCrim portal offers online name-based searches for $5, showing only Hawaii conviction information. An official report costs $12. Non-conviction records and pending cases are not publicly available.

For in-person records 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 copy fees at the window. Written requests to the Hilo courthouse should include the subject's full name, date of birth, and case number. The Hawaii Police Department serves Hawaii County for arrest records and police reports, which are maintained separately from court case files.

Hawaii County residents can access criminal records through eCourt Kokua online, in-person visits to the Hilo or Kona courthouses, and HCJDC for statewide conviction history checks.

What Hawaii County Criminal Records Are Public

Hawaii County criminal court records are governed by Chapter 92F HRS, Hawaii's Uniform Information Practices Act. Once charges are filed, case records are public. Available records include the criminal complaint, arraignment records, bail orders, hearing dates, motions, court orders, and final judgments. Court records in Hawaii County are accessible under this presumption of openness unless a specific statutory exception applies.

Restricted records include juvenile proceedings sealed under HRS 571-84, cases sealed by court order, ongoing investigations, and family court domestic relations records. Social Security numbers are redacted from all public portions of court files. Under HRS Section 846-2.7, criminal history checks for fitness determinations require specific authorization. Historical Hawaii County court records from 1850 are available at the Hawaii State Archives.

Hawaii County court records follow Hawaii's UIPA public records framework, with criminal case files generally accessible once charges are formally filed through the Third Circuit Court.

Hawaii County Court Record Copy Fees

Fees at Third Circuit Court locations follow the standard Hawaii fee schedule. Standard copies cost $1 for the first page and 50 cents for each additional page. Certified copies add $2 per document. Expedited requests within four hours cost $10 plus standard fees. Mail requests need case information, fees by check or money order, and a self-addressed stamped envelope. Call the court before mailing to confirm current procedures. Documents available in eCourt Kokua cost $3 for 1 to 30 pages and 10 cents per additional page.

The Hilo Division of the Third Circuit Court at 777 Kilauea Avenue is the main courthouse for Hawaii County criminal court records and handles all circuit-level criminal cases for the island.

Cities in Hawaii County

Hilo is the county seat of Hawaii County and home to the main Third Circuit courthouse. All criminal court records for Hawaii County are filed through the Third Circuit system.

Nearby Counties

Other Hawaii counties each have their own judicial circuit. Records for matters on those islands are held by the appropriate circuit court.