Hawaii Court Case Lookup

A Hawaii court case is a legal proceeding in which one party brings a dispute or allegation against another party in a court of law in order to have a judge or jury determine guilt, liability, or enforce a contract.

The Hawaii Court System is a unified system under the supervision of the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Hawaii. The court system consists of multiple courts, each with defined jurisdiction. The parties involved in a case, the nature of the dispute, and the amount at stake determine which court will hear that case.

The Hawaii Supreme Court is the highest court in Hawaii and has the final say on appeals from lower courts. The court is responsible for establishing court rules and procedures for all state courts, disciplining attorneys, and issuing legal licenses. Additionally, it has exclusive authority over election cases.
Intermediate Court of Appeals: The Intermediate Court of Appeals in Hawaii is the state's second-highest court. This court hears most appeals from state trial courts and agencies. It has discretionary authority to hear cases involving a legal question submitted without a prior lawsuit.
Circuit Court: The Hawaii Circuit Court has general jurisdiction in all the state's civil and criminal cases. It hears cases of misdemeanor violations and mechanic's liens transferred for jury trials from the District Court. The court has exclusive jurisdiction over criminal felony cases, probate matters, and civil cases where the amount involved exceeds $40,000.00. It has concurrent jurisdiction with the District Court in civil trials without a jury where the amount in dispute is between $10,000.00 and $4,000.00.
Family Court: The Hawaii Family Court generally addresses matters involving families. Typically, the cases tried in this court are themed around domestic violence, domestic relations, and children's concerns.
District Court: An Hawaii District Court is a trial court with exclusive jurisdiction over landlord-tenant disputes and traffic violation cases. It hears civil cases involving a specific performance whose fair market value is less than $40,000.00, as well as criminal offenses punishable by a fine or less than one year in prison.
Environmental Court: Hawaii is the second state in the United States to have a statewide environmental court. The Environmental Court handles civil and criminal cases involving streams, water, air, mountains, and forests.
Land Court: The Land Court has exclusive authority over applications for title registration and land-held rights. In addition, it has authority over other matters brought under the Land Court Registration Law (Chapter 501 of the Hawaii Revised Statutes).
The Tax Appeal Court handles all disputes involving income, property, tobacco, excise, and insurance taxation. It is a court of record and makes important decisions on all questions of law and fact, including constitutional issues pertaining to real property taxation.

In Hawaii, it is possible to look up court cases remotely through eCourt Kokua or by visiting the local courthouses. Court Clerks are the designated custodians of court documents in archived and active proceedings and requests for court records go to these officials’ offices.

Individuals who intend to visit a courthouse should call the Clerk's Office to schedule their visit during business hours. On the scheduled day, they will be required to provide information to facilitate the court case lookup. These include case numbers, case types, party names, and other data that may aid in retrieving case files.

Similarly, anyone can access eCourt Kokua to lookup court cases remotely. eCourt Kokua is an online case management system that provides information regarding public courts and case types, provided they are available for disclosure or download. On eCourt Kokua, interested parties can search for District Court civil and criminal cases, Circuit Court civil and criminal cases, Land Court and tax appeal cases, Family (Adult) Court criminal cases, and traffic cases.

Are Court Cases Public Records in Hawaii?

Yes, Hawaii court records are public per the Hawaii Uniform Information Practices Act (UIPA), and they can be and can be obtained from their record custodians. However, in some situations, disclosure of certain records or information constitutes an invasion of privacy and a breach of confidentiality. As such, records or pages containing sensitive information are exempted from public access per UIPA.

Examples of confidential information include information regarding active criminal investigations, medical, psychological, or psychiatric information, personnel files, and information regarding social services or welfare benefits. Others include budget worksheets, unfiled committee reports, confidential government documents, and records of a pending legal proceeding in which the receiving agency is a party.

The Uniform Information Act allows record custodians up to ten days to respond to a request for public records. Departments that are unable to provide public records within ten days of a request must notify the requester and complete the search within an additional ten days. The Office of Information Practices is responsible for providing access to Hawaii's public records.

Can I Get Hawaii Court Case Documents Online?

Yes, users of eCourt KoKua can access current court cases online. Until recently, eCourt KoKua was only reserved for criminal cases. But since the discontinuation of Ho'ohiki, requesters can now search for Civil and Criminal cases, including District Court civil cases, Circuit Court civil cases, Land Court and Tax Appeal Court cases, and Family Court civil cases on Kokua.

The eCourt Kokua provides the public with access to particular court records in Hawaii. It is publicly available through the Hawaii State Judiciary website. Even though viewing case information might be free, downloading most documents on the Portal come at a fee. Regular and certified copies of documents on the Portal currently costs $3.00 and $5.00, respectively. Users can subscribe for $125.00 per quarter or $500.00 per year to download public documents without restriction.

eCourt Kokua offers three methods of finding Hawaii court records:

Party Search - Search for case-specific information by party ID, party name, and government agency.
Vehicle Search - Locate case-specific information by VIN or license plate.
Case Search - Search the Portal for case-specific information using the case ID or citation number.

How to Download a Court Record Online

While case information is accessible through eCourt Kokua, actual court documents may not be accessible online. The majority of documents are exclusive to the courthouse with jurisdiction over the case. If there is a pdf icon displayed next to a docket entry in eCourt Kokua, the associated document may be available online for purchase and immediate download.

Requesters should scroll to the Dockets section at the bottom of the page after completing a search to view the case of interest. They may then click the case's PDF icon. A pop-up window will appear, requesting whether the requester wishes to purchase a standard or certified copy. Proceed by selecting the case of interest, then click the “Add to Cart” button.

Next use the “View/Purchase Documents” tab to pay for the order. In some instances, purchased documents may not be immediately accessible following the selection of a document, but they should be accessible within three (3) business days. The Hawaii State Judiciary provides instructions for purchasing documents through eCourt Kokua.

How to Conduct a Hawaii Court Case Search by Name

Through eCourt KoKua, requesters can search court cases by name. Knowing the county in which the case was filed and providing the names of the involved parties will expedite the retrieval of the documents. However, in some instances, the case document may not be available for download. In such a situation, the requester may visit the courthouse to obtain certified court records.

What is a Court Case Number?

A court case number is a unique identifier assigned to a legal proceeding by the Court Clerk's Office. It appears on every official document related to a case and is used throughout the court system to identify it (from filing to disposition). A case number may contain letters, numbers, or special characters (such as a dash), and its format differs depending on the court where the case was filed. The case number enables straightforward and distinctive identification of specific civil and criminal proceedings. It is utilized to identify the filing year, the filing office, and the assigned judicial officer(s).

How to Read a Court Case Number

A case (or docket) number is assigned to each case filed in Hawaii courts. The case number indicates the filing year, the case type, and the court where the case was filed, which is represented by a letter or a number, and the case’s serial number in the docket. Note, however, that case numbers often change. So, individuals desiring to read a court case number should call the issuing Court Clerk's Office.

How to Conduct a Case Number Search in Hawaii

A case number can facilitate the search of courthouse records and legal proceedings. It is a unique identifier assigned to court cases during the filing process. Tagging a case is essential, as it designates a file and differentiates it from previous or subsequent legal matters in the court.

Interested individuals can find their case numbers by visiting the courthouses where their cases were filed. They must possess the information necessary for the Court Clerk to conduct a search as quickly as possible.

Hawaii court case numbers can also be found online. The State Judiciary Branch manages the eCourt Kokua online case databases. Interested parties may query eCourt Kokua for cases by party names in order to retrieve their case number.

Hawaii Court Records Lookup

Looking up court cases in Hawaii is possible and can be achieved online or by visiting the courthouse where the case was filed. For easy online lookup, use eCourt Kokua but remember the availability of court documents varies. While many court records are available, some may be unavailable or contain insufficient case information. In such situations, contact the Clerk’s Office. The Hawaii court directory is helpful in finding the specific court that handled the case of interest.

How to Remove Court Cases From Public Record in Hawaii

The removal of court cases from public record is done through a successful application for expungement. However, the removal is limited to certain circumstances. For instance, juvenile criminal records are automatically sealed and may be expunged once a person attains the age of 21. Generally, expungement occurs when the juvenile was not convicted of the charge. Requests for juvenile expungement must be submitted in writing to the family court that determined the case.

Adults, on the other hand, may only submit an expungement application for misdemeanors and felony arrests that did not result in a conviction. Driving under the influence as a minor and first-time drug-related offenses are also eligible for expungement.

Generally, before expunging certain criminal records, individuals may have to wait a period of time. For example, after one year of dismissal, a person who enters a deferred acceptance of guilt or no contest plea may request expungement. Anyone who desires to expunge a conviction record must contact the court, but persons who wish to expunge arrest records must contact the Hawaii Criminal Justice Data Center.

Applying for an Expungement in Hawaii

Persons who qualify to submit an expungement application must follow these steps:

Complete and submit an expungement application: The petitioner must download and submit the Expungement Application (Form HCJDC 159(b) to the court clerk in the county where the petitioner was charged or to the Hawaii Criminal Justice Data Center. This should be done after making all necessary contact with the center for clarifications on questions about eligibility and personal concerns on arrest records. Before any hearing on the petition, an individual seeking expungement for a felony must notify the district attorney in writing.
Pay the application fee: The fee for an expungement for the first time is $35.00. The fee for subsequent expungement is $50.00. A $10.00 non-refundable processing fee is included in the cost. In the event that the application is denied, the petitioner will receive the expungement fee minus the non-refundable $10.00. Fees must be paid with a cashier's check or money order payable to "State of Hawaii". The application will be denied if a business or individual check is used for the payment.
Make Duplicates of the Application Documents: It is advised that petitioners make duplicates of all documents and keep one for their own records.

How to Check a Court Case Status in Hawaii

Case parties and other interested parties can check the status of a court case online using eCourt Kokua. Intending searchers will need the case number or the litigants’ names to use this tool. Alternatively, visit the courthouse in person during business hours to inquire about the status of a court case. Hawaii court cases have one of four statuses:

ACTIVE: This status indicates that the case is ongoing and that further action is pending. In this case, the court has not yet rendered a decision or issued an order or judgment.
INACTIVE: This status indicates that a case is pending, but the court cannot take further action on it until some event returns it to the active caseload. A case may be inactive, for instance, if the defendant failed to appear in court, a bench warrant was issued for the defendant's arrest, or pending the defendant's arrest and court appearance.
ADJUDICATED: This status indicates that the case is closed because it has been dismissed or a judgment has been entered, and no further court action is necessary. Even though a case has been adjudicated, it cannot be closed until all outstanding court orders and sanctions have been complied with by all parties. For example, there may be an outstanding fine or a requirement to complete community service.
CLOSED, JUDGMENT SATISFIED: This indicates that the case has been closed because the judgment has been fully satisfied.

How to Find Supreme Court Decisions in Hawaii

The decisions of the Supreme Court are public documents and made available to the public, so interested parties can simply access them online at the State of Hawaii's Office of Information Practices website.

What Percentage of Court Cases Go to Trial in Hawaii?

According to a comparative study conducted in Hawaii in 2014, approximately 77% of cases were resolved outside of the courtroom. So, only a small percentage of the hundreds of thousands of cases filed each year reach the trial phase. The majority of cases are resolved through plea agreements and guilty pleas.

How Long Does a Court Case Last in Hawaii?

In Hawaii, the estimated length of a trial is about six weeks or more. Except in the case of traffic offenses that are not punishable by imprisonment, the court shall dismiss the charge, with or without prejudice, at the defendant's request if trial is not commenced within six months. In the event that a trial is still ongoing after the estimated time frame, any party may move to have the case designated as Complex Litigation within eight months of the filing of a complaint, or at any time upon showing good cause.

How to File a Case in Court in Hawaii

Within the court system, "filing" refers to the initiation of an action to resolve a civil or criminal dispute in accordance with prescribed legal procedures.

In Hawaii, cases must be filed personally at the District Court Legal Documents Branch. Plaintiffs may use the Judiciary directory to find the island or circuit where they intend to file the complaint. The plaintiff is required to fill out and sign a "Claim of Plaintiff" form and pay the filing fee, and the case will be scheduled within 30 days. The filing fee is $35.00.

The form must include the following:

The defendant's full name and address if the plaintiff is suing an individual.
The business name and address and the owner's name if the plaintiff is suing a business.
The corporation's full name and the name of a corporate officer or agent if the plaintiff is suing a corporation.
If the case involves a car accident, the form must show the full name and address of both the registered owner and the driver of the other vehicle.
The amount of money being claimed ($3,500.00 or less) for small claims.
The reason the plaintiff is making claim for the money - small claims cases.
The date the dispute began and the location of the dispute.

The plaintiff must then arrange for a copy of the "Claim by Plaintiff" to be delivered to each "defendant" by certified mail or contracting the Sheriff to serve the notice on each defendant. The cost of service per individual is approximately $35.00.

When the claim is filed or when the defendant is notified of the claim, the clerk will set a hearing date. If the defendant asserts that the plaintiff owes him more than $10,000.00, the court cannot hear the case and it must be transferred to a higher court.

What Does It Mean When a Case Has Been Resolved Before the Trial Date?

If a court case was resolved prior to the scheduled trial date, it indicates that the court or case parties addressed the case in a manner other than a bench or jury trial. This alternate approach may involve:

Diversion program: A pre-trial sentencing procedure that allows a defendant in a less severe criminal case to avoid a structured trial and criminal conviction in exchange for completing a rehabilitation program and probation.
Plea bargain: When a defendant enters a guilty plea in exchange for a reduced sentence or the dismissal of certain charges.
Mutual compromise: If a case is settled between the two opposing parties prior to trial, it is deemed resolved and no further proceedings will be initiated.
Dismissal: When a party requests or the court orders that a case be dismissed prior to trial. Additionally, the court would issue an order dismissing a case. If the defendant's rights have been violated, this could be the case.