Hawaii County is the largest county in Hawaii, covering a total land area of about 4,028 square miles. According to the 2020 Census, the county has about 200,000 residents. Its county seat is Hilo.

Courts in Hawaii County

The Third Circuit Court in Hawaii County has three geographical divisions: Hilo, Kailua-Kona, and Waimea. These courts have original jurisdiction over all civil and criminal cases beyond other lesser courts. Felony trials, probate cases, guardianship, and civil cases involving more than $40,000 are within the exclusive jurisdiction of the Circuit Court in Hawaii County. The court also handles misdemeanors, mechanical liens, and other lesser cases requiring jury trials.

Hawaii County District Court of the Third Circuit Court has limited jurisdiction over certain criminal and civil cases. It often carries out judicial proceedings to determine if sufficient evidence exists to begin felony trials. Traffic infractions, municipal violations, and other criminal offenses where possible sentences do not exceed one-year imprisonment are heard at the District Court. Residents may bring civil actions such as claims involving less than $40,000, landlord-tenant issues, and small claims below $5,000.

The Family Court in Hawaii County typically presides over legal proceedings involving children and families. Examples of family law cases include divorce, child support, adoption, termination of parental rights, child abuse, and guardianship. Residents may approach the Family Court to request civil restraining orders involving family members.

Where to Find Public Court Records in Hawaii County

Public court records in Hawaii County are available online via eCourt Kokua. The online portal, maintained by the Hawaii State Judiciary, contains the following information:

• Case Dockets
• Court Transcripts
• Court Judgements and Verdicts
• Warrants
• Discovery Requests
• Exhibits
• Pretrial Judgements
• Evidence Lists
• Stipulations
• Trial Records
• Notice of Hearing

Requesters must register on the portal before accessing public documents. Afterward, provide names of involved parties or case numbers to view court records. Physical copies of public court records are obtainable by locating Hawaii County courthouses.

Types of Public Court Records in Hawaii County

Interested persons can find the following types of public court records in Hawaii County:

• Traffic court records
• Civil records
• Criminal records
• Property records
• Records showing small claims cases
• Divorce records
• Limited juvenile information
• Family records
• Probate records
• Foreclosure records
• Landlord-tenant dispute records

Confidential Court Records in Hawaii County

Confidential court records in Hawaii County are not available publicly online. Only individuals who own these records can obtain them by visiting courthouses where their cases took place. Examples of these confidential records include the following:

• Sealed records
• Medical records
• Victim and witness protection records
• All adult protective proceedings
• Domestic violence records
• Grand jury proceedings
• Mental health evaluation reports
• Attorney-client communications
• Adoption records
• Child custody and protection records
• Paternity cases
• Certain employment records (e.g., disciplinary actions, personnel files)
• Intellectual property records (e.g., patent applications before publication)
• Records involving national security or classified information
• Certain law enforcement records (e.g., undercover operations, surveillance)
• Records of individuals in witness protection programs
• Immigration records with sensitive information
• Confidential settlement agreements
• Guardian and conservatorship records
• Guardians ad litem
• Sexual assault case details not disclosed in open court.

Juvenile Delinquency in Hawaii, HI

Unfortunately, in many areas of the Hawaii County, juvenile delinquency issues are on the rise. There are many reasons for the rise in youth offenders. The juvenile sentence in Hawaii often depends on the severity of the crime, the number of crimes, and other family matters.

In 2017, a total of 1381 juvenile cases were reported for every 100,000 people age 10 to adulthood in the jurisdiction of Hawaii County. Of that total, 33% of those proceedings were delinquencies which equaled 461 court cases. Another 0% were dependency cases that accounted for 0 of the juvenile cases.

A lot of counties, including, Hawaii County, are focusing on family therapy and relationships rather than punishment for juvenile crimes. Future Hawaii County juvenile delinquency numbers will show whether or not this approach is working.

Government of Hawaii County, HI

https://hawaii.gov/

County Seat:	Hilo
Government Type:	County
Authority:	Home Rule
Year Organized:	1905
Total Square Miles:	5,086
2019 Population:	200,381
Persons/Square Mile:	0.03

Hawaii County, HI Courts