Urban Honolulu Court Docket Records
Urban Honolulu is home to the state's largest court system, and the court docket covers everything from felony cases at the First Circuit to traffic violations at the district level. If you need to search for a case, check a hearing date, or pull documents tied to a filing in Honolulu, this page walks through every access point available to the public.
Urban Honolulu Overview
Courthouses Serving Urban Honolulu
Urban Honolulu is served by three separate court divisions, each handling a different range of cases. Knowing which building to contact saves a lot of time. The wrong call or visit can send you on a loop, so it helps to match your case type to the right location from the start.
The First Circuit Court sits at Ka'ahumanu Hale, 777 Punchbowl Street, Honolulu, HI 96813. This court handles felony criminal cases, civil matters where the amount in dispute exceeds $40,000, probate proceedings, and land court filings. The court can be reached at 808-539-4314 (fax line) or by email at HoohikiHelp@courts.hawaii.gov. If your case involves a serious criminal charge or a large civil claim, this is your primary point of contact. In-person records service runs from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., Monday through Friday. Requests require Form 1CP858.
The First Circuit District Court operates from Kauikeaouli Hale at 1111 Alakea Street, Honolulu, HI 96813. Phone is 808-538-5149, and you can reach district court staff by email at LDB2.1DC@courts.hawaii.gov. Traffic matters go through the Traffic Violations Bureau at 808-538-5500. This court handles misdemeanors, most traffic infractions, civil disputes under $40,000, small claims under $5,000, landlord-tenant disputes, and temporary restraining orders. The same 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. window applies for in-person records service.
The First Circuit Family Court is located at the Ronald T.Y. Moon Judiciary Complex, 4675 Kapolei Parkway, Kapolei, HI 96707. The phone number is 808-954-8310. Note that family court records requests are by appointment only, with available times from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Family court handles divorce, child custody, adoption, guardianship, and related matters. Plan ahead if you need records from this division, since walk-ins are not accepted.
Note: Form 1CP858 is required for all written records requests submitted to First Circuit courts in Honolulu.
How to Search Urban Honolulu Court Dockets Online
The Hawaii Judiciary runs a free public search tool called eCourt Kokua. Anyone can use it without creating an account. You can look up cases by name, case number, or citation number. The system pulls from all circuits statewide, so a search for Honolulu cases will surface both circuit and district filings in one place.
To search Urban Honolulu court docket entries, go to the eCourt Kokua portal and select the First Circuit from the court dropdown. From there, enter the party name or case number. Results show the case type, filing date, and a list of events in the docket. Some cases may have documents attached that you can view online. Others require a trip to the courthouse or a formal records request to get copies of actual filings.
Not every record is visible online. Certain family court matters are sealed. Juvenile records are not public. Expunged cases do not appear. The online system is a docket index, not a full document repository. For complete case files, you will need to submit Form 1CP858 in person or by mail. Instructions for that process appear on the Hawaii courts records access page.
Case lookups at the First Circuit Court page also list contact information for each division, which can be useful if a search returns a case but you need to confirm details before traveling to the courthouse. The First Circuit District Court page covers the district-level information separately.
Note: eCourt Kokua is updated regularly but may not reflect same-day filings or very recent case activity.
Honolulu Police Records and Arrest Logs
The Honolulu Police Department maintains its own records division at 801 South Beretania Street, Honolulu, HI 96813. For most police record requests, call (808) 723-3258 or send an email to recordsrequest@honolulupd.org. Office hours run Monday through Friday, 7:45 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
The HPD records page explains what you can request and how to submit. Copy fees are $0.50 for the first page and $0.25 for each page after that. The HPD also posts daily arrest logs on its website. Those logs rotate off after 14 days, so if you need a record from an older arrest, a formal request is necessary. Warrant information is covered separately on the HPD warrants page.
The Hawaii Criminal Justice Data Center also operates a public access terminal at the HPD Records Division location. A criminal history printout from the HCJDC costs $25. This is a statewide report, not just Honolulu, and it shows convictions from all Hawaii courts. The online version of that database is eCrim, which allows searches for public criminal records by name.
The image below shows the Honolulu Police Records Division page, which is where most HPD record requests begin.
The HPD Records Division processes requests for incident reports, accident reports, and related documents for cases handled by Honolulu officers.
Requests for police reports tied to active criminal cases may be delayed until the case is resolved or the investigation is closed.
Urban Honolulu District Court Docket
The district court in Honolulu handles the highest volume of cases in the state. Most people who interact with the court system here do so through the district court, whether for a traffic ticket, a misdemeanor charge, or a small claims dispute. The docket moves fast and hearings are frequent.
The image below is from the First Circuit District Court information page, which lists current court locations, contact numbers, and case types handled at Kauikeaouli Hale.
The First Circuit District Court page provides contact details, court hours, and guidance for the Honolulu district division.
For small claims cases, the filing limit is $5,000. Parties represent themselves in small claims court, and the process is designed to be accessible without an attorney.
If your case involves a civil dispute over $40,000 or a felony charge, it moves from district to circuit court. The two courts are in different buildings, and records are managed separately even though both are accessible through eCourt Kokua. When pulling a docket for a serious criminal case, check the circuit court index, not the district court one. The case number format differs between the two.
Note: Small claims cases in Honolulu have a $5,000 ceiling, and parties may not use attorneys during the hearing itself.
Court Records Access Rules for Urban Honolulu
Hawaii court records are governed by the Hawaii Court Records Rules. These rules define what is public, what is sealed, and how to request restricted records. Most adult criminal and civil court records are public under these rules. Certain categories are protected, including juvenile records, adoption cases, mental health proceedings, and cases where a court has issued a sealing order.
Broader access questions fall under the Uniform Information Practices Act (UIPA), which is Hawaii's public records law. The UIPA covers state agency records generally. For court-specific requests, the Hawaii Court Records Rules take precedence. Still, the UIPA provides useful context for understanding what the government must disclose and under what timeline.
In-person inspection of case files at the courthouse is free. Copies cost $1.00 per page. Certified copies carry an additional $2.00 fee. If you need electronic copies of documents that are available online, those can be downloaded without charge from eCourt Kokua. The cost comes in when you need paper copies or documents that are not part of the public online system.
The general records access guide is available at the how to access court records page on the Hawaii Judiciary website. That page covers mail requests, in-person procedures, and how to handle requests for older archived cases that may have been transferred off-site.
Honolulu County Court Docket Records
Urban Honolulu falls within Honolulu County, and all circuit and district court filings for this area are part of the First Circuit's records system. The county page covers jurisdiction details, courthouse listings, and broader access information for all of Honolulu County.
Nearby Cities
These communities are near Urban Honolulu and also file court cases through the First Circuit system.