Kauai County Court Docket Records

Kauai County court docket records are held by the Fifth Circuit Court and District Court, both located at the Pu'uhonua Kaulike Building in Lihue. These courts handle all civil, criminal, family, and probate matters for Kauai island. You can search public case docket entries at no cost through eCourt Kokua, or contact the clerk's office at the Lihue courthouse to request copies of documents from specific cases.

Kauai County Circuit Court Docket

The Fifth Circuit Court serves Kauai County from the Pu'uhonua Kaulike Building in Lihue. This court handles felony criminal cases, civil matters over $40,000, probate proceedings, guardianship, conservatorship, and estate administration. It also holds Land Court and Tax Appeal Court jurisdiction for the county. The Fifth Circuit is the only circuit court location in Kauai County, meaning all high-level civil and criminal matters are centralized in a single courthouse at 3970 Kaana Street in Lihue.

The Probate Division at the Fifth Circuit has its own direct phone line at (808) 482-2343, separate from the main circuit court number. If your records request involves an estate, conservatorship, or guardianship case, calling the probate line directly can save time. All other circuit court matters go through the main number at (808) 482-2347. The courthouse is open Monday through Friday, 7:45 AM to 4:30 PM, and closed on all state and federal holidays.

Copy fees at the Fifth Circuit Court are $1.00 per page for standard copies. Certified copies cost an additional $2.00 on top of the per-page rate. This fee structure is slightly different from some other circuits, where the base fee and the certification add-on may vary. When submitting a written copy request, use form 1CP858 and include the case number if you have it. That helps the clerk locate the file quickly and may reduce processing time. In-person requests are handled at the clerk's window during regular hours.

Kauai County District Court and Family Court

The Lihue District Court is located in the same Pu'uhonua Kaulike Building as the circuit court. It handles misdemeanor criminal charges, traffic violations, civil cases under $40,000, small claims under $5,000, landlord-tenant matters, and temporary restraining orders. The district court phone number is (808) 482-2303. Hours match the circuit court: Monday through Friday, 7:45 AM to 4:30 PM.

[Lead-in: The Fifth Circuit District Court in Lihue serves as the entry point for most criminal and civil matters in Kauai County.]

District court docket records are searchable through eCourt Kokua using the same search interface as circuit court cases.

Kauai County also has a Family Court division at the Pu'uhonua Kaulike Building. The Family Court phone number is (808) 482-2330, and it operates during the same hours as the other courts in the building. Family Court handles divorce, custody disputes, child support, adoption, juvenile delinquency cases, domestic abuse matters, protective orders, paternity, and guardianship of minors. It is important to note that juvenile delinquency records are confidential under state law and are not part of the publicly searchable docket. Family Court records involving minors may also be restricted from public view depending on the nature of the case.

Kauai Police Department Records

The Kauai Police Department is located at 3990 Kaana Street in Lihue, just steps from the courthouse. The department serves as a designated HCJDC public access site, where members of the public can request criminal history printouts for $25 per printout. The police department is reachable at (808) 241-1661 and maintains the same weekday hours as the courts.

[Lead-in: The Kauai Police Department at 3990 Kaana Street in Lihue provides criminal history access and police report services adjacent to the Fifth Circuit courthouse.]

Police report requests and criminal history printouts can be obtained at this location during regular business hours.

Police records and court docket records are two distinct systems. The police department holds reports, traffic abstracts, and arrest records. The court system holds docket entries, filings, and judgments. A police report may lead to a court case, but the two are stored and managed separately. If you are researching a matter that involves both law enforcement and court action, you may need to make separate requests at both the police department and the courthouse. The Hawaii Criminal Justice Data Center connects these systems at a statewide level, but individual records still must be requested from the appropriate office.

How to Search the Kauai County Court Docket Online

The free eCourt Kokua portal is the main tool for searching Kauai County court docket records online. Access the site through a web browser on any device. Select the Fifth Circuit as your jurisdiction and enter a party name, case number, or attorney name to begin your search. Results show case filings, docket events, and scheduled hearings. No account or login is needed, and there is no charge to view docket information.

eCourt Kokua works well for finding out whether a case exists, checking the current status of a matter, or locating a case number before requesting physical copies from the clerk. It shows the history of activity on a case but does not display the text of documents. For actual filings, orders, or judgments, you need to contact the clerk's office or visit the courthouse. Having a case number from eCourt Kokua before you call or visit speeds up the process considerably.

For criminal history data, the eCrim system offers statewide criminal background information through authorized access sites. The Kauai Police Department at 3990 Kaana Street in Lihue is one of these sites. The Hawaii State Judiciary records access page provides guidance on all methods of obtaining court records, including what is available online versus what requires a physical visit to the clerk's office.

Records Rules and UIPA Access in Kauai County

The Hawaii Court Records Rules control how court records are handled across the state, including at the Fifth Circuit in Kauai. These rules spell out which records are open to the public, which are confidential, and what process applies to records requests. They were adopted by the Hawaii Supreme Court and apply consistently to all court locations.

Beyond the court system, the Uniform Information Practices Act (UIPA) is Hawaii's open government law, covering records held by state and county agencies that are not part of the judiciary. This includes records held by the Kauai Police Department, county agencies, and other government offices. Under the UIPA, agencies must make records available unless a specific exemption applies. If a request is denied, you can challenge that denial through the Office of Information Practices.

At the Fifth Circuit, certain categories of records are restricted by default. Juvenile delinquency records are confidential. Adoption records are sealed. Some family court matters involving minor children are not publicly accessible. Mental health and substance abuse proceedings may also carry restrictions. If you are looking for a specific type of record and are unsure whether it is public, the clerk's office can confirm the access status before you proceed with a formal request. Knowing this up front saves time for both you and the court staff.

Inspection of public records at the courthouse is free. Copies cost $1.00 per page. Certified copies cost $1.00 per page plus $2.00 for the certification. If you need a large number of pages, it is worth asking about the expected total before the copies are made. The clerk can give you an estimate based on the case file size once they locate the record.

Cities in Kauai County

Lihue is the county seat of Kauai and the location of all Fifth Circuit court facilities. No cities in Kauai County currently meet the population threshold for a dedicated city records page on this site.

Other Hawaii Counties

Each of Hawaii's other counties has its own circuit and district courts. Use the links below to find courthouse contacts, online search guidance, and records access details for the other islands.