Find a Hawaiʻi Court Case by Name Without Searching the Wrong System
The Hawaiʻi State Judiciary uses eCourt Kōkua as its main public case-information system. It covers traffic cases, District, Circuit and Family Court civil and criminal matters, Land Court, Tax Appeal Court, the Intermediate Court of Appeals and the Hawaiʻi Supreme Court.
For a person search, the current system requires both a first and last name. You can then use a middle name, filing-date range, case type, phonetic matching or partial-name matching to narrow or recover results. Confidential, juvenile and sealed cases are not available through the public system.
Official Hawaiʻi Court Record Search Routes
Hawaiʻi has a unified state Judiciary, so many public cases can be located through one statewide system. The correct next route depends on whether you need basic case information, a filed document, a certified copy, an older case or a federal record.
- eCourt Kōkua Use this first for public Hawaiʻi state-court case information, party-name searches, Case ID searches, hearing information and available downloadable court documents. Open the official eCourt Kōkua information page.
- Hawaiʻi Judiciary Search Court Records Use the Judiciary’s record-access overview when you need to understand what the online system does and does not represent. Review court-record access guidance.
- Visit a courthouse or public-access terminal Most courthouses provide a public computer terminal where documents can be viewed on-screen without a viewing charge. Copies can require payment. Find statewide public-access locations.
- Submit a court-record request Use the record-holding court when the document is not online, you need a hard copy, or the case must be retrieved through a legal documents branch. See written-request routes.
- PACER for federal cases A federal civil, criminal or bankruptcy matter in Hawaiʻi is not a Hawaiʻi State Judiciary case. Search the federal court through PACER. Search federal court records.
How to Search Hawaiʻi Court Records by Name
The current eCourt Kōkua Party Search has separate options for a general Name Search, Person Search, Company Name Search and Party ID Search. For an individual, both the first name and last name are required.
First + last name
Enter both required name fields. Add the middle name only when you know it accurately and need to narrow a common-name result.
Use Phonetic Search
Phonetic matching is designed for names that may sound alike even when the spelling differs. It is useful when you are unsure how the name was entered in the case record.
Use Partial Search
Partial matching can return names containing the text you enter. It is useful when the complete name or exact spelling is unknown.
Use filing dates and case type only when they are reliable
Name Search also allows a beginning and ending filing date and a case-type filter. These can make a broad result list manageable, but an incorrect date or case type can hide the case you need.
Person Search and Party ID can connect related public cases
The Person Search route also starts with a first and last name. After selecting a matching Party ID, eCourt Kōkua can display publicly available cases associated with that Party ID. Treat this as a search aid rather than proof that every result belongs to the person you had in mind.
Searching a company or government agency
Use the Company Name Search or select the business/government-agency option rather than placing an organization name into the person fields. Phonetic and partial matching are available for business-name searches as well.
Seven Steps to Find a Hawaiʻi Court Case
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Confirm that it is a Hawaiʻi state-court matter
State trial and appellate cases use the Hawaiʻi Judiciary system. Federal district, bankruptcy and federal appellate matters use PACER instead.
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Open eCourt Kōkua from the Judiciary website
Use the official Judiciary route and accept the portal disclaimer before beginning the search.
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Choose Party Search
Select Name Search or Person Search for an individual. Use the company option when the party is a business or government agency.
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Enter the required first and last name
Use the spelling you know first. Add a middle name only when it is reliable and helps distinguish several matches.
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Use Phonetic, Partial, date or case-type filters when needed
If the exact spelling is uncertain, try the portal’s phonetic or partial options. Add dates and case type only when those details are reasonably certain.
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Open a candidate case and verify the match
Compare the Case ID, court, island or location, case type, filing date, parties and status. Do not identify a person from a name alone.
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Choose the correct document route
If a PDF icon appears, the public document may be purchasable online. If there is no PDF icon, or the matter is older or restricted, use the record-holding courthouse or written-request route.
Verify a Same-Name Result Before Relying on It
A common name can produce several cases, and a portal result does not independently establish identity. Check the surrounding case details before treating a result as relevant.
Case ID
Save the exact Case ID. It is the strongest reference when returning to a case, requesting a document or speaking with court staff.
Court and location
Confirm that the island, circuit, court level and location fit the event you are researching.
Role and disposition
Identify whether the person is a plaintiff, defendant, petitioner, respondent or another party, and read how the case ended before drawing conclusions.
For unfamiliar docket terms, use the site’s Court Records Glossary before interpreting abbreviations or procedural events.
Search Hawaiʻi Court Records by Case ID
If you already have a Case ID, use it before a broad name search. eCourt Kōkua’s Case Search also supports other identifiers, including a citation number and certain system-specific numbers.
Old migrated Case IDs may need a new format
Very old migrated cases may have an original identifier containing only one to five digits. The Judiciary explains that these older numbers must be rebuilt with the circuit digit, case-type code and leading zeroes so the modern system receives a 12-character identifier.
For newer JIMS/JEFS cases, the official portal accepts the modern Case ID format. Copy the identifier from court paperwork exactly before trying alternative punctuation.
What eCourt Kōkua Covers—and What It Does Not
| Case category | Public eCourt Kōkua coverage | Important limit |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic | Available | Traffic case information before November 1995 is not available in eCourt Kōkua. |
| District Court criminal | Available | District Court criminal information before August 2012 is not available through the current system. |
| District and Circuit civil | Available | Older docket information and older document images may have different availability dates. |
| Family Court civil and criminal | Public portions | Confidential or legally restricted material is not public merely because a case category appears in the portal. |
| Land Court / Tax Appeal Court | Available | Older document images have a separate availability cutoff. |
| Intermediate Court of Appeals / Supreme Court | Available | Appellate case information before September 2010 is not available in eCourt Kōkua. |
| Juvenile, confidential or sealed cases | Not public online | These records are excluded from public eCourt Kōkua access. |
The Judiciary also warns that information shown online comes from official records but does not necessarily contain every item from the complete court file. Use the record-holding court when completeness matters.
Older Hawaiʻi Court Cases and Documents
A case can exist even when its document images are not available online. eCourt Kōkua has specific historical limits for some record types, and older material may need courthouse retrieval.
| Record type | Older online-document limit | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| District Court civil documents | Documents filed before October 7, 2019 are not available in eCourt Kōkua. | Contact the court holding the case. |
| Circuit Court civil documents | Documents filed before October 28, 2019 are not available online through eCourt Kōkua. | Use the circuit’s Legal Documents Branch or courthouse route. |
| Land Court / Tax Appeal Court documents | Documents filed before November 18, 2019 are not available in eCourt Kōkua. | Contact the appropriate First Circuit records office. |
| Family Court civil documents | Documents filed before April 25, 2022 are not available in eCourt Kōkua. | Contact the correct Family Court records office. |
How to Get Hawaiʻi Court Documents and Certified Copies
Basic case information is available without a search fee through eCourt Kōkua. Downloading the actual document is a separate transaction when a PDF icon is available.
| Access type | Current published amount | Practical point |
|---|---|---|
| Basic public case information | No charge | Use this to identify the case before buying documents. |
| Single online public document | $3 per document or 10¢ per page, whichever is greater | A document up to 30 pages is therefore generally $3. |
| Electronic certified copy | Regular document charge + $2 certification fee | For a document within the $3 minimum, an electronic certified copy is generally $5. |
| Quarterly document subscription | $125 | Designed for frequent downloads; purchases are non-refundable. |
| Yearly document subscription | $500 | Do not buy a subscription merely to access a case in which you are a party. |
| Courthouse public terminal | No charge to view on screen | Copying or certification can still involve fees. |
Do not buy a subscription if you are a party just to access your own case
The Judiciary directs parties and self-represented litigants to register for Judiciary Electronic Filing and Service System access when eligible. JEFS users can view and print available documents in their active cases without paying eCourt Kōkua document-subscription charges.
Paper or courthouse requests use a different workflow
The Hawaiʻi Court Records Rules request form asks for the party names, case number, case type, circuit and court or agency, plus whether you want inspection, a complete or partial copy, pickup or delivery. Because court-record fees can differ by request method and record type, confirm the current estimate with the record-holding office before sending payment.
Which Hawaiʻi Circuit Holds the Court Record?
The statewide portal reduces the need to guess a courthouse before searching, but the circuit still matters when you need a paper file, courthouse terminal, certified record or staff assistance.
| Judicial circuit | Area | Primary Circuit Court location | Published phone |
|---|---|---|---|
| First Circuit | Oʻahu | Kaʻahumanu Hale 777 Punchbowl Street, Honolulu, HI 96813 |
808-539-4767 |
| Second Circuit | Maui, Molokaʻi and Lānaʻi | Hoapili Hale 2145 Main Street, Wailuku, Maui, HI 96793 |
808-244-2706 |
| Third Circuit | Hawaiʻi Island | Hale Kaulike 777 Kīlauea Avenue, Hilo, HI 96720 |
808-961-7440 |
| Third Circuit — Kona | West Hawaiʻi | Keahuolū Courthouse 74-5451 Kamakaʻeha Avenue, Kailua-Kona, HI 96740 |
808-322-8700 |
| Fifth Circuit | Kauaʻi and Niʻihau | Puʻuhonua Kaulike 3970 Kāʻana Street, Līhuʻe, HI 96766 |
808-482-2300 |
| Appellate Courts | Statewide | Aliʻiōlani Hale 417 South King Street, Honolulu, HI 96813 |
808-539-4919 |
District and Family Court locations also operate throughout the islands. Use the Judiciary’s Court Locations and Addresses page when the case belongs to a local division rather than the primary Circuit Court building.
Checking an Upcoming Hawaiʻi Court Hearing
eCourt Kōkua includes a separate Upcoming Court Hearing function. You can search by Case ID or by court and location, which is often faster than reading every docket entry when your immediate question is when or where the next hearing is scheduled.
The court warns that hearing information can change. Use the official case record or current court information when confirming a time-sensitive appearance.
No Hawaiʻi Court Record Appears? Try This Recovery Order
Keep the required first and last name, but remove a guessed filing date or case type that may be excluding the correct result.
Use it when the name could have a different spelling but a similar pronunciation.
This can help when you have only part of a surname or are uncertain about the exact recorded spelling.
If court paperwork gives you a Case ID or citation number, use that identifier instead of continuing with a broad name search.
Very old traffic, District criminal and appellate cases fall outside the current portal’s stated case-information coverage dates.
The case may be searchable even though an older document image is unavailable online.
Juvenile, confidential and sealed matters are not available through the public eCourt Kōkua system.
Ask whether the case predates online coverage, requires an old Case ID conversion or must be retrieved through a legal documents office.
eCourt Kōkua Hours and Help
The Judiciary lists general help office hours as 7:45 a.m.–4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday except state holidays. Court-counter hours can differ, so check the specific courthouse before traveling.
Federal Court Records in Hawaiʻi Use PACER, Not eCourt Kōkua
The U.S. District Court for the District of Hawaii is a federal court, so its civil and criminal records are searched through PACER rather than the Hawaiʻi State Judiciary portal. PACER also covers federal bankruptcy and appellate court records.
If you know the federal court, PACER recommends searching that specific court directly. If you do not know which federal court handled the matter, use the nationwide PACER Case Locator.
Use Hawaiʻi Court Search Results Carefully
The Hawaiʻi Judiciary states that eCourt Kōkua information comes from official records but does not necessarily comprise every item from the public court file. Online access should therefore be treated as a search and verification tool, not as a guarantee that you have obtained the complete official record.
A name match is also not identity proof. Verify the Case ID, court, location, party role, filing date, case type and disposition before relying on a result.
For broader search methods, use the site’s Court Records Search by Name & Case Number guide. To understand the difference between an index, docket, filed document and certified copy, see Court Record Types Explained.
Hawaii Court Records FAQs
What is the official Hawaii court records search?
The Hawaiʻi State Judiciary’s primary public case-information system is eCourt Kōkua. It provides public access to traffic, District, Circuit and Family Court civil and criminal matters, Land Court, Tax Appeal Court and state appellate case information.
Can I search Hawaii court records by a person’s name?
Yes. In eCourt Kōkua Party Search, an individual name search requires both the first and last name. A middle name is optional, and the portal provides phonetic and partial-name search options when the exact spelling is uncertain.
Can I narrow a Hawaii name search by date or case type?
Yes. The current Name Search supports beginning and ending case-filing dates and a case-type filter. Use only reliable filters because an incorrect date or case category can remove the correct case from the result list.
Are Hawaii court case searches free?
Basic public case information in eCourt Kōkua can be viewed without charge. Purchasing an available court document is separate and generally costs $3 per document or 10 cents per page, whichever is greater.
How much is an electronically certified Hawaii court document?
The 2026 eCourt Kōkua manual states that electronic certification adds $2 per document to the normal document cost. A document within the $3 minimum document charge therefore generally costs $5 when purchased as an electronically certified copy.
Why is there no PDF icon beside a docket entry?
If the docket entry has no PDF icon, the document is not available for online purchase through eCourt Kōkua. The document may still be available from the court maintaining the case.
Why can’t I find an old Hawaii court case?
The current system has historical limits. Traffic information before November 1995, District Court criminal information before August 2012 and appellate information before September 2010 are not available in eCourt Kōkua. Very old migrated Case IDs may also need to be converted to the modern format.
Are juvenile or sealed Hawaii court cases searchable online?
No. The Judiciary’s current eCourt Kōkua guidance states that confidential, juvenile and sealed cases are not available through the public portal.
Where do I get a Hawaii court record that is not online?
Contact the court that maintains the case or use the Judiciary’s written court-record request process. Public-access terminals are also available at many courthouses for on-screen document review.
Do federal court cases in Hawaii appear in eCourt Kōkua?
No. Federal district, bankruptcy and federal appellate records use PACER. The U.S. District Court for the District of Hawaii is separate from the Hawaiʻi State Judiciary.
Official Sources Checked for This Hawaiʻi Court Records Guide
The search fields, coverage dates, document-access rules, fees, circuit locations and contact routes in this article were checked against current Hawaiʻi State Judiciary and federal PACER resources.
- Hawaiʻi State Judiciary — eCourt Kōkua
- eCourt Kōkua User Manual — May 2026
- Hawaiʻi Judiciary — Search Court Records
- Hawaiʻi Judiciary — Online Court Record Access
- Hawaiʻi Judiciary — Visit a Courthouse
- Hawaiʻi Judiciary — Written Record Requests
- Hawaiʻi Judiciary — Court Locations and Addresses
- Hawaiʻi Court Records Rules
- PACER — Find a Federal Case
eCourt Kōkua’s May 2026 interface and party-search fields, phonetic and partial matching, case categories, older-case limits, old Case ID formatting, document availability, online document and certification charges, subscription pricing, system hours, statewide circuit locations and federal PACER routing were reviewed against current official sources.
Portal behavior, courthouse operations, access rules and fees can change. The current Hawaiʻi Judiciary, record-holding court or federal court controls when its information differs from this guide.