Searching Hawaii County: what to expect
Hawaii County runs a real online records operation — 8 of the sources below are the county's own, alongside the statewide systems. Court cases are the easy part: Hawaii's statewide search covers Hawaii County filings, so start at the Hawaii court records page instead of hunting for a local docket. The county's own strong points: planning.hawaiicounty.gov covers parcel and property-tax data, and vitrec.ehawaii.gov handles local vital-records requests. The county posts nothing for criminal records, so that search runs through the statewide sources on our Hawaii criminal records page.
SearchSystems Editorial
Edited by SearchSystems Editorial Team — verified against official government sources. About our editorial process.
Last reviewed: June 04, 2026 · Methodology: all Hawaii County record-source URLs verified against the official local and Hawaii state publishers on the review date. 3 primary .gov / official sources cited below.
Hawaii County — Key Numbers (2026)
Population, demographics, and county-seat data for Hawaii County, Hawaii — verified against U.S. Census 2024 estimates.
209,790
Population
Census estimate
72,468
Households
Census estimate
$74,238
Median income
Annual household
$454,900
Median home value
Census ACS
Hilo
County seat
In Hawaii
Criminal records
see state portal
Court records
see state portal
Wants & warrants
see state portal
Property records
7 sources
Vital records
1 source
Voter records
see state portal
Professional licenses
see state portal
Recorded documents
see state portal
Count of verified official sources per record type. Multiple sources One source Use state portal
Hawaii County Records at a Glance
| Record type | Hawaii County verified sources |
|---|---|
| Court records | Judiciary |
| Criminal records | |
| Wants & warrants | |
| Property records | Honolulu Property Tax Tax Maps (TMK Maps) | Hawaii County, HI Planning |
| Vital records | Hawaii.gov | The Official Website of the Aloha State |
| Voter records | State of Hawaii : Office of Elections Online Voter Registration |
| Professional licenses | Hawaii Camping Reservation - Reservations |
| Recorded documents | Online Services | Bureau of Conveyances Subdivision Maps Hawaii County, HI | Home |
Count of officially verified .gov / .us record sources cataloged for Hawaii County. Sources reviewed June 04, 2026.
What Changed in 2026 — Hawaii County Records
2026
Hawaii County property records online
Hawaii County property assessment and recorder office online portal active in 2026.
2026
FBI Identity History Summary (federal complement)
For records that may exist outside Hawaii, the FBI Identity History Summary at fbi.gov complements all county-level state records.
The 4-Step Hawaii County Records Pathway
1
Step 1 — Start at the Hawaii County clerk/courthouse
For most local records (court cases, property deeds, marriage licenses), the Hawaii County clerk's office is the first stop.
2
Step 2 — Use the Hawaii statewide systems
Criminal background, court case search, voter registration, and professional licensing are all run at the Hawaii state level — not by the county.
3
Step 3 — Federal sources for federal records
Federal court cases (PACER), federal tax liens (IRS), military records (NPRC), and immigration data (ICE) are all federal — not held by the county.
4
Step 4 — Cross-check before relying on data
Most county portals lag 24-48 hours behind the courthouse. For time-sensitive verification, call the clerk directly.
Five Things People Get Wrong About Hawaii County Records
MYTH"Hawaii County maintains all criminal records."
FACTCriminal records for Hawaii County are held by the Hawaii state repository, NOT the county. The county sheriff has only the local arrest log.
MYTH"Records sealed in Hawaii County are gone everywhere."
FACTSealing removes records from public search but they still exist at the courthouse and may appear in FBI records (Identity History Summary).
MYTH"Free 'instant background' sites have Hawaii County data."
FACTOnly the official Hawaii state repository has verified, current Hawaii County data. Free sites often have stale data.
MYTH"The Hawaii County assessor's value is what I'll sell my home for."
FACTThe Hawaii County assessor's value is for property tax purposes only — usually below market value.
MYTH"All county records older than 50 years are public."
FACTPartially false. Public-records rules vary by record type AND state. Court records and deeds are usually older-public; vital records remain restricted longer (often 75-125 years).
Primary Sources and Official Record Portals
- realproperty.honolulu.gov — Property records — official source
- vitrec.ehawaii.gov — Vital records — official source
- fbi.gov — FBI Identity History Summary (federal record)
Related — Hawaii County & Hawaii Records
For records not specific to Hawaii County, use Hawaii's statewide system or the national hub.
📍 Hawaii statewide record systems:
- Hawaii Court Records →
- Hawaii Criminal Records →
- Hawaii Property Records →
- Hawaii Vital Records →
- Hawaii Voter Records →
- Hawaii Wants & Warrants →
- Hawaii Licenses →
- Hawaii Recorded Documents →
🇺🇸 National hubs:
Related Public Records
Hawaii statewide records: Court records · Criminal records · Wants & warrants · Property records · Vital records · Voter records · Licenses · Recorded docs
National directories: Court records · Criminal records · Property records · Vital records · Federal databases
The searches people actually run in Hawaii County:
About Hawaii County, Hawaii
Hawaii County is located in Hawaii. The county seat is Hilo.
- Population: 209,790
- Households: 72,468
- Median household income: $74,238
- Median home value: $454,900
- Below poverty line: 14.1%
- Land area: 4,028.4 sq mi
- Population density: 52.1 people / sq mi
- Public libraries indexed: 12
- NCES schools indexed: 55
Honolulu Property Tax
Official Free
Assessment and tax records covering Hawaii County are published through this system. If a link breaks, the office homepage at realproperty.honolulu.gov carries the new path.
Tax Maps (TMK Maps) | Hawaii County, HI Planning
Official Free
If you wish to have your property rezoned, you\u0027ll need to apply to the Planning Commission. GO The maps are sorted by Zone and Section. For further assistance, please contact the Planning Department at planning@hawaiicounty.gov.
County of Hawai`i - Online Real Property Tax Payments
Official Free
Thank you for using County of Hawaii's online payment service. Service fees associated with online payments will be passed on to you in the form of an additional fee by the online vendor. The fee will be disclosed to you when you confirm the payment. Service fees apply to each online property tax.
Maui County Real Property Assessment Division
Official Free
The Maui Real Property Tax website was designed to provide quick and easy access to real property tax assessment records and maps for properties located in the County of Maui and related general information about real property tax procedures · Please note: The confirmation of payment is only.
Public Documents & Council Records User Instructions | Hawaii County, HI
Official Free
County of Hawai‘i public documents such as agendas/minutes, forms, maps, and much more, can be found in the County of Hawai‘i online records archive. The archive is powered by Laserfiche Weblink and can be accessed by clicking on any document link on the County website.
ArcGIS Web Application
Official Free
Parcel and valuation data for Hawaii County — ownership, assessed values, and property characteristics. It sits outside government; official offices remain the record of authority.
Hawaii County Sand Pile Locations
Official Free
FLOODING RAIN IN FORECAST - Hawaiʻi County Sand Pile Locations | Bring shovels and bags to fill sandbags.
County of Hawaiʻi Real Property Tax Office
Official Free
View the University of Hawaii, Seeds of Wellbeing podcast with Jim Crum and Real Property Tax staff on County of Hawaii Ag Property Tax Changes specifically at the.
Hawaii.gov | The Official Website of the Aloha State
Official Free
Vital records information for Hawaii County, Hawaii. The names, dates, and places here are usually enough to locate the official record. Certified copies come only from the vital records office under eligibility rules; indexes like this confirm the event and date.
Vital Records - State of Hawaii, Department of Health
Official Free
Vital records information for Hawaii. Genealogists lean on these because the certificate itself often stays restricted for decades. Death records typically open to the public sooner than birth records — most states stagger access.
Judiciary
Official Free
Court case information for Hawaii. Hearing calendars on the same system show what is coming up, not just what happened. The docket is the official chronology; news accounts and third-party sites derive from it.
State of Hawaii : Office of Elections Online Voter Registration
Official Free
If you do not have a Hawaii Driver License or Hawaii State ID, complete the paper Voter Registration application, and submit it to your County Elections Division
Hawaii Camping Reservation - Reservations
Official Free
Online reservation and permitting system for the State of Hawaii, Department of Land and Natural Resources. Statewide camping reservations for Division of State Parks and Division of Forestry and Wildlife.
Online Services | Bureau of Conveyances
Official Free
for the new document ordering system. **************************************************************************** All users are required to create an user account to access the Document Search & Ordering system. Once registered you may search […]
Subdivision Maps
Official Free
Official Hawaii County, Hawaii government source (www.planning.hawaiicounty.gov).
Death Certificates | Vital Records
Official Free
Birth, death, and marriage record requests for Hawaii County route through this office. If a link breaks, the office homepage at health.hawaii.gov carries the new path.
SEC.gov | Search Filings
Business, Voter & Other
.gov
EDGAR, the SEC's filing database. Annual reports, ownership filings, and registration statements for every public company — free, federal, and searchable by company name or ticker.
Building Plans
Official Free
Find registration statements, periodic reports, and other forms by typing the name or ticker symbol of a company (CIK lookup info) (confidential treatment orders) (SEC correspondence with issuers) Some specific ways to access filings based on time, type, or other categories. Find keywords and phrases in more than 20 years of EDGAR filings, and filter by date, company, person, filing category, or location.
ASHLEY L. KIERKIEWICZ Chair and Presiding Officer REBECCA VILLEGAS Vice Chair
Official Free
Agendas and agenda items are available on the County website at www.hawaiicounty.gov. Click on · Council Records to navigate to current agendas. For any questions, please contact Council Services at agenda item (communication, bill, resolution, or report number), and number of testifiers
Frequently Asked Questions
Where do I find Hawaii County property records?
Hawaii County property records are maintained by the Bureau of Conveyances (state-level), which records deeds, mortgages, and liens. Search the Honolulu Property Tax portal directly: https://realproperty.honolulu.gov/.
Can my employer see a sealed record in Hawaii?
Generally, most private employers running a standard name-based check cannot see a sealed Hawaii record. However, government employers, law enforcement, schools, healthcare facilities, and any role requiring a fingerprint-based check can see sealed records under specific statutory exemptions. Confirm specifics with the sealing court.
What's the difference between sealing and expunging a record in Hawaii?
In Hawaii, a sealed record is hidden from public view but still exists and remains visible to law enforcement, licensing boards, and some employers. An expunged record is treated by Hawaii law as if it never happened — though FBI and federal records may persist regardless of state action. The relief process runs through the sentencing court.
Are Hawaii County records free to search?
Yes — every link on this page goes to an official government source. Basic searches are free. Certified copies and formal background checks carry the standard government fee.