Reviewed and updated October 9, 2026 by the SearchSystems.net editorial team. The arrest counts are the ones each agency reported to the FBI, as the FBI held them on October 8, 2026. Every office link was opened and checked against the office's own site between September 24, 2026 and October 4, 2026.
Hawaii County, Hawaii, has about 210,000 residents (2024 Census Bureau estimate). Its court cases are filed in the Circuit Court for Hawaii County and the District Court, and the file of each case, kept by the Legal Documents Branch of each circuit, is the public record of it. This guide says which court hears what, where to look a case up and who keeps the files.
This guide covers the courts, the records page, criminal cases, kinds of files and common questions.
Related guides: Hawaii County public records, Hawaii County arrest records, Hawaii County warrants, Hawaii County inmate search, Hawaii County criminal records, Hawaii arrest records and Hawaii inmate search.
The Courts That Hear Cases from Hawaii County
In Hawaii County, the Circuit Court for Hawaii County hears felonies, civil cases over $40,000 and probate.
Below it, the District Court takes misdemeanors, traffic cases, small claims and civil cases up to $40,000.
Divorces go to the Family Court, and the file stays with the Family Court.
The Legal Documents Branch of each circuit keeps the files, and a copy of anything in a file comes from that office, under the court's own rules rather than the Uniform Information Practices Act.
Looking Up a Case from Hawaii County
For Hawaii County, SearchSystems opened and checked the court records page for the county at courts.state.hi.us/legal_references/records/search_court_records (page title: Judiciary | Search Court Records), which answered when SearchSystems opened it on September 24, 2026.
Statewide, eCourt Kokua is the Hawaii State Judiciary's free statewide case search.
What Reaches the Court from Hawaii County
The Hawaii Police Department reported 6,036 arrests to the FBI for 2025; the Prosecuting Attorney decides which of those arrests become cases in the Circuit Court for Hawaii County or the District Court.
The Prosecuting Attorney's page SearchSystems verified is at hawaiicounty.gov/departments/prosecuting-attorney (page title: Office of the Prosecuting Attorney | Hawaii County, HI), phone (808) 961-0466, 655 Kilauea Avenue Hilo, HI 96720, which answered when SearchSystems opened it on September 24, 2026.
The Kinds of Court Files
Criminal cases, divorces, traffic tickets and evictions all end up as files of these courts, and the file is what the public sees of each.
The other Hawaii County guides take the kinds of file one at a time: Hawaii County criminal records, Hawaii County divorce records, Hawaii County DUI and Hawaii County property records.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I look up a court case in Hawaii County?
The court records page SearchSystems verified for the county is at courts.state.hi.us. Statewide, eCourt Kokua is the Hawaii State Judiciary's free statewide case search.
Which court hears felonies in Hawaii County?
The Circuit Court for Hawaii County, which hears felonies, civil cases over $40,000 and probate. The District Court takes misdemeanors, traffic cases, small claims and civil cases up to $40,000.
Who keeps the court records in Hawaii County?
The Legal Documents Branch of each circuit. Copies come from that office under the court's own rules.
Is there a statewide court case search in Hawaii?
Yes: eCourt Kokua, the Hawaii State Judiciary's free statewide case search.
Is this the official Hawaii County website?
No. SearchSystems.net is an independent public records guide, online since 1997. It links to the official county, court and state offices described above and does not hold records, charge for them or take requests.