How to Find Someone in Custody in Hawaii

Finding someone in custody in Hawaii means knowing which system holds them: the Hawaii Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation for state sentences, the county jail for pretrial and short stays, or the federal Bureau of Prisons. All three have free official lookups — this page collects them.

  • State custody: Hawaii Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation posts custody status through VINELink, the national victim-notification network — search by name, and register for release alerts while you're there.
  • County jails: a handful of Hawaii counties post rosters online (linked below); for the rest, the sheriff's office answers custody questions by phone.
  • Federal custody: the Bureau of Prisons locator (bop.gov) covers federal defendants and anyone sentenced in US District Court — a separate population people forget to check.
  • Stay notified: VINELink sends automatic alerts when someone's custody status changes — transfer, release, or escape — in nearly every state.

Hawaii posts custody status through VINE; the islands' facilities are state-run, with no county jail layer. Content reviewed July 29, 2026 by the SearchSystems editorial team.

Official Hawaii Custody Lookups

VINELink — Hawaii Custody Alerts
Official Free
Search custody status and register for automatic notification when someone is moved or released. Free, run for victims but open to anyone. This is the primary online custody check for Hawaii.
🌐 vinelink.com
Federal Bureau of Prisons — Inmate Locator
Official Free
Everyone in federal custody since 1982, searchable by name or register number. Covers federal sentences, which no state system lists.
🌐 bop.gov

Hawaii Counties With Online Jail Rosters

These counties publish their own booking or in-custody lists — click through for each county records page.

Honolulu Maui

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Hawaii inmate locator free?
Yes. Every official source on this page is free to search. Sites that charge for 'inmate reports' are reselling public data.
Why can't I find someone arrested yesterday?
Fresh arrests appear in the county jail's booking system first, sometimes hours later. State locators only list people after sentencing and transfer to state custody.
Does a locator listing mean the person was convicted?
No. Jail rosters include people awaiting trial who are presumed innocent. Check the court docket for the case outcome.
How do I send money or arrange a visit?
Each facility sets its own rules — the Hawaii Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation site covers state facilities, and each county sheriff posts local jail policies.

Related Hawaii Records

Custody is one piece: the Hawaii criminal records page covers official background checks, wants & warrants lists who's being looked for, and Hawaii court records hold the cases behind every custody entry.