Honolulu County Family Court Records
Honolulu County family court records are filed and maintained by the First Circuit Court, which serves the island of Oahu and handles all family matters including divorce, child custody, adoption, and domestic violence cases. This guide covers how to search, request, and access those records in person or online.
Honolulu County Overview
Note: The Honolulu County Family Court is located at the Ronald T.Y. Moon Kapolei Courthouse in Kapolei, not at the downtown circuit court building. TROs may also be filed at 777 Punchbowl Street.
Honolulu County Family Court
The First Circuit Family Court handles all family law matters for Honolulu County residents. The main family court sits at the Ronald T.Y. Moon Kapolei Courthouse. This is a separate location from the circuit court downtown. If you go to the wrong building, staff will direct you, but it adds time to your trip.
| Office | First Circuit Family Court |
|---|---|
| Address | Ronald T.Y. Moon Kapolei Courthouse, 4675 Kapolei Parkway, Kapolei, HI 96707 |
| Phone | (808) 954-8000 |
| Legal Documents | (808) 954-8310 |
| Hours | Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. (closed state holidays) |
| HoohikiHelp@courts.hawaii.gov | |
| Website | courts.state.hi.us |
The downtown circuit court at Ka'ahumanu Hale (777 Punchbowl Street, Honolulu, HI 96813, phone 808-539-4767) handles circuit-level civil and criminal matters. District courts are spread across Oahu at Kauikeaouli Hale in downtown Honolulu, Pearl City, Kaneohe, Wahiawa, and Waianae. Each location has its own counter hours and public access terminals. If you need records tied to a specific district, contact that branch directly.
For temporary restraining orders, you can file at either the Kapolei Courthouse or at 777 Punchbowl Street downtown. Both locations accept TRO petitions. The Court Service Center (Ho'okele) at Kapolei can be reached at (808) 954-8290 and assists people who need help with forms and filing procedures.
The Legal Navigator Hawaii resource page for First Circuit Family Court lists contact information, services, and how to reach self-help staff. It is a good first stop if you are not sure which office handles your matter.
Legal Navigator Hawaii lists First Circuit Family Court contact details and self-help resources for Oahu residents.
This resource page is updated by Legal Navigator Hawaii and includes links to forms, self-help staff, and courthouse addresses for Honolulu County family court matters.
Search Honolulu Family Court Records Online
Two main tools let you search Honolulu County family court records from home. eCourt Kokua is the Hawaii Judiciary's free public search portal. It shows basic case info such as case number, party names, filing dates, and hearing status. No account is needed. You can search by name or case number. Results cover most active and recent cases.
Ho'ohiki covers Family Court civil cases from 1983 to the present. It is the better tool when you are looking for older divorce or custody filings. You can reach it through the same judiciary website. Search by full name or case ID. Not all case types appear, adoption records and some dependency matters are sealed by law and will not show up in either system.
Accessing Records in Honolulu County
In-person requests are processed the same day in most cases. Bring a valid ID and know your case number if possible. If you do not have the case number, staff can run a name search for a $5 fee. Archived records may take additional time to pull. The Legal Documents Branch at Kapolei handles most family court file requests: (808) 954-8310, fax 808-954-8333.
Public access terminals are available at several Oahu locations. Ka'ahumanu Hale (downtown circuit court, 777 Punchbowl Street) has terminals open 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on a first-come, first-served basis. Kauikeaouli Hale (district court, 1111 Alakea Street) has terminals from 7:45 a.m. to 4 p.m., call 808-538-5629 before going. Kaneohe District Court (45-939 Pookela Street) has a terminal in the main entrance lobby from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wahiawa District Court (1034 Kilani Avenue) has a lobby terminal with the same hours.
Copy fees follow HRS §607-5: $1.00 to $10 per page for in-person copies, plus $10 for expedited requests. Online document downloads cost $3 per document (covering 1 to 30 pages). Certified copies add $2 to the base copy fee. If you need a name search because you do not have a case number, the fee is $5.
The Hawaii Judiciary lists all public terminal locations and hours for First Circuit and appellate court case files on Oahu.
Public terminals at Oahu courthouses let you review Honolulu County family court case files at no cost during business hours.
Types of Family Court Records in Honolulu
The First Circuit Family Court creates and stores several categories of records. Each type has different access rules.
Divorce records are public and include the complaint, answer, financial disclosure forms, and the final decree. These are open to anyone who requests them. Child custody and visitation orders are also generally public, though exhibits containing sensitive personal details about minors may be restricted. Adoption records are sealed by default under Hawaii law and are not available to the general public without a court order. Paternity filings and child support enforcement cases are public. Domestic violence TRO filings are public records, the petition, temporary order, and any final order can all be obtained.
Juvenile dependency and delinquency records are confidential. These cases are heard in family court but kept sealed to protect minors. Guardianship records for minors or adults are generally public unless the court orders otherwise. Mental health commitment records filed through family court carry privacy protections.
Per the Uniform Information Practices Act (UIPA), most family court records are public. Exceptions apply to adoption, sealed dependency cases, and any record the court has specifically ordered closed. When in doubt, ask the Legal Documents Branch clerk what access applies to your specific case type.
Honolulu Family Court Forms
All required forms are available through the Hawaii Judiciary website. The First Circuit family court forms page organizes forms by case type. All forms must comply with Rule 9 format requirements, which took effect September 1, 2012. Older forms downloaded before that date may not be accepted.
Key divorce forms include the Uncontested Divorce Checklist, Complaint for Divorce (1F-P-2039), Answer to Complaint (1F-P-1071), Matrimonial Action Information (1F-P-082), Income and Expense Statement (1F-P-081), and Asset and Debt Statement (1F-P-063). For TROs, use the Petition for Order for Protection (1F-P-752a) and the Proposed Temporary Restraining Order (1F-P-750). The Petition for Adoption form number is 1F-P-2024. Guardianship, paternity, and name change forms are also on the same page.
The Hawaii Judiciary First Circuit forms page lists all Honolulu family court forms by case type, including divorce, TRO, and adoption.
Download current Honolulu County family court forms directly from the Hawaii Judiciary website to make sure you are using Rule 9-compliant versions.
Legal Framework for Honolulu Records
Family court jurisdiction in Hawaii is set by HRS Chapter 571. This statute defines what types of cases the family court can hear, including divorce, child custody, adoption, paternity, guardianship, and domestic violence matters. Courts in all circuits follow the same statutory framework, though local rules vary.
Public access to court records is governed by HRS Chapter 92F, the Uniform Information Practices Act. Under HRS §92F-11, any person may request government records and the agency must respond within 10 business days. Courts are subject to their own access rules as well, and the Hawaii Rules of the Courts of Record set procedures for requesting copies and certifying documents.
Copy fees are set under HRS §607-5. The law caps per-page fees and governs what courts may charge for certified copies, name searches, and expedited processing. Online document fees ($3 per download) follow Hawaii Judiciary administrative rules.
Legal Help in Honolulu County
The First Circuit Family Court has a Family Court Access to Justice Room at the Kapolei Courthouse. This room offers free legal consultations with Family Law attorneys on a walk-in basis. No appointment is needed. Hours vary, so call the Court Service Center at (808) 954-8290 before going.
Kids First is a family court program that helps parents and children navigate custody and visitation. Call (808) 954-8280 at the Kapolei Courthouse. The program provides co-parenting education and resources to reduce conflict in family proceedings.
Legal Navigator Hawaii (legalnavigatorhawaii.org) connects Oahu residents with legal aid, self-help forms, and referrals to low-cost attorneys. The Hawaii State Bar Association Lawyer Referral Service can also match you with a family law attorney. If you cannot afford an attorney, the Legal Aid Society of Hawaii serves Oahu residents with civil legal matters including family court cases.
Cities in Honolulu County
Honolulu County covers the entire island of Oahu. The following communities have dedicated family court records pages.
Nearby Counties
Other Hawaii counties also maintain family court records through their respective circuit courts.