Kalawao County Family Court Records

Kalawao County family court records are handled through the Maui Second Circuit Court in Wailuku, since Kalawao has no courthouse of its own. This page explains how residents of the Kalaupapa peninsula can access family court records and what to expect when filing or requesting documents through the Second Circuit.

How Kalawao County Family Court Works

Kalawao County is the smallest county by population in the United States. It sits on the Makanalua Peninsula on the north coast of Molokai and had just 88 residents as of the 2020 census. The county seat is Kalaupapa. Because of its tiny size and remote location, Kalawao has no dedicated courthouse, no court staff, and no local legal documents office.

All Kalawao County court matters are assigned to the Second Circuit, which is based in Wailuku on Maui. This means any family court case with a Kalawao County connection, divorce, child custody, adoption, TRO, guardianship, is filed, heard, and recorded at the Hoapili Hale courthouse. Family court records for Kalawao are physically held and maintained in Wailuku, not in Kalaupapa.

Residents of Kalaupapa who need to appear in family court must travel to Maui or arrange remote participation. The Second Circuit does accommodate telephonic or video appearances in certain case types. Contact the family court directly to ask about remote options if travel is not possible.

When you contact the Second Circuit about a Kalawao County family court record, be clear that the case involves a Kalawao County filing. Staff will look in the same Second Circuit case system used for all Maui County cases, since Kalawao records are part of that same database. There is no separate Kalawao index.

Search Kalawao Family Court Records Online

The Hawaii Judiciary's eCourt Kokua is the official free search tool for all Hawaii court cases, including those filed through the Second Circuit for Kalawao County residents. Search by party name or case number. Basic case information is available at no cost without a login.

Ho'ohiki covers Second Circuit Family Court civil cases from 1983 to the present. Since Kalawao cases are part of the Second Circuit, they are indexed in Ho'ohiki the same as Maui cases. Search by full name or case ID. Sealed adoption files and confidential juvenile cases will not appear in either system.

Requesting Kalawao County Family Court Records

All requests for Kalawao County family court records go to the Second Circuit Legal Documents Branch at Hoapili Hale. The address is Room 106, 2145 Main Street, Wailuku, Maui 96793-1679. Phone (808) 244-2969, fax (808) 244-2932. Counter hours are 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.

In-person requests are processed during business hours. Bring a valid ID and the case number if you have it. Free in-person record inspection is guaranteed under HRS §92F-11. If you need printed copies, the fee is $1 per page. Certified copies cost an additional $2 per document under Hawaii Court Rules Rule 10.2.

Mail requests are available for Kalawao County residents who cannot travel to Wailuku. Write to the Legal Documents Branch with the case details you are requesting. Do not send payment with your initial request. The court will invoice you after locating the file. Pay by money order or cashier's check. Allow 10 to 15 business days plus mail delivery time.

Online access is available at no charge through eCourt Kokua and Ho'ohiki for basic case data. Downloading full documents online costs $3 per document through the Hawaii Judiciary's eCourt system. Records created from 1905 onward are in the Second Circuit system. Older historical records may be at the Hawaii State Archives in Honolulu.

Types of Kalawao Family Court Records

The Second Circuit Family Court creates and holds all family court records for Kalawao County. The types of records are the same as those filed by Maui County residents, since they are processed through the same court system. Divorce filings are public records and include the petition, financial disclosures, and the final decree.

Child custody orders, visitation plans, and child support enforcement records are generally open to the public. Paternity and parentage filings are accessible to anyone who requests them. Domestic violence TRO petitions and final protection orders are public records. Guardianship filings for minors and adults are also public unless sealed by court order.

Adoption records are sealed by statute in Hawaii. Juvenile dependency and delinquency records are confidential and require a court order to access. Mental health records filed through family court carry additional privacy protections. For any sealed or restricted record category, you will need to file a motion with the Second Circuit to request access.

Kalawao County records date back to 1905, when the county was established as a leprosy settlement at Kalaupapa. Older records from before 1970 may be held at the Hawaii State Archives in Honolulu rather than at the Wailuku courthouse. Contact the archives for pre-1970 research involving Kalawao residents.

Forms and Self-Help Resources for Kalawao

Kalawao County residents use the same forms as Maui County filers. All Second Circuit family court forms are available on the Hawaii Judiciary website. The Maui family court forms page is the correct source for Kalawao County cases since they are filed through the Second Circuit. Forms cover divorce, TRO petitions, custody and visitation, adoption, guardianship, and parentage. Download from the official site to get the current Rule 9-compliant version.

The Hawaii Judiciary Self-Help Center page lists resources available statewide including tools for people who represent themselves in family court. Kalawao residents who cannot travel to Maui for self-help sessions should call the Maui Self-Help Center at (808) 463-1360 to ask about phone assistance. The center meets on Thursdays from 9 a.m. to noon at Hoapili Hale, and staff may be able to help by phone.

Kalawao residents filing family court cases through the Second Circuit can use statewide self-help resources and forms available on the Hawaii Judiciary website.

Legal Framework for Kalawao Records

Kalawao County falls under the jurisdiction of the Second Circuit for all court matters. Family court authority is set by HRS Chapter 571, which defines what cases Hawaii family courts may hear. Since Kalawao is part of the Second Circuit, the same statute and procedural rules that apply to Maui cases also apply to Kalawao.

Public access to court records follows HRS Chapter 92F, the Uniform Information Practices Act. Under HRS §92F-11, the government must respond to record requests within 10 business days. The right to free in-person record inspection is guaranteed. Fees apply only when you request copies. Courts also follow the Hawaii Rules of the Courts of Record for copy requests, certified document procedures, and name search fees.

Kalawao County was established in 1905 as a leprosy settlement on the Makanalua Peninsula. It is now home to the Kalaupapa National Historical Park. The county includes the unincorporated communities of Kalaupapa, Kalawao, Makanalua, and Waikolu. Despite its unique status, residents have the same rights to access family court records as anyone else in the state.

Legal Help for Kalawao County Residents

Kalawao residents use the same resources as Maui County residents. Kids First at the Second Circuit is available at (808) 244-2770. This program supports parents and children going through custody and family court matters. The Maui Children's Justice Center is at 1773-A Willi Pa Loop, Wailuku, phone (808) 244-7926.

Legal Navigator Hawaii (legalnavigatorhawaii.org) is the best starting point for Kalawao residents who need legal help with family court matters. The site connects users with legal aid organizations, self-help forms, and attorney referrals for all Hawaii counties. The Legal Aid Society of Hawaii serves the entire state and can assist with family court cases for those who qualify financially.

The Maui Law Library at Room 207, Hoapili Hale, Wailuku, phone (808) 244-2959, is open Monday through Friday 7:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Since all Kalawao court matters go through Hoapili Hale, this library is the appropriate resource for legal research on Kalawao County family court cases.

For any ADA accommodation request at Second Circuit, call (808) 244-2855 for district or family court matters, or email adarequest@courts.hawaii.gov. Given Kalawao's remote location and small population, advance planning for hearings and record visits is strongly recommended.

Cities in Kalawao County

Kalawao County has no incorporated cities and no communities that meet the population threshold for dedicated family court records pages. The unincorporated communities of Kalaupapa, Kalawao, Makanalua, and Waikolu are all served through the Second Circuit Court in Wailuku, Maui.

Nearby Counties

All Hawaii counties maintain family court records through their respective circuit courts. Kalawao County shares the Second Circuit with Maui County.