Court records of Kauai County, Hawaii, are available through several channels. KauaiCourt.us allows searching for publicly accessible information about court cases on the island. Additionally, records can be found through the official online resources of the state court system, directly at the Fifth Circuit Court Clerk's Office, or at public terminals in the courthouse in Lihue.
Kauai Court System & Jurisdictions
Kauai is part of the Fifth Judicial Circuit of Hawaii. It is the only judicial complex on the island, and it combines several levels of jurisdiction under one roof.
Circuit Court handles serious cases:
- Felony criminal cases
- Civil lawsuits over $40,000
- Probate cases (the judicial process of distributing a deceased person's estate)
- Appeals from District Court
District Court deals with everyday cases — misdemeanors, minor offenses, civil lawsuits up to $40,000, and eviction cases. This is where small claims (Small Claims) lawsuits up to $5,000 are also heard.
Traffic violations are also handled by the District Court. Fines for speeding, running a red light, and other traffic violations all go here.
Family Court covers cases involving family and minors: divorces, child custody, adoptions, protective orders, and cases involving juvenile offenders. Family Court forms for the Fifth Circuit are available on the court system's website.
Court contact information:
Kauai Court Calendar & Upcoming Hearings
The schedule of hearings for today, tomorrow, or the current week can be checked through the eCourt Kokua system. This online platform provides access to information about Traffic Court, District Court, Circuit Court, and Family Court (adult criminal cases).
How to find the schedule:
- Go to the eCourt Kokua page
- Select a search by case number, party name, or hearing date
- Choose the Fifth Circuit (Kauai) as the location
Note: Data in eCourt Kokua comes from official records but does not contain all the information available directly at the clerk's office. Some family and juvenile cases are not displayed in the system due to privacy restrictions.
If you need the exact time of a hearing or courtroom, call the clerk's office directly at (808) 482–2322.
How to Get a Copy of a Kauai Court Document
Copies of court documents come in two types — certified and regular. A certified copy has the court's official seal and confirms the document's authenticity; it is needed for legal procedures, submissions to other authorities, or immigration cases. A regular copy is suitable for personal reference.
Online: Through eCourt Kokua, you can view basic case information and some documents (marked with a PDF icon). For full access or obtaining certified copies, you need to contact the clerk's office.
In person: Visit the Circuit Court or District Court clerk's office in the courthouse in Lihue. You will need the case number or the full name of the party and the approximate filing date.
By mail: Send a written request specifying the case number, type of document, and contact information to the court's address:
Include a check or money order for the appropriate amount for copying and certification. The clerk's office processes requests in the order received.
To obtain divorce records as vital records, contact the Office of Health Status Monitoring of the Hawaii Department of Health. Phone for Kauai: (808) 241-3498.
A convicted person's criminal history can be checked separately through the eCrim system, which displays conviction information from the Hawaii Criminal Justice Data Center files.
Kauai Court Records Fees & Payment
Fees for court documents are set by the rules of the Hawaii state court system. Below are the main rates typically applied in the Fifth Circuit:
| Service | Cost |
|---|---|
| Court record search (by name) | $1.00 per name |
| Regular document copy | $0.25 per page |
| Document certification | $2.00 per document |
| Criminal history check through HCJDC | From $10.00 (online via eCrim) |
| Subscription to eCourt Kokua (public access) | $50.00/month + $3.00 per document |
Payment at the clerk's office is accepted in cash, check, or money order payable to "Clerk of the Fifth Circuit Court." For online services, such as eCrim, credit and debit cards are accepted.
Confirm current rates directly with the clerk's office, as fees may change according to administrative orders of the Hawaii court system. Some documents, particularly from family or juvenile cases, have restricted access and are not issued without appropriate court permission.