Honolulu is a consolidated city-county that is located in the U.S. State of Hawaii. The county has an estimated population of up to 1 million, and the City of Honolulu serves as its county seat.

Courts in Honolulu County

Honolulu County has a Circuit Court with general jurisdiction over criminal and civil proceedings in the county. The Circuit Court also exclusively hears criminal felony cases, probate matters, guardianships, and civil actions in which the contested amount is more than $40,000. In addition, the Circuit Court oversees jury trials and non-jury civil cases involving monetary claims between $10,000 and $40,000. Among other cases, the Circuit Courts hear cases transferred from the District Courts for jury trials.

There are five District Courts serving Honolulu County residents. The courts hear cases involving traffic infractions and violations, crimes punishable by a year of incarceration or less, and probable cause hearings for felony cases. They also hear landlord-tenant disputes and small claims cases involving amounts up to $5,000.

Lastly, the Family Court in Honolulu County hears family law cases involving children, domestic relations, and domestic violence. These cases include juvenile delinquency, termination of parental rights, adoptions, guardianships, child abuse and neglect, restraining orders, civil commitment, and adult abuse matters.

Where to Find Public Court Records in Honolulu County

In Honolulu County, the Clerk of Court is the primary custodian of public court records. Most records maintained by the Clerk are open to the public to view or obtain copies. Individuals can submit requests to view or order court records at the Clerk’s office where the case was heard or by mail. Likewise, it is possible to search court records online and get access to basic case information.

Types of Public Court Records in Honolulu County

The Honolulu County court system maintains several types of court records that are accessible to the public, including:

• Criminal Court Records
• Family Court Records
• Civil Court Records
• Probate Court Records

Confidential Court Records in Honolulu County

Confidential court records in Honolulu County include documents, reports, and other case proceedings information that are restricted from public access by state laws. Courts in the county may also seal certain types of records to make them unavailable from public inspection. Unlike open court records, access to confidential court records may require authorization by the court.

Honolulu County classifies the following types of court records and information as confidential:

• Juvenile court records
• Family court records
• Medical records
• Records related to sexual assault cases
• Grand jury proceedings
• Sealed court records
• Name and birthdates of minors
• Financial information, including bank account numbers and credit or debit card numbers
• Social Security numbers

Juvenile Delinquency in Honolulu, HI

Unfortunately, in many areas of the Honolulu County, juvenile delinquency offenses are on the rise. There are many reasons for the inflation in youth offenders. The juvenile sentence in Hawaii often depends on the severity of the crime, the number of charges, and other family matters.

In 2017, a total of 1038 juvenile cases were reported for every 100,000 people age 10 to adulthood in the jurisdiction of Honolulu County. Of that total, 89% of those proceedings were delinquencies which equaled 920 court cases. Another 0% were dependency cases that accounted for 0 of the juvenile cases.

A lot of counties, including, Honolulu County, are focusing on family counseling and relationships rather than punishment for juvenile crimes. Future Honolulu County juvenile delinquency tallies will show whether or not this approach is working.

Government of Honolulu County, HI

https://hawaii.gov/

County Seat:	Honolulu
Government Type:	City-County Consolidation
Authority:	Home Rule
Year Organized:	1905
Total Square Miles:	2,128
2019 Population:	988,650
Persons/Square Mile:	0.00

Honolulu County, HI Courts