About Public Records in Hawaii

• General Jurisdiction / Upper Courts


• Circuit and Family Courts - 4 circuits. These courts handle the following case types:
• Civil - all civil for claims over $10,000.
• Domestic relations.
• Criminal felony, drunk driving and misdemeanor.
• Traffic.
• Juvenile.


• Limited Jurisdiction / Lower Courts


• District Courts - 4 circuits. These courts handle the following case types:
• Criminal felony, drunk driving and misdemeanor.
• Civil - all civil for claims under $10,000.
• Small claims to $3,500.
• Preliminary hearings.

Hawaii real property tax records are kept by the Real Property Assessment Office in each county.
 

Hawaii deeds and general document recording are handled by the Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources. Records kept include deeds, mortgage documents, easements, powers of attorney, and liens.

Vital records (birth, death, marriage, and divorce certificates) for events that occurred in Hawaii are received and preserved by the Office of Health Status Monitoring , a unit of the Department of Health (DOH). In Hawaii, access to vital records is restricted by statute (HRS §338-18). Certified copies of these records may be issued to authorized individuals and used for such diverse purposes as school entry, passports, Social Security participation, driver's licenses, employment, sports participation, survivor's benefits, proof of property rights, and other needs.