Hawaii Criminal Records Search: Cases & Public Records

Hawaiʻi does not put every criminal record into one public database

A person can have information in several government systems at the same time. The correct search depends on whether you want a conviction check, an active or historical court case, a full personal arrest record, custody status or another record type.

Use eCrim for Hawaiʻi adult conviction information

The Hawaii Criminal Justice Data Center, a division of the State Department of the Attorney General, operates the Adult Criminal Conviction Information service, commonly called eCrim.

eCrim is a name-based search of Hawaiʻi adult public criminal-history information. HCJDC describes its criminal-history check as a “Police Clearance” or “Police Abstract” in some contexts.

What eCrim can show

HCJDC says arrest records that resulted in convictions are public and may be available through eCrim. Certain acquittals or dismissals based on physical or mental disease, disorder or defect under Hawaiʻi law can also fall within public criminal-history information.

How to search eCrim without wasting a paid search

Current Hawaiʻi criminal-history record fees

Fees and payment rules can change. In-office HCJDC payments currently accept credit, debit, Apple Pay, money order or cashier’s check; electronic payments incur the service fee stated by HCJDC. Cash is not accepted.

You can also obtain public conviction information in person across the islands

HCJDC maintains public-access locations where conviction-related arrest records can be searched. The current printout fee is $25. Call before visiting because local office hours can differ.

What the public HCJDC search does not show

Hawaiʻi places an important restriction on the public criminal-history system. HCJDC says non-conviction arrest information and pending arrest information are confidential and are not released through the general public criminal-history search.

Use Access & Review when you need your own full Hawaiʻi arrest record

HCJDC gives individuals the right to inspect their own Hawaiʻi criminal-history record and challenge its completeness or accuracy.

The process is called Access & Review and requires fingerprints. This matters because Hawaiʻi’s criminal-history files are supported by fingerprints, while names and other demographic identifiers can be reused, misspelled or given falsely.

Why a fingerprint check is more reliable than a name search

HCJDC explains that fingerprint comparison is the reliable method for confirming whether criminal-history information belongs to a particular person.

A name check can be useful for public research, but people can share names, use aliases, change surnames or provide incorrect identifying information during an arrest.

HCJDC currently provides fingerprint-based background checks for Hawaiʻi only. The current in-office fee is $55 and fingerprint services are by appointment. By-mail fingerprint checks are currently $35, plus any fingerprinting charge imposed by the agency that takes the prints.

What to do if someone else’s arrest appears under your name or Social Security number

HCJDC has a dedicated Wrongful Use of Name / Social Security Number procedure. This is different from simply disputing a misspelling.

HCJDC requires fingerprints so it can determine whether the arrest record actually belongs to you. The in-person process also requires a valid photo ID and the original Social Security card when the dispute involves wrongful use of your Social Security number.

Call the Criminal History Record Checks Unit at (808) 587-3279 before visiting.

Use eCourt Kōkua to search the actual Hawaiʻi criminal court case

The Hawaiʻi State Judiciary’s eCourt Kōkua provides free basic public case information for multiple court types.

Criminal coverage includes:

• District Court criminal cases
• Circuit Court criminal cases
• Family Court adult criminal cases
• traffic cases
• Intermediate Court of Appeals cases
• Hawaiʻi Supreme Court cases

Why eCrim and eCourt Kōkua can give different answers

This distinction is especially important in Hawaiʻi.

Know the island and circuit when you need a courthouse record

Hawaiʻi’s trial courts are organized into four judicial circuits. The old Fourth Circuit was merged into the Third Circuit decades ago, which is why the numbering jumps from Third to Fifth.

Official court addresses are available through the Hawaiʻi Judiciary Court Locations directory.

Older Hawaiʻi criminal cases may need a courthouse search

eCourt Kōkua has historical limits. The Judiciary currently states that District Court criminal case information before August 2012 is not available through the current online system.

Traffic cases before November 1995 and appellate cases before September 2010 are also outside the current online coverage described by the Judiciary.

For very old migrated cases, eCourt Kōkua may also require the old case number to be converted into the newer case-ID format using the circuit and case-type codes.

Island-specific archive tip

The Judiciary warns that older files on Maui and Hawaiʻi Island may be stored off site. Kauaʻi also advises users to call ahead for significantly older files. If the case is old, call the courthouse before traveling.

How to obtain Hawaiʻi criminal court documents and certified copies

Basic case information on eCourt Kōkua can be viewed without charge. When a public docket entry has a PDF icon, the associated document may be available for purchase.

Certified records are available through the court. If a document is not available online, visit the courthouse or submit a written request to the office maintaining the record.

Use courthouse public-access terminals when remote access stops

The Hawaiʻi Judiciary maintains public-access computer terminals at major courthouses. Reviewing documents on those terminals is free; charges apply when copies are purchased.

Before visiting, the Judiciary recommends having:

• the court case number
• the title or description of the document
• the correct judicial circuit
• the correct courthouse

Use Hawaiʻi SAVIN for custody and parole status

The Hawaiʻi Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation provides Hawaiʻi SAVIN, the Statewide Automated Victim Information and Notification service.

SAVIN is a free service using VINELink that allows crime victims and other concerned people to obtain information about the custody and parole status of offenders under DCR jurisdiction.

Users may search anonymously and can optionally register for notifications by:

• email
• text message
• phone call
• mobile app

Search the Hawaiʻi Sex Offender & Other Covered Offender Registry separately

HCJDC also operates the official Sex Offender & Other Covered Offender Search.

Registry information is based on qualifying convictions and registration law. It is not a list of every person who has any type of criminal record.

Juvenile records are not part of the ordinary public HCJDC search

HCJDC says its criminal-history service covers adult criminal history. Juvenile records are not included unless the juvenile matter was transferred to adult court.

For juvenile-record questions, HCJDC directs users to the Hawaiʻi State Judiciary Family Court Juvenile Records Department at (808) 954-8190.

Hawaiʻi expungement can change what appears in a public criminal-history search

Hawaiʻi Revised Statutes section 831-3.2 allows qualifying arrest records to be expunged in specified circumstances. HCJDC says a person arrested or charged but not convicted may be eligible when the statutory requirements are met.

Important change effective July 1, 2025

HCJDC states that people receiving qualifying expungement orders on or after July 1, 2025 no longer need to separately ask the Judiciary to consider removing related case information from the publicly accessible electronic court database. Under Act 003 (2025), HCJDC automatically transmits the order to the Judiciary for consideration.

Public conviction searches are not the only background-check process in Hawaiʻi

An eCrim search can provide public adult conviction information, but some employment, licensing, volunteer and vulnerable-population screening programs use legally authorized fingerprint-based criminal-history checks instead.

HCJDC operates the Volunteer & Employee Criminal History Service (VECHS) for qualified entities serving children, vulnerable adults or people with disabilities. Approved entities may receive fingerprint-based state and FBI criminal-history information under the rules governing that program.

Hawaiʻi state searches do not include federal criminal cases

HCJDC expressly says its criminal-history record checks do not include criminal-history records from other states or federal systems.

For a federal criminal prosecution, use PACER. Federal cases arising in Hawaiʻi are generally filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Hawaiʻi.

If you are requesting your own FBI fingerprint-based Identity History Summary, use the FBI’s official Identity History Summary process rather than eCrim.

Hawaii Criminal Justice Data Center contact information

HCJDC office map

This is the central state office for criminal-history checks, Access & Review, fingerprint services and expungement administration.

Hawaiʻi record-search tips that prevent common mistakes

Official Hawaiʻi sources used for verification

• Hawaii Criminal Justice Data Center
• HCJDC — Criminal History Record Check
• HCJDC — Name-Based Background Check
• State of Hawaiʻi — eCrim
• HCJDC — Criminal History FAQs
• HCJDC — Public Access Sites
• HCJDC — Access & Review / Wrongful Identity
• HCJDC — Fingerprint Background Check
• HCJDC — Expungements
• Hawaiʻi State Judiciary — Search Court Records
• Hawaiʻi State Judiciary — eCourt Kōkua
• Hawaiʻi Judiciary — Online Court Record Access
• Hawaiʻi Judiciary — Court Structure
• Hawaiʻi Judiciary — Court Locations
• Hawaiʻi Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation — SAVIN
• Hawaiʻi Sex Offender & Other Covered Offender Search