Hawaii runs one of the most centralized court systems in the United States. There are no city or county courts here. Every courthouse in the islands, from Honolulu to Hana, belongs to the Hawaii State Judiciary, so forms, rules and procedures follow one statewide framework. What changes from island to island is the building, the caseload and how far you may have to travel. Our database holds 16 court listings, and this page explains how they fit together so you can pick the right counter before you leave home.

How the Hawaii State Judiciary Organizes Its Courts

The state constitution places judicial power in a Supreme Court, an Intermediate Court of Appeals, circuit courts and district courts. The Chief Justice leads the system, and an Administrative Director of the Courts handles day-to-day operations. The state, not the counties, pays for the courts. A clerk in Lihue and a clerk in Hilo therefore work for the same employer and apply the same statewide rules.

Hawaii does not elect its judges. They are appointed from lists prepared by the Judicial Selection Commission, and the Senate confirms them. Judges serve ten-year terms, and the commission decides whether to retain them. The Supreme Court sits in Honolulu at Aliiolani Hale, across from Iolani Palace, and hears appeals from the whole state.

The main statutes sit in the Hawaii Revised Statutes. Chapter 603 covers circuit courts, Chapter 604 covers district courts, and Chapter 571 covers the Family Court. Traffic infractions fall under Chapter 291D, and impaired-driving cases under Chapter 291E. You rarely need to read them, but the citation or summons you receive will often cite one.

Four Circuits Cover Hawaii's Islands From Oahu to Kauai

Hawaii divides its courts into four judicial circuits. The First Circuit is Oahu. The Second Circuit covers Maui, Molokai and Lanai. The Third Circuit is Hawaii Island. The Fifth Circuit covers Kauai and Niihau. The numbering skips four, which surprises many newcomers, but the system itself is simple once you know which island you are dealing with.

Each circuit lines up closely with a county, which is how this directory organizes its listings. Honolulu County has six listings, all on Oahu. Maui County has five, spread across Maui, Molokai and Lanai. Hawaii County has four on Hawaii Island, and Kauai County has one, in Lihue. The county pages show the address and phone number for each courthouse in that circuit.

Which Hawaii Court Handles Your Case

Choosing the correct court saves a wasted trip. In broad terms:

Dollar limits and procedures change from time to time, so confirm them with the clerk before you file. Filing in the wrong court usually costs you time rather than money, but a missed deadline can cost you the case.

Oahu Courthouses: Honolulu, Kaneohe, Kapolei, Pearl City and Wahiawa

Oahu holds more than a third of the listings in this directory, and it is where most of the volume is. Downtown Honolulu has two separate buildings that people often confuse. Honolulu District Court is at 1111 Alakea Street (808-538-5100), and Honolulu Circuit Court is at 777 Punchbowl Street (808-539-4767). A traffic ticket or small claims case goes to Alakea Street. A felony case, or a civil lawsuit above the district limit, goes to Punchbowl Street.

Outside town, Oahu spreads district court service across the island. Kaneohe District Court at 45-939 Pookela Street (808-534-6300) serves the windward side. Pearl City District Court at 870 4th Street (808-534-6900) and Wahiawa District Court at 1034 Kilani Avenue (808-534-6200) sit in the central part of the island. Kapolei Waianae District Court at 4675 Kapolei Parkway (808-954-8575) covers the leeward side, so many westside residents avoid the long H-1 drive into town. Which courthouse hears a ticket usually depends on where the incident occurred, not where you live, so read the citation closely.

Neighbor Island Courthouses: Maui, Molokai, Lanai, Hawaii Island and Kauai

Maui County's five listings cover three islands. Maui Court at 2145 Main Street in Wailuku (808-244-2721) is the central courthouse for Maui. Lahaina District Court at 1870 Honoapiilani Highway serves West Maui, and Hana District Court at 4974 Uakea Road serves the remote east side. Our database shows the same number, 808-661-0970, for both Hana and Lahaina, so confirm the hearing location when you call. After the August 2023 wildfire in Lahaina, check the current status of West Maui court operations before you travel.

Molokai District Court at 55 Makaena Place in Kaunakakai (808-553-1100) and Lanai District Court at 730 Lanai Avenue in Lanai City serve the two smaller islands. We have no phone number on file for Lanai, so the Wailuku office is the best place to ask.

Hawaii Island is the largest island in the state, and its courts are spread out to match. Hilo District Court (808-961-7470) and Hawaii Circuit Court (808-961-7440) share a building at 777 Kilauea Avenue in Hilo. On the Kona side, Kona District Court is at 79-1020 Haukapila Street in Kealakekua (808-322-8700). Kohala District Court is at 67 Kamamalu Street in Waimea (808-443-2030). Driving between Hilo and Kona takes roughly two hours, so check which courthouse your notice names before you set out.

Kauai has a single listing: Kauai District Court at 3970 Kaana Street in Lihue (808-482-2355), within the Fifth Circuit. Call the Lihue office to find out where circuit-level and family matters are heard.

A few habits help everywhere. Bring photo ID, your citation or case number, and copies of your documents. Expect security screening at the door. Arrive early, especially in downtown Honolulu, where parking is tight. If you would fly from Molokai or Lanai, call the clerk before booking to confirm that the hearing is still on.

Courts in Hawaii operate under a unified state judicial system that handles everything from traffic infractions and small claims disputes to major felony trials and civil litigation. The Hawaii Supreme Court serves as the highest state court with authority over all state court matters.

Courts locations are available in 14 cities across Hawaii. They are spread across 4 counties.

Cities with the highest concentration include Honolulu, Hilo, Hana, reflecting areas where county seats and urban centers house multiple court divisions to handle high caseloads.

Residents of Hawaii should know which court has jurisdiction over their matter — whether it is a municipal, district, circuit, or superior court — before filing documents or appearing for a hearing.

Courts by Counties

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Residents of Hawaii who need to access court services should identify the correct court for their matter, check the court's website for filing fees, forms, and procedures, and consider using the court's self-help resources if they are not represented by an attorney.

Browse Courts by county across Hawaii to find the nearest location.

Using Hawaii Courthouses: Holidays, Security and Local Logistics

Hawaii courts close on state holidays as well as federal ones. Three that surprise visitors are Prince Kuhio Day on March 26, Kamehameha Day on June 11, and Statehood Day on the third Friday in August. If your hearing date falls near a holiday, confirm it with the clerk.

Every courthouse screens visitors at the entrance, so leave pocketknives and similar items at home or in the car. Bring photo ID and any notice you received. Dress neatly, because many judges expect more than beachwear.

Language access matters in a state where many households speak Ilocano, Tagalog, Japanese or Hawaiian. Tell the clerk early if you need an interpreter or a disability accommodation, ideally before your hearing date, so the court can arrange it.

On Hawaii Island, Hilo District Court and Hawaii Circuit Court share the building at 777 Kilauea Avenue, so one trip can cover business at both. Kona and Kohala district courts serve the west side, so a Kailua-Kona or Waimea resident should not drive to Hilo for a traffic matter unless the notice says so.

Phone numbers in this directory come from public listings, so call before you travel. That advice matters most for smaller rural courthouses such as Hana, Molokai, Lanai and Kohala, where hearing days may be limited.

Hawaii Court Questions Answered

Start with the citation itself. It names the district court that will handle your case and sets a deadline to respond, so do not ignore it. On Oahu that may be Honolulu District Court at 1111 Alakea Street (808-538-5100), Kaneohe, Pearl City, Wahiawa or Kapolei, depending on where you were cited. On Hawaii Island it could be Hilo, Kona or Kohala; on Maui, Wailuku, Lahaina or Hana. Most civil traffic infractions are handled under Chapter 291D of the Hawaii Revised Statutes, and you can usually either pay or ask for a hearing. Call the clerk if the instructions are unclear.

The small claims division of District Court handles disputes up to $5,000. It is designed for people who represent themselves, so the forms are short and the hearing is informal. Bring receipts, photos, contracts and any texts or emails that support your side, plus copies for the judge and the other party. Larger civil claims, up to $40,000, go through the regular civil side of District Court, and anything above that belongs in Circuit Court. These limits can change by statute, so verify the current figures with the clerk at Honolulu District Court, Hilo District Court or your nearest courthouse before filing.

Felony prosecutions on Oahu are heard in Honolulu Circuit Court at 777 Punchbowl Street, phone 808-539-4767. Many felony cases begin in District Court, where the first appearance and bail questions are often addressed, before they move up to the circuit level. Honolulu District Court is a separate building at 1111 Alakea Street, elsewhere in downtown Honolulu, and the two are not interchangeable. If you are a defendant, check the paperwork you were given for the exact courtroom. If you cannot afford a lawyer, ask the judge about appointed counsel through the Office of the Public Defender at your first appearance.

Molokai District Court is at 55 Makaena Place in Kaunakakai, phone 808-553-1100. Lanai District Court is at 730 Lanai Avenue in Lanai City; our database has no phone number for it, so call Maui Court in Wailuku at 808-244-2721 if you need help reaching the right office. Both islands belong to the Second Circuit with Maui, and larger cases may be heard at the circuit level on Maui. If a hearing requires travel to Maui, ask the clerk about your options early, and allow extra time for weather or flight delays.

It depends on the relationship. A petition for protection from harassment is generally filed in District Court, while orders involving family or household members, including domestic abuse protective orders, are handled by the Family Court of the circuit where you live or where the incident occurred. Ask the clerk at your nearest courthouse for the correct forms and for help understanding the process. Bring identification and any evidence, such as messages, photos or police report numbers. A temporary order may be issued quickly, followed by a hearing where both sides can speak. If you are in immediate danger, call 911 first and deal with the paperwork afterward.

Several options exist. Court filing fees can often be waived if you show financial hardship; ask the clerk for the application when you file. Legal Aid Society of Hawaii provides free civil legal help to eligible low-income residents, and the Hawaii State Bar Association runs lawyer referral services. In criminal cases, the Office of the Public Defender represents eligible defendants. The Judiciary also offers self-help resources, and the clerks at each courthouse can explain procedures, though they cannot give legal advice. Interpreters are available for court proceedings when requested, so tell the clerk which language you need well before your hearing.