How Hawaii Organizes Its Department of Justice Functions

Hawaii does not have a cabinet agency literally named the Department of Justice. The state's chief legal office is the Department of the Attorney General, which operates under Chapter 28 of the Hawaii Revised Statutes. The Attorney General is appointed by the governor with the consent of the state Senate. Hawaii is one of the few states where voters do not elect this office.

This matters when you search for help. A listing labeled Department of Justice in Hawaii may be a state attorney general function, a county prosecutor, a court-linked service, or a federal office. Each one handles different problems, and sending your question to the wrong one wastes time.

The Attorney General's main office is at 425 Queen Street in Honolulu, near the State Capitol and the Hawaii State Judiciary buildings. The department serves as legal counsel to the governor, the Legislature, and state agencies. It also represents the state in court and drafts legal opinions. Several divisions deal directly with the public, and those are the ones most residents end up needing.

Divisions residents are most likely to contact

The department is organized into divisions by subject. Not every division takes walk-in visits, but several run public programs:

Most of these are statewide programs, even though the headquarters is on Oahu. Many services can be started by phone, mail, or online, so you do not always need to travel to Honolulu.

Honolulu: Where Hawaii's Justice Offices Cluster

Our directory currently lists the Honolulu Hawaii Department of Justice at 353 Elliott Street, Honolulu, in Honolulu County. Its listed phone number is 808-838-4200. Honolulu is the state capital and the seat of nearly every major government function. That explains why Honolulu is the only city in our Hawaii listings for this category.

Honolulu County covers the entire island of Oahu. It is by far the most populous county in the state, and about two-thirds of Hawaii residents live there. If you want a closer look at what is listed for Oahu, see the Honolulu County Department of Justice listings.

Before you visit 353 Elliott Street, call 808-838-4200 and confirm three things:

  1. That the office handles the specific service you need.
  2. Its current public hours and whether appointments are required.
  3. Which documents or identification you should bring.

Government offices in Hawaii sometimes change locations, merge programs, or shift to appointment-only service. A two-minute call is cheaper than a trip across town on H-1 during rush hour. Traffic between Ewa, central Oahu, and downtown Honolulu can add an hour or more to a morning commute.

Parking and access in urban Honolulu

Downtown Honolulu has limited street parking and many metered or garage-only lots. TheBus serves downtown from most parts of Oahu, and the Skyline rail line now runs from East Kapolei toward Aloha Stadium and beyond, with stations expanding toward the city center. If you have a court date or an appointment with a deadline, plan to arrive early. Security screening at government buildings can take extra minutes.

Oahu, Neighbor Islands, and Rural Access to Justice Services

Hawaii is geographically unusual. The state has four counties spread across separate islands, and you cannot drive from one to another. That shapes how justice services reach people.

For a Big Island resident in Hilo or Kona, a statewide service like child support or a criminal record check is usually handled through a local branch, by phone, or online. A resident of Molokai or Lanai may rely mostly on phone, mail, and online systems, since in-person service can mean a flight or ferry. Weather and flight schedules can affect travel, so check ahead if you must appear in person.

Hawaii also uses Hawaii Standard Time year-round and does not observe daylight saving time. When you call a mainland agency or a federal office, remember the time difference changes by an hour between summer and winter. Calling the Honolulu listing early in the local morning gives you the best chance of reaching staff before lunch hours.

County prosecutors versus the state Attorney General

One of the most common points of confusion is who prosecutes crime. In Hawaii, most criminal cases are prosecuted by county prosecuting attorneys. The City and County of Honolulu, Hawaii County, Maui County, and Kauai County each have their own prosecutor's office. These offices handle felonies and misdemeanors that occur within their county, and they work with the county police departments.

The state Attorney General has a narrower role in criminal matters. It takes on cases that cross county lines, involve state government, or require specialized investigators. If you are a crime victim or witness, your first contact is usually the county prosecutor and the police department that took your report, not the state Attorney General.

Federal crimes are handled separately by the United States Attorney's Office for the District of Hawaii, located in the Prince Kuhio Federal Building in Honolulu. That office is part of the federal Department of Justice, which is the other reason people search for this name in Hawaii.

State Rules and Practical Steps for Hawaii Residents

Several Hawaii-specific points can save you time when dealing with a justice office:

What to bring to any visit

Bring a government-issued photo ID and any notice, case number, or letter you received. If your matter involves a court case, write down the case number and the court location. For records or child support issues, have your full legal name, date of birth, and relevant addresses ready. Bring copies rather than originals whenever you can, and write down the name of each person you speak with.

Fees and processing times for services such as record checks change periodically. Always confirm current amounts with the office directly or on the official state website before you send payment. Use the Honolulu listing and the Honolulu County page as your starting points, then follow up with the agency that actually controls your issue.

Department of Justice resources in Hawaii include U.S. Attorney's Office district operations, FBI field offices, and the Hawaii Attorney General's Office, which enforces state law and consumer protection statutes at the state level while coordinating with federal DOJ components on major investigations.

Department Of Justice locations are available in 1 cities across Hawaii. They are spread across 1 counties.

Cities with the highest concentration include Honolulu, reflecting federal district headquarters and major cities where DOJ field offices, U.S. Attorneys, and federal law enforcement units are based.

Residents of Hawaii who need to engage with the DOJ should identify the correct agency division for their matter — whether it involves civil rights, a federal crime, antitrust, or a FOIA request — before contacting the appropriate office.

Honolulu Hawaii Department Of Justice

View Details Call Now (808) 838-4200

Honolulu Hawaii Department Of Justice

Address
Get Direction
Hours

Honolulu Hawaii Department Of Justice

View Details Call Now (808) 541-1870

Honolulu Hawaii Department Of Justice

Address
Get Direction
Hours

Residents of Hawaii who need to file a civil rights complaint, report federal fraud, or access victim assistance programs should visit justice.gov to identify the appropriate DOJ division or contact the U.S. Attorney's Office for the federal district covering their area.

Browse Department Of Justice by county across Hawaii to find the nearest location.

Finding the Right Justice Office in Hawaii Without Wasting a Trip

The fastest way to solve a justice-related problem in Hawaii is to identify the agency before you leave home. Start by asking what kind of problem you have. A criminal charge points to the county prosecutor and the courts. A record or registry question points to the Hawaii Criminal Justice Data Center within the state Attorney General's department. A child support case points to the Child Support Enforcement Agency. A federal matter points to the U.S. Attorney's Office in Honolulu.

Our directory lists the Honolulu Hawaii Department of Justice at 353 Elliott Street, Honolulu, with the phone number 808-838-4200. Because Honolulu County is the only county with a listing in this category, residents on Hawaii County, Maui County, and Kauai County should expect to use phone, mail, or online options more often. Keep your confirmation numbers, reference numbers, and the names of staff you speak with. Hawaii agencies often route calls between islands, and these details help the next person find your file quickly.

You can browse the Honolulu County page to compare what is listed on Oahu. If you cannot find the office you need there, call the listed number and ask for a referral. Staff can usually tell you which agency handles your request, even when it is not theirs.

Not under that exact name at the state level. Hawaii's chief legal office is the Department of the Attorney General, headquartered at 425 Queen Street in Honolulu and governed by Chapter 28 of the Hawaii Revised Statutes. The Attorney General is appointed by the governor with Senate consent. The name Department of Justice is more commonly tied to the federal agency, whose local arm is the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Hawaii in Honolulu. Our directory uses the Department of Justice label to help people find either type of office, so check which level of government your issue belongs to.

Our database lists the office at 353 Elliott Street, Honolulu, in Honolulu County, with the phone number 808-838-4200. Call before you visit and ask whether the office handles your specific request, what hours it keeps, and whether you need an appointment. Have your full name, any case or reference number, and a photo ID ready. Government offices sometimes change services or locations, so confirming by phone helps you avoid a wasted trip, especially if you must drive into town through Honolulu traffic.

Most criminal cases are prosecuted by the county prosecuting attorney. Honolulu, Hawaii County, Maui County, and Kauai County each have their own office, and each works with its local police department. The state Attorney General handles a narrower set of matters, such as cases involving state government, certain fraud investigations, and issues that cross county lines. Federal crimes go to the U.S. Attorney's Office. If you are a victim or witness, begin with the police department that took your report and the prosecutor's office for the county where the incident happened.

Hawaii's official criminal history records are kept by the Hawaii Criminal Justice Data Center, which is part of the Department of the Attorney General. Depending on your purpose, such as employment, licensing, or a personal copy, you may use a name-based check or a fingerprint-based check. Fees, accepted payment methods, and processing times change, so confirm the current rules on the official state website or by phone before you apply. Bring a government-issued photo ID, and expect fingerprinting to be done at an approved location rather than by mail.

Most business and consumer complaints in Hawaii go to the Office of Consumer Protection, which is part of the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, not the Attorney General's office. Gather receipts, contracts, emails, and photos before you file, and write a short timeline of what happened. Small claims disputes under the court's dollar limit can be filed in District Court. If you are unsure which route fits your situation, call the Honolulu listing at 808-838-4200 and ask for a referral. Staff cannot give personal legal advice, but they can often point you in the right direction.

Many statewide services can be started by phone, mail, or online, so a trip to Oahu is often unnecessary. The Child Support Enforcement Agency, for example, maintains offices on the neighbor islands, including locations serving Hilo, Kona, Wailuku, and Lihue. Court filings and hearings take place in the circuit where the case belongs, not necessarily in Honolulu. Residents of Molokai and Lanai should plan for phone and mail contact first, since travel requires a flight or ferry. Always ask whether a virtual appointment is available, and remember that Hawaii does not change clocks for daylight saving time.

Use the Honolulu listing and the Honolulu County page as a starting point, then confirm details with the agency itself. If a phone number or address has changed, trust the official agency over any directory, including ours.