Hawaii handles sheriffs differently from most of the mainland. There is no elected county sheriff, no sheriff's cruiser patrolling rural roads, and no sheriff-run jail. Instead, deputy sheriffs work for the state, and their jobs center on courthouses, state buildings, the Capitol, the airport and the delivery of court papers. This page explains who they are, where the eight offices in our database are located, and how to reach the right one without wasting a trip.

How Sheriff Services Are Organized in Hawaii

Hawaii's deputy sheriffs belong to one statewide Sheriff Division. For years it sat inside the Department of Public Safety. State legislation creating the Department of Law Enforcement then moved the division into that newer department. Older court forms and web pages may still carry the earlier name, and both references generally mean the state's sheriffs.

Hawaii has four main counties with their own governments: Honolulu, Hawaii, Maui and Kauai. A fifth, Kalawao on Molokai, is the Kalaupapa settlement and is run by the state Department of Health. Each of the four main counties runs its own police department under a chief of police. Those departments are separate from the state sheriffs, even when the two work on the same street.

Deputy sheriffs are sworn law enforcement officers with arrest powers, yet their routine assignments are narrower than a police officer's. Think of them as the state's court, building and airport security force, plus the people who carry out judges' orders.

The practical split is easy to remember. County police answer 911 calls, investigate crimes, enforce traffic laws on public roads, and handle firearm registration. State deputy sheriffs secure courtrooms, protect state property, patrol Daniel K. Inouye International Airport, transport people between custody and court, and serve a share of court-issued documents. Jails and prisons belong to neither group. They are run by the state Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, which operates the Oahu Community Correctional Center in Honolulu.

Knowing that split saves time. A resident who walks into a courthouse to report a stolen bicycle will be sent to county police. Someone who calls police to ask about a courtroom hearing will be sent to the court clerk.

Honolulu County: Five Sheriff Offices Serving Oahu

Honolulu County covers the entire island of Oahu, where most of the state's population lives, and it holds five of the eight listings we track. Most sit close together in the downtown civic center around Alakea, Punchbowl and Beretania Streets. Here is what each one is listed for:

These deputies are mainly posted to guard buildings and courtrooms, so most are not set up for walk-in service at a counter. Call ahead, describe what you need, and ask whether the unit handles it or whether the court clerk does.

Hilo, Wailuku and Lihue: Sheriff Contacts on the Neighbor Islands

Outside Oahu, our database lists one office per county. On Hawaii Island, the Hawaii County Sheriff's Office is at 349 Kapiolani Street in Hilo, phone 808-935-3311. On Maui, the Maui County Sheriff's Office is at 55 Mahalani Street in Wailuku, phone 808-244-6400. On Kauai, the Kauai County Sheriff's Office is at 3990 Kaana Street in Lihue, phone 808-241-1711.

Several of these addresses appear to match county police headquarters buildings, so confirm by phone which agency will actually help you before you drive. That matters because distances are real. Hawaii Island is the largest in the chain, and the trip from Kailua-Kona to Hilo is a substantial drive. Maui County also includes Molokai and Lanai, which are reached by plane or boat.

Court coverage follows Hawaii's judicial circuits. The First Circuit is Oahu. The Second covers Maui, Molokai and Lanai. The Third covers Hawaii Island, and the Fifth covers Kauai. Sheriff coverage on the neighbor islands is tied to the courts in those circuits, so the local court clerk is often the fastest way to learn who handles your matter. Our pages for Hawaii County, Maui County and Kauai County show each listing in full.

What to Bring and When to Go for Court and Sheriff Business

Bring a government-issued photo ID to any courthouse or state building. Expect security screening at the entrance, similar to an airport checkpoint, and leave pocketknives, tools and other weapons at home. Downtown Honolulu parking is limited and costs money, so arrive early or take TheBus.

Go on a weekday during regular business hours. State offices and courts close for state holidays, including Prince Kuhio Day on March 26, King Kamehameha Day on June 11, and Statehood Day on the third Friday in August, along with the federal holidays. Check the calendar before you leave the house.

If you need papers served, start with the clerk of the court that issued them. Under Hawaii's court rules, service can generally be handled by a sheriff's deputy or by any adult who is not a party to the case, including a private process server. Ask the clerk what fee, if any, applies. Bring your case number, copies of every document, and the name and best-known address of the person to be served.

Hawaii is a multilingual state, and the courts provide interpreters for people with limited English proficiency. Ask the clerk to arrange one when you file or when you receive a hearing date, not on the day itself. Anyone who needs wheelchair access or another accommodation should call ahead as well.

Sheriff, County Police or Court Clerk: Who to Call

Use 911 for emergencies anywhere in the islands. If you hold a protective order and feel unsafe, call 911 first and sort out paperwork later. For everything else, match the task to the agency.

Reporting a crime, getting a police report or asking about a traffic stop belongs with the county police department. Firearm registration and permits go through the county chief of police, not the sheriff. Questions about hearings, filings, protective orders and case records go to the court clerk, and the Judiciary's online system, eCourt Kokua, lets you look up many cases. Questions about someone in custody go to the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.

Sheriffs enter the picture when a court order must be carried out or a state building must be secured. That includes serving documents, escorting people in custody, and keeping order in hearing rooms. If you are unsure, call one of the listings above and ask your question plainly. A deputy can usually tell you within a minute whether you need them.

Sheriff offices in Hawaii are independently elected county agencies responsible for law enforcement, jail operations, and civil process service. Each county in Hawaii elects its own sheriff, who serves as the chief law enforcement officer for that county's unincorporated areas.

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

Cities with the highest concentration of sheriff office listings include Honolulu, Lihue, Wailuku, reflecting the population centers where multiple sub-offices or specialty divisions may be located.

Hawaii residents should note that sheriff offices handle civil law enforcement functions — such as serving eviction notices and foreclosure papers — in addition to criminal law enforcement, so the sheriff office is often the correct point of contact for civil legal matters at the county level.

Sheriff by Counties

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If you are a Hawaii resident looking to obtain a concealed carry permit, request a background check clearance letter, or serve legal documents through official channels, your county sheriff office is the starting point — contact them directly to confirm required documentation and current processing times.

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

Planning Around Distance, Weather and Island Life

Every government errand in Hawaii is shaped by geography. The four counties sit on separate islands, so an office in another county may mean a flight rather than a drive. Before you book travel for a court matter, ask the clerk whether your hearing can be held remotely, since judges decide that case by case.

Weather matters too. Heavy rain can flood roads on Kauai's north shore and close stretches of the Hana Highway on Maui, and hurricane season runs from June through November. On Hawaii Island, volcanic haze from Kilauea can affect air quality. Check county civil defense alerts and road conditions before heading to an appointment.

On Oahu, the H-1 Freeway backs up at rush hour, so give yourself extra time to reach the downtown civic center. Courthouse staff see nervous first-time visitors every day. A folder with your ID, case number and documents, plus a clear question, usually gets you the fastest help.

Frequently Asked Questions About Sheriffs in Hawaii

No. Hawaii does not elect county sheriffs. Deputy sheriffs are state employees in the Sheriff Division, now part of the Department of Law Enforcement, and they are hired rather than voted in. Each of the four main counties has a police department led by a chief of police chosen through a county police commission. That is why the county-named listings in Hilo, Wailuku and Lihue are worth confirming by phone, because the agency that answers may be a county department or the state division. To influence local policing, contact your mayor and county council.

It depends on the case. Under Hawaii's court rules, a summons or subpoena can generally be served by a sheriff's deputy or by any adult who is not part of the case, including a professional process server. Many people hire a private server for flexibility and a written record of service. Others use the Sheriff Division, especially for orders tied to court proceedings. Contact the clerk of the court that issued the papers, such as the District Court at 1111 Alakea Street in Honolulu, and ask which options and fees apply. Keep the proof of service, because the judge will want it filed.

No. In Hawaii, firearm permits and registration run through the chief of police in your county, not the Sheriff Division. Hawaii requires firearms to be registered, and a permit to acquire is needed for purchases. Start with the firearms section of the Honolulu, Hawaii, Maui or Kauai police department, and expect an appointment, fingerprinting and a background check. Procedures and fees change, so confirm them with your county police before you buy anything. A sheriff's office can generally point you in the right direction but cannot process the paperwork.

Sheriff Division - Capital Patrol is listed at 415 South Beretania Street in Honolulu, phone 808-586-1352. Deputies there provide security for the Capitol, which houses the Legislature and the governor's office. The Legislature convenes each January and meets through spring, and those months bring the most visitors for hearings and public testimony. Bring photo ID, expect screening, and arrive early for committee hearings because rooms fill quickly. If your question is about a bill or testimony rather than security, contact the committee clerk, not the sheriffs.

The Airport Unit is listed at 300 Rodgers Boulevard, phone 808-836-6606, the address of Daniel K. Inouye International Airport. State deputies work there because Hawaii's airports are run by the state Department of Transportation, not by the City and County of Honolulu. Call the unit about security concerns on airport grounds. For lost belongings, start with your airline or the airport's lost-and-found. Airline security screening belongs to the TSA, not the sheriffs. In an emergency, dial 911 instead of the listed number.

Our database has one listing per county. On Hawaii Island, it is 349 Kapiolani Street in Hilo, phone 808-935-3311. On Maui, it is 55 Mahalani Street in Wailuku, phone 808-244-6400. On Kauai, it is 3990 Kaana Street in Lihue, phone 808-241-1711. Residents of Kona, Kihei, Kapaa and Molokai may face a long drive or a flight, so telephone first. Ask whether the office handles your matter or whether the local court clerk or county police should.

Petitions for temporary restraining orders and protective orders are filed with the Family Court or the District Court, depending on the situation. A judge may issue a temporary order quickly, but the other person must be served before it can be enforced. Ask the clerk how service will be arranged, and give accurate details about where the person can be found. If you are in immediate danger, call 911 rather than waiting on paperwork. Keep a copy of every order with you.