As there may be more one source to obtaining Hawaii criminal, civil and divorce records, it is important to search multiple state courts to find the correct records.
Hawaii State Court Structure:
The Hawaii family courts hear legal matters involving children. These include delinquency, status offenses abuse and neglect, termination of parental rights, adoption, guardianships and detention. The court also hears civil commitment cases, guardianships of adults, and adult abuse cases. The Hawaii district courts are the state's trial courts. These courts hear tort claims, contract claims, real property rights claims ($0/$20,000) [concurrent from $10,000-$20,000 (civil nonjury)], and other miscellaneous civil matters. The district courts have exclusive jurisdiction over small claims, with amounts in controversy of $3,500 and below. District courts hear various felony, misdemeanor, and DWI or DUI matters. Additionally, moving traffic violations, and other miscellaneous traffic matters. District courts have exclusive jurisdiction over cases involving parking violations, and ordinance violations. District courts hold venue for preliminary hearings. Hawaii's circuit courts and family courts hear tort, contract, real property rights, and other miscellaneous civil claims ($10,000/no maximum) [concurrent from $10,000-$20,000]. Hawaii's circuit courts have exclusive mental health, estate, administrative agency appeals jurisdiction. Hawaii circuit courts also have exclusive domestic relations jurisdiction. The circuit courts hear various felony, misdemeanor, DWI or DUI, and other miscellaneous criminal matters. Additionally, hear moving traffic violation cases, and other miscellaneous traffic matters. Circuit courts hold exclusive jurisdiction over various juvenile matters. Hawaii's intermediate court of appeals have mandatory jurisdiction in various civil, criminal, administrative agency, juvenile, original proceedings, and interlocutory decision cases assigned by supreme court. The intermediate court of appeals has no discretionary jurisdiction. Hawaii's highest court is the supreme court. Hawaii's supreme court has mandatory jurisdiction to hear cases involving various civil matters, criminal matters, administrative agency matters, juvenile matters, disciplinary matters, certified questions from federal courts, and original proceeding matters. Hawaii's supreme court has discretionary jurisdiction to hear various civil matters, criminal matters, administrative agency matters, juvenile matters, original proceedings, and interlocutory decision matters.
