Hawaii Criminal History Records

Searching for criminal history records in Hawaii starts with the Hawaii Criminal Justice Data Center, the state agency that holds the central repository of all adult conviction information. You can look up records online through eCrim, visit one of six public access sites across the islands, or request a formal criminal history record check by name or fingerprint. This page walks you through every option for finding criminal history in Hawaii, including fees, what each method returns, and how to access court records through the state judiciary system.

How to Find Hawaii Criminal History Records

The Hawaii Criminal Justice Data Center (HCJDC) is the main agency for criminal history in the state. It operates under the Department of the Attorney General. The center runs the Criminal Justice Information System (CJIS-Hawaii), the statewide Automated Fingerprint Identification System (AFIS), and the online conviction lookup tool known as eCrim. All adult conviction records in the state flow through this agency.

The HCJDC office is open to the public Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., with a one-hour lunch break from noon to 1 p.m. The office closes on state holidays. You can find them at the Kekuanaoa Building, 465 S. King Street, Room 102, Honolulu, HI 96813. Parking is available in metered stalls on the property.

Hawaii offers three main ways to look up criminal history records. The first is online through eCrim, which shows adult conviction records only. The second is an in-person or mail request for a formal criminal history record check done by HCJDC staff. The third is a visit to one of six public access terminal locations across the islands, where you can print a conviction record for $25 per copy. Each method has its own process, fees, and level of detail in the result.

It helps to understand what each method returns before you choose one. Online eCrim searches show conviction data only. Arrest records that did not lead to conviction are not public. Only criminal justice agencies and certain state-authorized programs can view non-conviction arrest information.

Criminal History Record Checks at HCJDC

The criminal history record check at HCJDC is sometimes called a "Police Clearance" or "Police Abstract." It covers adult conviction information only. The HCJDC offers two check types: name-based and fingerprint-based. A name check uses the person's name, date of birth, social security number, and gender. A fingerprint check compares actual print records and is more reliable since people sometimes use different names or aliases.

You can run a name check yourself online at eCrim for $5 per search and $12 for an official printed copy. If you prefer to have HCJDC staff run the check for you, the fee is $30. Staff-issued results include an embossed department seal, which some agencies and licensing boards require. Fingerprint-based checks cost $55 in person or $35 by mail. An optional certification adds $20. These in-person services are by appointment only at the Honolulu office.

Call (808) 587-3279 to reach the Criminal History Record Checks unit. For sex offender registration questions, call (808) 587-3350. Expungements go to (808) 587-3348. General questions reach the main line at (808) 587-3100. For mail requests, write to 465 S. King Street, Room 102, Honolulu, HI 96813.

The FAQ section makes clear what HCJDC records do and do not include. Records cover only Hawaii arrests. Records from other states or federal agencies are not in the state file. Juvenile records are also excluded unless the case was transferred to adult court. For juvenile records, contact the Hawaii State Judiciary Family Court Juvenile Records Department at (808) 954-8190.

eCrim: Hawaii's Online Criminal Records Search

The eCrim system at ecrim.ehawaii.gov is Hawaii's public online portal for adult conviction records. You search by name, date of birth, social security number, or gender. The system pulls data directly from HCJDC's conviction file. Payment is by credit or debit card only. Cash, checks, and money orders are not accepted online.

To use eCrim, log in, enter search criteria, and pay the $5 search fee. If you find a record and want an official printed copy, add it to your cart and pay the $12 report fee. You must complete the full process in one login session. The system logs you out after 30 minutes of inactivity, and any unpurchased searches are lost. "No Criminal Convictions Found" is a valid result. It simply means no conviction record came up for that name and information.

Each eCrim record includes: defendant name, date of birth, case number, offense date, offense description, statute violated, disposition, and sentencing details. Technical questions about the eCrim site go to (808) 695-4620. Data accuracy questions go to (808) 587-3279.

eCourt Kokua and eCrim serve different purposes. eCrim shows conviction records from the HCJDC file. eCourt Kokua shows court case information including filings, hearings, and docket entries. Both are free to search for basic information. Court document downloads from eCourt Kokua have fees.

Public Access Sites for Criminal History in Hawaii

Six locations across the state serve as public access terminals for criminal history record checks. Each prints conviction records for $25 per copy. You need the person's name, social security number, sex, and date of birth to run a search. Pay by money order or cashier's check at these in-person locations. Personal checks are not accepted. Call ahead to confirm current hours before you make the trip.

The six public access sites are:

• Hawaii Criminal Justice Data Center, 465 S. King Street, Room 102, Honolulu, (808) 587-3279
• Honolulu Police Department, 801 South Beretania Street, Honolulu, (808) 529-3191
• Hawaii Police Department, 349 Kapiolani Street, Hilo, (808) 961-2233
• Kona Police Station, 74-5221 Queen Kaahumanu Highway, Kailua-Kona, (808) 326-4646 ext. 286
• Kauai County Police Department, 3990 Kaana Street, Lihue, (808) 241-1661
• Maui County Police Department, 55 Mahalani Street, Wailuku, (808) 244-6345

If you can't visit any of these sites in person, you can get the same conviction record information online through eCrim. The online route often saves time, especially for residents on outer islands who would otherwise need to travel to a police department or the HCJDC office in Honolulu.

Fingerprint-Based Criminal History Checks in Hawaii

A fingerprint-based check is the most reliable type of criminal history search. It compares actual fingerprint records, removing the risk of errors from common names or aliases. The HCJDC provides state-only fingerprint checks. For national searches, you must go through the FBI's Identity History Summary service directly.

In-office fingerprint checks cost $55. By mail the fee is $35. An optional certification adds $20. In-office fingerprinting is by appointment only. Call (808) 587-3279 to schedule. Turnaround is 3 to 5 business days without a notary, or 7 to 10 business days with one. If you want results returned by certified mail, include a USPS postage-paid certified envelope with your request. Parking is available in metered stalls on the property (quarters only).

Download and complete Form HCJDC-073 from the HCJDC website before your appointment. Attach a full set of fingerprints if submitting by mail. HCJDC does not accept cash. Use credit, debit, Apple Pay, money order, or cashier's check payable to "State of Hawaii." Credit and debit payments carry a 3% non-refundable service fee.

Under HRS Section 846-2.7, established in 2003, the HCJDC is authorized to conduct criminal history record checks for a wide range of state agencies and licensed organizations. The statute requires that checks for non-criminal justice purposes include both a state fingerprint check through HCJDC and a national check submitted to the FBI. Any new subsections added to this law must receive FBI approval before they take effect.

Hawaii Court Records and eCourt Kokua

The Hawaii State Judiciary maintains criminal court records separately from the HCJDC. Court records include case filings, hearings, dispositions, and sentencing information. You can search most of these records for free online at eCourt Kokua, the state court's public access system.

eCourt Kokua is available Monday through Saturday from 4 a.m. to midnight and on Sundays from noon to midnight, Hawaii Standard Time. The system covers traffic cases, District Court and Circuit Court criminal cases, Family Court criminal cases, and civil cases. It also includes appeals from the Hawaii Intermediate Court of Appeals and the Hawaii Supreme Court. District Court criminal cases prior to August 2012 are not in the system. Traffic cases prior to November 1995 are also unavailable.

Downloadable court documents cost $3.00 per document or 10 cents per page, whichever is greater. eCourt Kokua subscriptions for unlimited document downloads are available at $125 per quarter or $500 per year. Many traffic-related documents are only available at the courthouse where the case was filed. If a PDF icon shows next to a docket entry, that document may be available for purchase online. For documents not online, call the appropriate courthouse directly. The First Circuit in Honolulu handles records inquiries at (808) 538-5629.

Hard copies of court documents can be requested in person at the courthouses. Individual documents of up to 30 pages cost a flat $3. Pages beyond 30 cost $0.10 each. Old cases with migrated IDs may require a reformatted case number to search in the system. The judiciary website has instructions for converting old case numbers to the current format.

Expunging Criminal Records in Hawaii

Hawaii law allows for expungement of non-conviction arrest records under HRS Section 831-3.2. An expungement removes the arrest from the HCJDC's criminal history file and from the arresting agency's records. Records held by the courts may still exist separately. However, a 2025 law change (Act 003, 2025) now requires the HCJDC to automatically transmit expungement orders to the Judiciary, which then seals the related case records from its publicly accessible electronic database. Before this change, individuals had to file a separate court request.

The fee for a first expungement is $35. That includes a $10 non-refundable processing charge. A second or later expungement costs $50, again with a $10 non-refundable portion. If the application is denied, HCJDC returns the remaining fee after keeping the $10. Expedited processing is not available. The full process takes 120 days from submission to completion.

Because expunged records are confidential, HCJDC will not discuss application status by phone or email. Denied applications are notified by mail only. Submit by mail or in person to HCJDC at 465 S. King Street, Room 102, Honolulu, HI 96813. Contact the expungements unit at (808) 587-3348 with process questions, not status inquiries.

VECHS: Volunteer and Employee Criminal History Service

The Volunteer and Employee Criminal History Service (VECHS) is a program created under the National Child Protection Act and Hawaii's Act 196 of 2014. It allows qualified organizations that provide care to children, vulnerable adults, or people with disabilities to run fingerprint-based state and federal criminal history checks on their staff and volunteers. Results go directly to the organization and include full arrest records from both HCJDC and the FBI. This is broader access than the general public gets through eCrim, which shows convictions only.

To join VECHS, an organization must submit the Hawaii VECHS Qualified Entity Application Form and sign an access agreement. Organizations that already have separate statutory authority to check staff backgrounds are not eligible for the program.

Hawaii Sex Offender and Covered Offender Registry

The HCJDC maintains the statewide sex offender and covered offender registry under Hawaii Revised Statutes Chapter 846E. The public registry is searchable online and includes names, aliases, physical descriptions, registered addresses, conviction details, and risk level assessments. The information is updated regularly, though the HCJDC notes it may not always reflect the most current status of a registrant.

Covered offenders must register at the Honolulu Police Department's Records and Identification Division, 801 South Beretania Street, Honolulu, HI 96813. Registration is walk-in only, Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. No registration is allowed on weekends or state holidays. For registration questions, call (808) 587-3350.

UIPA and Public Access to Criminal Records

The Hawaii Uniform Information Practices Act (UIPA), found in Hawaii Revised Statutes Chapter 92F, sets the rules for public access to government records. The law presumes that government records are open to the public unless a specific provision closes them. Under HRS Section 92F-12, records involving criminal prosecution, formal charges, and arrest of individuals must generally be made available on request.

Not all criminal record information is public. UIPA has exceptions. Juvenile records are sealed under HRS Section 571-84. Expunged records are removed from public access. Active law enforcement investigation information may be withheld. Non-conviction data is restricted in some situations. These limits balance individual privacy with the public's right to know about government actions and case outcomes in the court system.

Hawaii Criminal Record Laws and Key Statutes

Several Hawaii statutes directly govern how criminal history records are collected, maintained, and accessed. Understanding these laws helps you know what information is available and who can get it.

HRS Section 378-2.5, updated in 2020, limits how conviction records can be used in certain contexts. The law shortens the look-back window for convictions. Felony convictions may only be considered if they occurred within the past seven years. Misdemeanor convictions are limited to the past five years. Periods of incarceration do not count toward those limits. This statute does not restrict public access to conviction records. Anyone can still search eCrim or visit a public access site to view a conviction record.

Other key statutes include HRS Chapter 846, which establishes HCJDC and governs the state's criminal history record information system. Section 831-3.2 authorizes expungements of non-conviction arrest records. Chapter 92F, the UIPA, governs public access to all government records including criminal history. Chapter 846E covers the sex offender and covered offender registration system.

Arrest Logs, Police Reports, and Law Enforcement Contacts

The Honolulu Police Department posts adult arrest logs daily on its website. Each log includes the date and time of arrest, the name and basic description of the person arrested, the arresting officer's name, the nature of the offense, and the report number. Logs stay posted for 14 days before rotating out. Older logs require a written request to the Records and Identification Division. Only actual logs or photocopies are made available to the public, with no search services of any kind. Juvenile arrest information is never released.

The HPD Records Unit handles requests for copies of police reports and body-worn camera footage. Submit requests by email, mail, or in person at 801 South Beretania Street, Honolulu, HI 96813. The cost is $0.50 for the first page and $0.25 for each additional page. Verification letters cost $1.00 for the first page. Payment is by cash, check, or cashier's check. No online card payments are accepted for report copies. The Records Unit is open Monday through Friday, 7:45 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

The Department of Law Enforcement provides Sheriff sections for each county. The Oahu section is at (808) 587-5002. Hawaii Island's section is at (808) 933-8833. Kauai's Sheriff section is at (808) 482-2470. Maui's Sheriff section is at (808) 244-2900. The Sheriff Records Section can be reached at (808) 587-3625 or (808) 587-2653. The Department of the Attorney General main line is (808) 586-1282, located at 425 Queen Street, Honolulu, HI 96813.

Browse Hawaii Criminal History by County

Hawaii has five counties. Each has its own police department and handles criminal matters through the state court circuits. Select a county below to find local contact information, courthouse details, and criminal history resources for that area.

View All Hawaii Counties

Find Criminal History in Hawaii's Major Communities

Hawaii's major communities span Oahu, Maui, and the Big Island. Select a city or community below to find criminal history resources specific to that area.

View Major Hawaii Cities