Honolulu County Criminal History Records

Honolulu County criminal history records are maintained by the Honolulu Police Department, the Hawaii Criminal Justice Data Center, and the First Circuit Court on Oahu. If you need to search criminal records, check conviction information, or get copies of arrest records for someone in the City and County of Honolulu, this page explains where to go, what each source covers, how much it costs, and what you can expect when you submit a request. The county is home to roughly one million people and handles more criminal case volume than any other county in Hawaii.

Honolulu Police Department Criminal Records

The Honolulu Police Department is the primary law enforcement agency for the City and County of Honolulu. It serves all of Oahu. The Records and Identification Division at HPD handles requests for police reports, criminal history printouts, and sex offender registration. This is one of the most used sources for criminal records in the county.

HPD serves as an official Public Access Site for criminal history record checks through the Hawaii Criminal Justice Data Center. You can go in person and get a printout of adult conviction information for $25. This covers arrests that resulted in a guilty finding. Non-conviction records and pending cases are not available at this counter. The printout comes directly from the HCJDC system but you pay and pick it up at HPD instead of going downtown to King Street.

For copies of police reports, HPD charges $0.50 for the first page and $0.25 for each additional page. Colored copies cost $0.65 per page. If HPD cannot release a report because the case is still open, and you are a victim, witness, or complainant, you can ask for a verification letter instead. Verification letters cost $1.00 for the first page and $0.25 for each page after that. Cash, check, or cashier's check only. No credit or debit cards are accepted at the Records Unit window.

Reports are only releasable once the investigation is complete and the case is closed. HPD will not release medical reports, temporary restraining orders, injunctions, clearance letters, or criminal abstracts under any circumstance. These items are simply not part of what the Records Division gives out to the public.

You can submit report requests by email, mail, or in person. You must attach a color copy of a government-issued ID. For mail requests, include a self-addressed stamped envelope large enough to hold the documents. Mail requests go to: Honolulu Police Department, Attn: Records Division, 801 South Beretania Street, Honolulu, HI 96813. The Records Division releases reports per the Hawaii Uniform Information Practices Act (UIPA), codified in HRS Chapter 92F-13. Under UIPA, names, home addresses, social security numbers, dates of birth, and phone numbers are typically redacted before release.

HPD Arrest Logs and Public Records

HPD posts adult arrest logs on its website daily. The arrest log policy states that each log stays up for 14 days before it rotates off the site. The logs are also displayed at the Alapai headquarters security post 24 hours a day.

Each arrest log entry includes the date and time of arrest, the name, age, sex, and race of the person arrested, the name of the arresting officer, the nature of the offense, and the report number. No juvenile arrest information is ever released, under any circumstances. HPD does not provide search services for the logs. You can look through them manually or get a photocopy, but only the Records and Identification Division can make and hand out those copies. If you need a log older than 14 days, you must send a written request to the Records and Identification Division with the specific dates you want. Phone and walk-in requests for old logs are not accepted.

The police reports page on the HPD website has more detail on how to submit requests and what information you need to include.

The Honolulu Police Department website at honolulupd.org is the main starting point for police report requests, arrest log access, and criminal history printouts for Oahu residents. The site includes links to the Records Division, the online citizen report system, and the department's public access policies.

HPD's Records and Identification Division handles more record requests than any other single office in the county. The department serves the full island of Oahu, which means all Honolulu County criminal records start here before moving through the court system.

First Circuit Court Criminal Records on Oahu

The First Circuit Court serves the City and County of Honolulu. It handles felony criminal cases, and the district courts within the circuit handle misdemeanors and petty misdemeanors. Court records from these proceedings are part of the public record and can be accessed at the courthouse or through the state's online system.

There are several courthouse locations across Oahu where you can view criminal case records in person. Public Access Computer Terminals are free to use. You do not pay to view documents on screen. Copies cost extra. Hours at all locations are 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, on a first come, first served basis. Closed on state holidays.

The courthouse locations for the First Circuit are:

• Ka'ahumanu Hale (Circuit Court): 777 Punchbowl St, Honolulu, HI 96813-5093
• Kauikeaouli Hale (Honolulu District Court), Legal Documents Branch 2: 1111 Alakea St, Honolulu, HI 96813 - call (808) 538-5629 before visiting
• Kaneohe District Court: 45-939 Pookela St, Kaneohe, HI 96744 - call (808) 534-6300
• Wahiawa District Court: 1034 Kilani Ave, Wahiawa, HI 96786 - call (808) 534-6200
• Waianae District Court (Kapolei Judiciary Complex): 4675 Kapolei Parkway, Kapolei, HI 96707

Legal Documents are found on the first floor at Ka'ahumanu Hale. At Kauikeaouli Hale, Legal Documents Branch 2 is on the third floor. At the Kapolei Judiciary Complex, the Legal Documents Records Room is on the first floor. If you are unsure whether a case file is available on site or stored elsewhere, call the court before making the trip.

The Hawaii State Judiciary's public access page for the First Circuit Court on Oahu lists all courthouse locations, public terminal availability, and instructions for accessing criminal court records. This is where you go to find out which building holds the records you need.

The First Circuit handles all felony criminal cases in Honolulu County. District courts within the circuit take on misdemeanor and traffic cases. Records from both levels are available through the Hawaii State Judiciary's access terminals and through eCourt Kokua online.

Search Criminal Records Online with eCourt Kokua

The Hawaii State Judiciary runs eCourt Kokua, a free online search tool for court case information. You can search by case number, party name, or citation. The system covers district court and circuit court criminal cases, traffic cases, family court criminal cases, and appellate cases. It is available Monday through Saturday from 4:00 a.m. to midnight, and Sunday from noon to midnight (Hawaii Standard Time).

Basic case information, like case status, charge descriptions, and docket entries, is free to view. If you want to download actual documents, you pay $3.00 per document for files up to 30 pages. Documents over 30 pages cost an extra $0.10 per page. A quarterly subscription for unlimited downloads is $125. An annual subscription runs $500. All payments on eCourt Kokua are made by credit or debit card and are not refundable.

One thing to keep in mind: eCourt Kokua does not have district court criminal cases filed before August 2012 or appellate cases before September 2010. For older Honolulu County criminal records, you need to visit the courthouse in person. For certified copies of court documents, you must also go in person or submit a written request to the courthouse.

HCJDC Criminal History Record Checks in Honolulu

The Hawaii Criminal Justice Data Center (HCJDC) is the central state agency for criminal history information. It is part of the Department of the Attorney General and is physically located in Honolulu. The HCJDC maintains the statewide criminal history record system, the Automated Fingerprint Identification System, the Sex Offender Registry, and the eCrim website. For a full background check on anyone with a Hawaii criminal record, this is the most thorough source.

The HCJDC main office is at 465 S. King Street, Room 102, Honolulu, HI 96813. Office hours are 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. The office closes for lunch from noon to 1:00 p.m. and on state holidays. The main phone for criminal history record checks is (808) 587-3279. General inquiries go to (808) 587-3100.

There are three main ways to get a criminal history check through HCJDC. First, you can use the eCrim website at ecrim.ehawaii.gov for a name-based search. Each search costs $5.00 and an official printed record costs $12. Second, you can visit a Public Access Site like the Honolulu Police Department and get a printout for $25. Third, you can go directly to the HCJDC office for a staff-assisted name check ($30) or a fingerprint-based check ($55 in person, $35 by mail). Fingerprint checks take 3 to 5 business days in office, or 7 to 10 days if notarization is requested.

The CHRC page on the HCJDC website has the request forms and full fee schedule. The HCJDC-073 form is used for both name-based and fingerprint-based checks. In-office payments do not accept cash. You can pay by credit card, debit card, Apple Pay, money order, or cashier's check (payable to "State of Hawaii"). Credit and debit card payments carry a 3% non-refundable service fee. Mail-in payments accept money orders or cashier's checks only. No personal checks.

The HCJDC does not include juvenile records, records from other states, or federal criminal records. It covers only adult Hawaii criminal history. Arrest records that did not result in a conviction are confidential and not available to the public. Under HRS 846-2.7, only conviction information and certain acquittal records under Chapter 704, HRS, are public. If you need to check your own record, you can do so through a fingerprint-based Access and Review request at the HCJDC office.

Sex Offender Registry and Covered Offender Registration

The HCJDC runs Hawaii's statewide Sex Offender and Other Covered Offender Registry. For Honolulu County residents, covered offenders must register in person at the HPD Records and Identification Division at 801 South Beretania Street. Walk-ins only, Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. No registrations on weekends or state holidays.

The public registry is searchable online at sexoffenders.ehawaii.gov. It includes registered offender names and aliases, physical descriptions, current registered addresses, conviction information, and risk level assessments. This information is made available under HRS Chapter 846E to support public safety. Sex offender record printouts from the HCJDC are free of charge.

Sheriff and Department of Law Enforcement

The Department of Law Enforcement provides Sheriff services on Oahu through the Sheriff - Oahu Section. Their office is at 715 S. King St, Suite 410, Honolulu, HI 96813. Phone: (808) 587-5002. The Sheriff's Division handles law enforcement at state facilities and supports county law enforcement across the island. The DLE contact page has direct numbers for the Records Section at (808) 587-3625 or (808) 587-2653, and the Criminal Investigation Division at (808) 587-5050.

The DLE works alongside HPD and the HCJDC but focuses on state-facility operations rather than general public record requests. For most criminal history searches in Honolulu County, HPD or HCJDC is the better starting point.

Honolulu Liquor Commission Criminal History Clearance

Anyone applying for a liquor license in Honolulu County must submit a criminal history record clearance as part of the application. This is handled through the Honolulu Liquor Commission, not HPD or HCJDC directly. The Commission is at 711 Kapiolani Boulevard, Suite 600, Honolulu, HI 96813, and can be reached at (808) 768-7300 or HLC@honolulu.gov.

The clearance form asks for full legal name, aliases, date of birth, Social Security number, and a detailed disclosure of any criminal convictions other than minor traffic violations. Applicants must sign and certify that the information is accurate under penalty of perjury. The Liquor Commission then submits fingerprints to both the HCJDC and the FBI to check for state and national criminal history. This is a fingerprint-based check, not a name-based one, which makes it more thorough.

Professional Licensing and DCCA Background Checks

Many professional license applications in Hawaii require a criminal history check. The Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs (DCCA) Professional and Vocational Licensing (PVL) Division at cca.hawaii.gov/pvl sets out which licenses need a background check and what form the check must take. Most require a current criminal history record from the HCJDC dated within the past six months.

If you have a conviction from another state, you need a record check from that state too, not just from Hawaii. If the conviction was for a federal offense, a federal criminal history record check is also required. Contact the relevant state agency or licensing board in each jurisdiction for their own process and fees.

The DCCA Professional and Vocational Licensing Division website explains which professions require a criminal history check and how to submit one. Many applicants in Honolulu County obtain their HCJDC record check specifically to meet this requirement.

The HCJDC at 465 S. King Street in Honolulu is the correct office to visit for record checks that will be submitted to the DCCA. Staff there can certify and seal the report with the department's embossed seal, which is what licensing boards typically need.

Expungements in Honolulu County

If you have an arrest on your record that did not result in a conviction, you may be eligible to have it expunged. The HCJDC handles expungement applications under HRS Section 831-3.2. The process takes 120 days. There is no expedited option.

The fee for a first-time expungement is $35. Second and later expungements cost $50. Both fees include a non-refundable $10 processing charge. If your application is denied, the HCJDC refunds the fee minus that $10. Do not call or email to check your application status. The HCJDC will not provide updates by phone or email due to confidentiality rules. If your application is denied, you will hear by mail.

Since July 1, 2025, under Act 003 (2025), expungement orders are automatically sent from HCJDC to the Judiciary. You no longer need to separately ask the court to seal related case records from its public database. The HCJDC transmits the order directly.

Cities in Honolulu County

All of Oahu falls within the City and County of Honolulu. Criminal cases from every community on the island are handled through HPD and the First Circuit Court system. The qualifying cities below have their own records pages with local details.

Nearby Counties

Hawaii has four counties. If you need criminal records from another island, each county has its own police department and court system.