Hawaii Criminal Records

This guide explains how to find Hawaii criminal records, arrest records, court records, inmate information, and the public sex offender registry, and how Hawaii's background-check and record-clearing laws work. It was last reviewed in June 2026 using official Hawaii sources, and it points you to the state and county agencies that hold each type of record. You can also start a name search using the tool on this page.

How do I look up a criminal record in Hawaii?

There are three main ways to find Hawaii criminal-record information:

• eCrim - the state's public conviction search. The Hawaii Criminal Justice Data Center (HCJDC), an agency of the Department of the Attorney General, operates the Adult Criminal Conviction Information (eCrim) website. Anyone can search conviction records online for $5 per name search, or $12 for a certified printed copy. Only adult conviction records are returned - arrests that did not result in conviction are confidential and not available to the public.
• In-person or mail request through HCJDC. You can submit a name-based background check directly through the HCJDC Criminal History Record Check office. The fee is $30 per request (plus $20 to certify), with a 3-5 business-day turnaround. A fingerprint-based search is the only method that guarantees a record belongs to the specific person.
• An online people-search tool like the one on this page, which compiles public-record data from many sources into one report. These tools are for personal knowledge only and are not a substitute for the official HCJDC search or an FCRA-compliant background check.

Are criminal records public in Hawaii?

It depends on what type of record you mean. Adult conviction records are public and available through the eCrim website or at HCJDC public-access sites statewide. Arrest records that did not result in a conviction - including pending cases - are confidential under Hawaii law and are accessible only to criminal-justice agencies and organizations specifically authorized by statute. So while you can look up someone's convictions, you generally cannot pull their non-conviction arrest history.

Where can I look up arrest records in Hawaii?

Because non-conviction arrest records are confidential in Hawaii, you cannot get a full arrest history on someone else through a public search. What you can find:

• Recent bookings. The Honolulu Police Department (HPD) publishes an online arrest log showing recent bookings. Other county police departments may publish similar logs.
• Conviction records. If an arrest led to a conviction, that conviction appears in the HCJDC eCrim database and in court records.
• Court case files. Circuit and District Court case files for charges that were filed are accessible through the Hawaii Judiciary's eCourt Kokua public case search.

Remember: an arrest record documents that someone was taken into custody, not that they were found guilty of anything.

How do I find court records in Hawaii?

Hawaii offers a statewide online case search. The eCourt Kokua system, maintained by the Hawaii State Judiciary, covers all four judicial circuits (Oahu/Honolulu, Maui, Hawaii Island, and Kauai), including cases from Molokai and Lanai, which fall under the Second Circuit (Maui). You can search traffic, criminal, civil, family, Land Court, Tax Appeal Court, and appellate cases at no cost. Individual document copies cost $3 for up to 30 pages. In-person public-access terminals at each courthouse allow free on-screen viewing. Confidential and sealed case records are not available online.

How do I look up warrants in Hawaii?

Warrants are issued by the courts and executed by county police departments. There is no single statewide online warrant database in Hawaii. To check for an active warrant, contact the district or circuit court in the county where charges would be filed, or call the relevant county police department. Active warrants may also surface in eCourt Kokua case searches if a case is open, and can appear on third-party background reports, but the issuing court or county police agency is the authoritative source.

Do arrests show up on background checks in Hawaii?

Not generally. Under Hawaii law, non-conviction arrest records are confidential - the HCJDC eCrim database returns only conviction information, so a standard Hawaii criminal history search will not show arrests that did not result in a conviction. For employment background checks run through a consumer reporting agency, the federal Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) also limits what can be reported. Hawaii's own rules (discussed in the next question) add further restrictions on which convictions employers can act upon.

How far back does a background check go in Hawaii?

Hawaii has stricter rules than many states. Under Hawaii Revised Statutes §378-2.5, a consumer reporting agency conducting an employment background check may report:

• Felony convictions: up to 7 years from the date of conviction or release from incarceration.
• Misdemeanor convictions: up to 5 years from the date of conviction or release.
• Arrests not resulting in conviction: generally not reportable.

Hawaii also has a statewide ban-the-box law: employers cannot ask about criminal history on an initial job application or before making a conditional offer of employment. Only convictions that are "rationally related" to the job duties may be used to deny a hire. Certain employers are exempt, including law enforcement agencies, financial institutions, and schools.

How do I find someone in jail or prison in Hawaii?

It depends on where the person is held:

• State correctional facility. The Hawaii Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (DCR) offers the SAVIN (Statewide Automated Victim Information and Notification) service. Through VINELink.com or the VINELink phone line (1-877-846-3444), you can search by name for anyone in DCR custody and receive custody-status notifications. As of January 1, 2024, the former Department of Public Safety was reorganized into the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (DCR) and the Department of Law Enforcement.
• County jail. People awaiting trial or serving short sentences are held in county jails. Check the relevant county police department's online jail roster or call the facility directly.
• Federal custody. For federal cases, use the Federal Bureau of Prisons inmate locator.

How do I find out if someone is on probation or parole in Hawaii?

Parole in Hawaii is managed by the Hawaii Paroling Authority (HPA), an independent board under the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. A person's parole status may appear in the SAVIN/VINELink system. Probation is handled by the court and the Division of Probation Services in each county, so the sentencing court's records are the best source. Probation allows someone to serve a sentence in the community under court-set conditions rather than remaining incarcerated.

What are the felony classes in Hawaii?

Hawaii divides felonies into three classes under Hawaii Revised Statutes Chapter 706, plus unclassified offenses like murder. The sentencing ranges and maximum fines are:

• Class A felony: 20-year indeterminate prison term; fine up to $50,000. Examples: first-degree robbery, certain drug offenses.
• Class B felony: 10-year indeterminate prison term; fine up to $25,000. Examples: second-degree robbery, certain assault offenses.
• Class C felony: 5-year indeterminate prison term; fine up to $10,000. Examples: third-degree theft above the statutory dollar threshold, habitual OUI (driving under the influence).

Murder in the first and second degree is unclassified and carries life imprisonment. These are maximum terms; actual sentences depend on the specific offense, prior record, and other factors.

What are the misdemeanor and petty misdemeanor classes in Hawaii?

Below felony level, Hawaii recognizes two grades of lesser offense:

• Misdemeanor: up to 1 year in jail and a fine up to $2,000. Examples: simple assault, harassment, first-offense OUI.
• Petty misdemeanor: up to 30 days in jail and a fine up to $1,000. Examples: disorderly conduct, minor in possession of alcohol.

Hawaii also recognizes violations, which are not criminal offenses - they carry a fine but no jail time and do not create a criminal record.

Are traffic violations crimes in Hawaii?

Most minor traffic offenses in Hawaii are classified as violations or petty misdemeanors, not felonies, so they typically do not appear on a standard criminal background check. More serious driving offenses - such as operating a vehicle under the influence (OUI/DUI) or reckless driving - are charged as misdemeanors or, for repeat offenders, as Class C felonies, and they do create a criminal record.

Is the sex offender registry public in Hawaii?

Yes. The HCJDC maintains a public registry of sex offenders and other covered offenders under Hawaii Revised Statutes Chapter 846E. You can search it free of charge at sexoffenders.ehawaii.gov by name or location. The registry shows identifying information, known addresses, vehicle information, and offense history. You can also sign up for email alerts when a registrant's information changes. More information is available on the HCJDC sex offender information page.

Can someone be removed from the Hawaii sex offender registry?

In limited cases, yes. Under HRS §846E-10, a Tier 1 registrant who has maintained a clean record for at least 10 years (excluding time in custody) and who has substantially complied with registration requirements may petition the court to terminate the registration obligation. The court must find the person is very unlikely to reoffend and that continued registration will not improve public safety. Repeat covered offenders and those convicted of the most serious offenses must register for life and may not petition. Eligibility is fact-specific, so consulting an attorney is advisable.

How do I expunge or clear my criminal record in Hawaii?

Hawaii's primary record-clearing mechanism is expungement under Hawaii Revised Statutes §831-3.2. Key points:

• Non-conviction arrests. If you were arrested but not convicted - whether the case was dismissed, you were acquitted, or no charge was filed - you may apply to the HCJDC for expungement. The fee is $35 for a first-time expungement or $50 for a subsequent one. The process takes approximately 120 days.
• Certain first-time conviction offenses. A small category of convictions, including some first-time drug offenses under §706-622.5 and first-time property offenses under §706-622.9, may qualify for court-ordered expungement.
• Deferred acceptance of guilty plea (DAGP). If you enter a deferred plea and successfully complete the court's probation-like conditions, the charge is dismissed and becomes eligible for expungement (there is a waiting period of at least one year after dismissal).
• New in 2025. Effective July 1, 2025, when the HCJDC grants an expungement order it is automatically transmitted to the Hawaii State Judiciary to seal the related court records - you no longer need to make a separate request to the courts.

For court-record sealing requests, see the Hawaii State Judiciary sealing information page and the HCJDC expungement page.

Do I need a lawyer to expunge my record in Hawaii?

You are not required to hire an attorney to apply for an expungement in Hawaii. The HCJDC publishes the necessary forms and instructions on its website, and applications can be submitted by mail or in person. That said, eligibility rules are detailed - waiting periods, disqualifying offenses, and procedural steps matter - and a mistake can delay or forfeit your chance to clear a record. Many people find it worthwhile to consult a legal-aid clinic or an attorney, especially for cases involving convictions.

How long does a felony stay on your record in Hawaii?

A Hawaii felony conviction stays on your record permanently unless you obtain specific legal relief such as an expungement (available only in narrow circumstances for convictions) or, for qualifying cases, a court-ordered dismissal under deferred sentencing provisions. There is no automatic time-based deletion of a conviction. The 7-year reporting limit in HRS §378-2.5 described above restricts what an employer's background-check company may report for felonies - but it does not erase the underlying record from HCJDC's database or court files.

Are juvenile criminal records private in Hawaii?

Juvenile records in Hawaii are generally confidential and are not available to the public through standard record searches. They remain accessible to law enforcement, the courts, and certain agencies. Juveniles who successfully complete a court-ordered program or reach adulthood without additional offenses may be eligible to have their records expunged or sealed. Certain serious offenses committed by older juveniles can be transferred to adult court, in which case the resulting adult record is treated as a public adult conviction.

Honolulu County criminal records

Honolulu County (the City and County of Honolulu, which encompasses the entire island of Oahu) is by far Hawaii's most populous county, home to roughly 999,000 residents - about 69 percent of the state's population. The First Circuit Court, based in Honolulu, handles felony and major civil cases for Oahu and is the largest trial court in Hawaii. Case records for the First Circuit are searchable statewide through eCourt Kokua. For Honolulu-specific felony records, district court criminal files, and civil cases, you can search eCourt Kokua or visit the First Circuit Court clerk's office at 777 Punchbowl Street, Honolulu. The Honolulu Police Department (HPD) handles law-enforcement records and publishes a recent arrest log on its website.

Official Hawaii criminal record sources

• HCJDC Criminal History Record Check - the state agency for official Hawaii background checks; explains name-based and fingerprint-based options.
• eCrim - Adult Criminal Conviction Information - online public search of Hawaii adult conviction records ($5 per name search).
• eCourt Kokua - Hawaii State Judiciary case search - free statewide search of court cases across all circuits and case types.
• Hawaii Sex Offender Search (sexoffenders.ehawaii.gov) - free public registry of covered offenders, searchable by name or location.
• HCJDC Expungement Page - official information on Hawaii expungement eligibility, fees ($35/$50), and the July 2025 automatic court-sealing change.
• Hawaii SAVIN / VINELink (DCR) - free inmate custody search and notification service for state correctional facilities.
• Hawaii State Judiciary: sealing court records - instructions for requesting that court records be sealed.

Disclosure: criminal.com may earn a commission when you use the people-search tool on this page, which is powered by a third-party background-check service. Results from such tools are for your personal knowledge only and may not be used to make decisions about employment, housing, credit, tenant screening, or any other purpose covered by the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). An arrest record or mugshot is not proof of guilt. This page is general information about Hawaii public records, not legal advice; for advice about your situation, consult an attorney. Information was last reviewed in June 2026 and laws may change.