Find Free Hawaii Criminal & Arrest Records (HI Islands & Counties)

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Free Hawaii Arrest Records & Criminal Records Search

Access Hawaii Records: background checks, warrants, probation and parole, court records, and all criminal and arrest records.

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This how-to guide shows readers how to find free Hawaii criminal records via official channels in a matter of minutes.

Hawaii arrest records, including criminal records, are made available though Hawaii’s Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) which states that the general public may access public records in most cases. However, individuals may have difficulty going about their search, finding the appropriate agencies and forms due to the multitude of agencies, government websites, varying jurisdictions, different courts, and diverse branches of government.

Hawaii Records Page serves to streamline this process and make criminal records, arrest records, and associated HI public record searches simple and straightforward.

By following the resources in the guide below, searchers can find:

• Arrest reports for every county and island in HI
• Criminal records that originated in Hawaii
• The process to seal or expunge records
• Probation, parole, and warrant information
• Background check details for personal and professional screenings
• State and federal prisoners
• Sex offenders in Hawaii and across the nation
• Laws protecting employees and potential employees against criminals record discrimination

Can the Public Access Criminal Records & Arrest Records in Hawaii (HI)?

Records of Hawaii’s current arrests can be accessed and obtained by the public including individuals, foreign citizens, corporations, government agencies and legal entities in accordance with the Uniform Information Practices Act (UIPA) through several county offices, correctional facilities, government-run offices and websites, or even third party people finder websites.

Public access to criminal and arrest records in Hawaii is vital with nearly 1.5 million long term residents per the U.S. Census Report and over 9 times the tourists annually. With so many citizens and visitors coming and going, it can be useful (for tourists especially) to familiarize themselves with where and how to find Hawaii’s criminal and arrest records if needed during their time on the islands.

Hawaii’s Freedom of Information Act allows citizens to view records from the Department of Defense, Army, National Guard, Emergency Management Agency, Veteran Affairs, Youth Academy and Hawaii Office of Homeland Security by filling out a FOIA or UIPA request form.¹

On the other hand, criminal and arrest records in Hawaii can be found on the county or state level and the process to find this information is outlined below.

Exceptions to public information access include government documents closed or restricted by law. Exceptions that do not require disclosure are:

• Records that would violate personal privacy
• Documentation that necessitates confidentiality for proper government function
• Drafts of pending and ongoing legislation
• Records made confidential or protected by court order or through state or federal rulings
• Any and all juvenile records (as these are sealed by default)
• Sealed or expunged records (including juvenile records which are expunged at age 21)

Searchers who need to obtain records of friends, loved ones or colleagues can check with various record custodians like local law enforcement, courts etc.

How Do Criminal Records vs Arrest Records Differ in Hawaii (HI)?

Before checking if someone has a criminal record or finding their arrest report, knowing the key differences can help determine which will provide the information you’re seeking.

In Hawaii, criminal records searches are done by either name or fingerprinting and are available to the public in the cases of guilty convictions for adults only, as long as the records have not been sealed or expunged.

Criminal records are more thorough and reveal more than arrest records, which the Hawaii Criminal Justice Data Center deems confidential and withholds from the public if there was no conviction or if records are still in “pending” status.

A criminal record in Hawaii only shows convictions and criminal history for that state alone, and excludes federal and other state (and country) convictions. Information generally made public in criminal records includes:

• First Name, Last Name, Known Aliases
• Mugshot
• Fingerprints
• Date of Birth
• All Known Addresses
• Warrants
• Previous Arrests (Within Hawaii)

Concerned friends and family members can call local jails or courthouses for further information on where a recently arrested person is being held. Arrest records will usually reveal the following:

• Last Name, First Name
• Details of the Arrest (Reason, Location, Method)
• Date of Arrest
• Fingerprints
• Where Subject Is Held After Arrest

How To Find Hawaii Arrest Records, Mugshots & the Reason for Detainment for Free (HI Arrest Records Search by County)

The state’s law enforcement is run at the county level, as this is the only state in the U.S. without a state-level police agency (due to the archipelago geography). The Corrections Division of the Hawaii Department of Public Safety is in charge of managing the four jails, each on a different Hawaiian island.

Thankfully in Hawaii there is a consistently up-to-date, free, and reliable online search tool available: Victim Information and Notification Everyday–also called VINElink or simply VINE. Though the purpose is for victims of crime, assault, and harassment to be able to track offenders and their custody status, this website could also be used by anyone seeking information on past and current criminal offenders and cases.² This site shows:

• Last Name, First Name
• Gender
• Custody Status
• Record Details
• Date of Birth (If an Account Is Created)
• ID Number (If an Account Is Created)
• Mugshot (If Available)

Individuals using VINE to find a potential offender should:

1. Navigate to VINElink Hawaii
2. Click on “Search for Someone”
3. Fill in the relevant information – For example, I’m searching for An Offender located in Hawaii whose Name is (First Name) Josh (Last Name) Smith
4. View the search results and mugshots to find who they are looking for, get notified on updates to the offender’s profile, or view record details including aliases, ID number, custody status, booking date, location, reporting agency, and more

With the quantity of daily arrests, it’s important for any searcher to know the name and approximate arrest date and location of the record they’re seeking. Determining if someone was detained in Hawaii and their charges can only be performed online through VINElink or directly through local police stations, so knowledge of the city or county can drastically narrow down the search for a specific person.

How To Look Up Recent Arrests in Hawaii: See Who’s in Jail Through County Police Departments

Since Hawaii does not have its own state registry or mugshot database, people searching for offenders or what someone was arrested for should directly contact the local police department or sheriff’s office where the arrest was made. Record requests can be made in person, by phone, or in writing since there is not an online inmate lookup tool per county or island.

To begin with, it may be best to contact the jails directly if all else fails since there are only four in Hawaii.

Hawaiian Island Jails	Hawaiian Island Jail Phone Numbers	Shows Mugshots?
Hawaii Community Correctional Center 60 Punahele Street Hilo, 96720	Phone: 808-933-0431	X
Kauai Community Correctional Center 3-5351 Kuhio Highway Lihue, 96766	Phone: 808-241-3050 EXT- 244	X
Maui Community Correctional Center 600 Waiale Drive Wailuku, 96793	Phone: 808-243-5101 Visitation Hotline: (808)243-5861	X
Oahu Community Correctional Center 2199 Kamehameha Highway Honolulu, 96819	Phone: 808-832-1777 Visitation Hotline: (808)832-1633	X

A bail bondsman could also be very helpful and resourceful in explaining determining if someone was arrested, navigating the search process, and answering any questions pertaining to the legalities of bail.

Calling the local jail and/or police department is the primary option for recent arrests, but for older arrests either VINElink or Hawaii’s Adult Criminal Information (eCrim) site are recommended. VINE is also a reliable online source for viewing mugshots.

With many loopholes and caveats pertaining to information available to the public, many records released soon after an arrest will only show partial information; that which is confidential, pending, subject to the statute of limitations, or otherwise protected will be withheld and the interested person will receive a redacted version if the full record is not yet available.

Records will include the requestor’s information but information about the person in question–including residence, email, birth date, name, phone number, and social security numbers–could be blacked out if it is not yet open to public access. Other withheld identifiers might include financial, medical, and any juvenile details.

However, there are times where contacting the local police department may prove fruitful as well. For this reason, the tables below outline the contact information for police department for each county and island in Hawaii. 

Hawaii County (Includes Island of Hawaii)

Hawaii County Police Departments	Hawaii County Police Dept. Office or Sheriff’s Office Phone Number	Shows Mugshots?
Hawaii Police Department (Hāmākua District) 349 Kapiʻolani Street Hilo, Hawaiʻi 96720	Police Commander: (808)775-7533 Non Emergency Line: (808)935-3311	X
Laupāhoehoe Station (North Hilo District) 36-2285 Old Mamalahoa Hwy, Laupahoehoe, HI 96764	Non Emergency Line: (808)935-3311	X
Hilo Station (South Hilo District) 349 Kapiʻolani Street, Hilo	Non Emergency Line: (808)935-3311	X
Pāhoa  Station (Puna District) 15-2615 Keaʻau-Pāhoa Road	Non Emergency Line: (808)935-3311	X
Nāʻālehu Station (Kaʻū District) 95-5355 Māmalahoa Highway, Nāʻālehu	Non Emergency Line: (808)935-3311	X
Kona Station (Kona District) 74-611 Hale Mākaʻi Place, Kailua-Kona	Non Emergency Line: (808)935-3311	X
Waimea Station (South Kohala District) 67-5185 Kamāmalu Street, Waimea	Non Emergency Line: (808)935-3311	X
Kapaʻau Station (North Kohala District) 54-3900 Akoni Pule Highway, Kapaʻau	Non Emergency Line: (808)935-3311	X

 

Honolulu County (Includes Islands of O’ahu and the NW Hawaiian Islands Except Midway Atoll)

Honolulu County Police Departments	Honolulu County Police Dept. Office or Sheriff’s Office Phone Number	Shows Mugshots?
Main Police Department Alapai Police Headquarters 801 South Beretania St. Honolulu, HI 96813	Phone: (808)529-3111	X
Wahiawa Police Station 330 North Cane Street Wahiawa, HI 96786	Phone: (808)723-8700	X
Pearl City Police Station 1100 Waimano Home Road Pearl City, HI 96782	Phone: (808)723-8800	X
Kaneohe Police Station 45-270 Waikalua Road Kaneohe, HI 96744	Phone: (808)723-8640	X
Kalihi Police Station 1865 Kamehameha IV Road Honolulu, HI 96819	Phone: (808)723-8207	X
Kapolei Police Station 1100 Kamokila Boulevard Kapolei, HI 96707	Phone: (808)723-8400	X
District 6 and District 7 Criminal Investigations 4087 Diamond Head Road Honolulu, HI. 96816	District 6 Phone: (808)723-8912 District 7 Phone: (808)723-8901	X

 

Kauai County (Includes Islands of Kauai, Ni’ihau, Lehua, and Ku’ula)

Kauai County Police Departments	Kauai County Police Dept. Office or Sheriff’s Office Phone Number	Shows Mugshots?
Kauai County Sheriff’s Office 3990 Kaana Street Lihue, Hawaii, 96766	Sheriff’s Office Phone Number: 808-241-1711 District Commander: (808)241-1638	X

 

Maui County (Includes Islands of Kaho’olawe, Lana’i, Molokai (Except Kalaupapa Peninsula, and Molokini))

Maui County Police Departments	Maui County Police Dept. Office or Sheriff’s Office Phone Number	Shows Mugshots?
Maui County Sheriff’s Office 2145 Main St. #124 Wailuku, HI 96793	Sheriff’s Office: (808)587-2652	X
Maui County Police Dept. 55 Mahalani St. Wailuku, HI 96793	County PD: (808)244-6400	X
Hana Police Station 35 Hana Hwy Hana, Maui, HI 96713	Police Station: (808)-248-8670 or (808)-244-6400	X
Kihel Police Station 2201 Piilani Hwy Kihel, Maui, HI 96753	Police Station: (808)875-8190 or (808)244-6400	X
Lahaina Police Station 1850 Honoapiilani Hwy. Lahaina, Maui, HI 96761	No Phone Number Listed	X
Lanai Police Station 855 Fraser Ave. Lanai City, Lanai, HI 96763	Police Station: (808)565-6428 or (808)244-6400	X
Molokai Police Station 110 Ainoa St. Kaunakakai Molokai, HI 96748	Police Station: (808)553-5355 or (808)244-6400	X

*Note: Kalawao County–which includes the islands of Kalaupapa Peninsula or Moloka’i–does not have it’s own elected government, government functions, or police departments; it operates as a jurisdiction under Maui County instead

How To Contact an Inmate in a Hawaii Jail & Initiate the Bail Process

Concerned friends or family members hoping to contact an inmate should create a Global Tel Link/ViaPath (GTL) ConnectNetwork account by dialing +1-877-650-4249 or by visiting the ConnectNetwork website.³

All inmate calls are subject to monitoring unless between an inmate and an attorney, an ombudsman or the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU). Inmates have also been granted access to tablets which allow for video calls.

Letter correspondence with inmates is also allowed, but all mail will be opened, read, and inspected prior to delivery, unless clearly marked as “LEGAL MAIL” with the inmate’s name and ID number as well as the attorney’s complete name and bar number printed on the envelope.

Any inmate mail should be addressed as follows:

Inmate Name, ID Number
Facility Name
P.O. Box or Street Address
City, State, Zip Code

To post bail for an inmate, concerned parties should first contact the Central Receiving Division of the local police department.

For example, a family member wanting to post bail for an inmate in Honolulu would contact the Honolulu PD Central Receiving Division by visiting 801 S. Beretania St. or calling (808)723-3284.

Individuals can also call the jail in question to ensure the arrestee is still in custody and find the amount needed to make bail. Whoever is going to cover bail should then come in person to the station with the proper amount of cash, as checks and credit card payments are not taken. Forms must be signed before arrestees will be let go.

Since those who cannot post bail must stay in jail until their next hearing, it’s vital to know how the bail process works. If an inmate or their family cannot cover the entire cost of bail (cash bail), a bail bondsman can be used to post bail on behalf of the arrestee, at a set premium of 10% per Hawaii law. For example, when bail is set at $20,000, the defendant must pay the bail bondsman $2,000 (non-refundable).

The only exception would be very high bail costs or individuals considered a flight risk, where the bail bondsman may request a higher fee for their services. In any case, defendants are usually released mere hours after bail has been posted.

How To Look Up Criminal Records in Hawaii–HI Criminal Records Search

Hawaii criminal records can be found by calling or visiting a local police department (contact information can be found in the tables above), looking up charges on VINElink, or viewing and purchasing records through the eCrim site, which will be explained in depth below. Some county and district police stations do charge fees, whereas both VINElink and most third party sites are free but may not have complete reports or the most up-to-date information.

If requested through a police department office, a finalized or redacted copy of an arrest report should be available within 10 working days of the submitted request. If all else fails, background checks can provide added insight into the person in question’s criminal history but searchers should keep in mind that–similarly to arrest records–criminal records of juveniles are automatically sealed.

Search the Hawaii Criminal Justice Data Center, eCrim, eCourt Kokua, and Public Access Sites

Hawaii’s counties do not have government-hosted online criminal record lookups. An online search alternative for finding court records throughout Hawaii is called eCourt Kokua–a statewide search tool run by the Hawaii State Judiciary–where any member of the public can look up offenders by name, case type, or filing date. Individuals who use eCourt Kokua will be charged a flat rate of $3 per document up to 30 pages, while those wanting records beyond 30 pages will be charged an extra $0.10 per page.⁴

These court case types will show up in eCourt Kokua:

• Circuit, District, and Family Court Criminal
• Circuit, District, and Family Court Civil
• Intermediate Court of Appeals
• Land Court and Tax Appeal Court
• Supreme Court
• Traffic Court

Searchers who want to forego the online route and go straight to the source can refer to the table below which has links to and addresses of each courthouse where interested parties can request records in person from the county clerk. Requesters should visit the courthouse where the case or trial was held.

Criminal cases are heard at the circuit court level unless elevated to the Supreme Court of the State of Hawaii. Requested records will be available within 10 business days unless sealed, pending, or withheld due to ongoing litigation or a reopened case.

County Criminal Record Search	County Courthouse Address	Shows Mugshots?
Hawaii County Courthouse	Hawaii County Courthouse Address: Hale Kaulike 777 Kilauea Avenue Hilo, Hawaii 96720-4212	X
Honolulu County Courthouse	Honolulu County Courthouse Address: Kaʻahumanu Hale 777 Punchbowl Street Honolulu HI 96813-5093	X
Kauai County Courthouse	Kauai County Courthouse Address: 3970 Kaana St, #207, Lihue, HI 96766	X
Maui County Courthouse	Maui County Courthouse Address: Hoapili Hale 2145 Main Street, Suite 106 Wailuku, Hawaii 96793-1679	X

*Note: Kalawao County does not have it’s own elected government or government functions; it operates as a jurisdiction under Maui County instead

Without any county-specific online search tool, citizens seeking criminal records in Honolulu, for example, could do the following:

Step 1: Click on “Honolulu County Courthouse” above for further information or to view the Hawaii State Judiciary page about the First Circuit Court

Step 2: Find the Honolulu County Courthouse physical address or phone number either on that webpage or in the table above

Step 3: Call or visit the courthouse and request a copy of criminal records for [Name of Person of Interest]

Step 4: Pay the applicable fees if the record is available

Step 5: Receive and view the completed or redacted record, whichever is available

Adult criminal records are held at the Hawaii State Correctional Center and reports resulting from convictions can also be accessed by the public via the Adult Criminal Conviction Information eCrim website or public Access Sites throughout the islands, both of which charge interested parties a nominal fee.⁶

The Hawaii Criminal Justice Data Center (HCJDC) is the agency with authority over the state’s criminal history record information system (CJIS-Hawaii) and which runs the eCrim site.⁷ All eCrim search results are based on HCJDC criminal history record files, which cover adult convictions in the state of Hawaii.

For searchers who opt for eCrim, an account must be made prior to searching, viewing or purchasing records online.

There is a set fee for each search result (accessible by name or fingerprint) and report. Note the applicable fees per copy below and that the only allowed payment method is credit card.

Upon creating or logging into an existing eCrim account, users can search for individuals by social security number, name, date of birth, and gender. Those who have been categorized as sex offenders will not be shown in search results.

Aside from eCrim as a viable online resource, records are also available to purchase offline at $25 per printed report from public access sites throughout the state:

Honolulu Police Department
801 South Beretania Street
Honolulu, HI 96813
Phone: (808)529-3191

Hawaii Police Department
349 Kapiolani Street
Hilo, HI 96720
Phone: (808)961-2233

Kona Police Station
74-5221 Queen Kaahumanu Highway
Kailua-Kona, HI 96740
Phone: (808)326-4646 ext. 286

Kauai County Police Department
3990 Kaana Street
Lihue, HI 96766
Phone: (808)241-1661

Maui County Police Department
55 Mahalani Street
Wailuku, HI 96793
Phone: (808)244-6345/6355

For users who cannot find records through eCourt Kokua, eCrim, or public access sites can contact the HCJDC to assist them by completing and submitting a Request for Criminal History Record Check Form⁸ or an HCJDC contact form, pictured below.⁹

The HCJDC office can also be visited or contacted at the following address or phone number:

Hawaii Criminal Justice Data Center
Kekuanaoa Building
465 S. King Street, Rm. 102
Honolulu, Hawaii 96813
Phone: (808)587-3100

To review, the fees per search and report are outlined below for eCrim lookups, public access site records, and HCJDC requests:

How To Obtain a Copy of Your Own Criminal Record in Hawaii (HI)

All Hawaii criminal records that are not sealed, expunged, or pending are available in person at the Hawaii Criminal Justice Data Center at 465 S. King Street, Room 102, Honolulu, 96813, and guilty conviction records via the HCJDC-operated Adult Criminal Conviction Information (eCrim) website.⁶  All users must make an account and pay the applicable fees to use eCrim.

The HCJDC falls under authority of the Department of the Attorney General of the State of Hawaii and is also responsible for statewide fingerprinting and the Sex Offender and Other Covered Offender Registry–however, neither sex offenders nor “other covered offenders” will show up on eCrim search results.

Any of the public Access Sites listed above will also assist searchers and provide printed records at a nominal fee.

Is There a Way to Confirm Whether Someone Is on Probation or Parole in Hawaii?

Searchers should be aware that release from jail is considered probation, whereas parole is a release from prison. Since Hawaii does not have a separate parolee database, interested or concerned parties should use the Hawaii Statewide Automated Victim Information and Notification (SAVIN) system that’s operated by the aforementioned VINE.

Though this site is intended for victims of domestic abuse or other crimes, anyone can use the SAVIN site to look up an offender by name and discover both release date and current parole status.¹⁰

The Hawaii Paroling Authority (HPA) is connected to the state’s Department of Social Services and Housing and sets minimum prison terms, grants and revokes parole, and is responsible for any parole status changes.

Parolees must serve time in the community while adhering to strict court-imposed rules, which–if broken–will likely land violators back in jail. Rules that parolees must follow include:

• • Required home visits from probation officers
  • Confined to a certain area or region

• Paying restitution
• Changing housing or jobs only with the court’s permission
• Prohibition of carrying a firearm
• Not associating with known criminals¹¹

The U.S. Probation Office in Hawaii can also be contacted for further information on any probation search and this office can provide applicable probationary records to concerned individuals.¹²

To illustrate just how many people are on probation and parole, the following image shows the combined total of probationers and parolees in Hawaii, along with their ethnicities.

Lastly, searching the sex offender registry, running a personal background check, or contacting local courthouses are all viable options for collecting further information on offenders who are now on probation or parole.

How To Seal or Expunge Records in HI (Hawaii Criminal Record Sealing & Expungement Process)

Hawaii allows for the expungement of arrest records that did not result in a conviction in most cases, meaning that these records will be completely erased from both the statewide adult criminal record repository and the arresting agency.

Since non-conviction arrests are not expunged unless explicitly requested, the individual must apply for an expungement order to be granted by the court. A $35 fee applies to first time expungements and $50 charges for every expungement thereafter (including a $10 non-refundable processing fee).

To apply for an expungement, individuals should:

Step 1: Complete the Expungement Application and seal it in an envelope with the proper payment amount via money order or cashier’s check made payable to the “State of Hawaii”¹⁴

Step 2: Either submit the envelope via the dropbox at Room 102 of the HCJDC in Honolulu (address listed above) or by mail to the same building:

Hawaii Criminal Justice Data Center
Expungement Section
465 S. King St. #102
Honolulu, HI. 96813

Step 3: Wait up to 120 days for confirmation or denial of expungement request, upon which records will be removed from the eCourt Kokua search results and the state’s public records repository.

Exceptions in which expungement orders will not be granted include:

• Pardoned convictions
• Charges which are still pending
• Arrests in which convictions were not obtained due to bail forfeiture
• The 1 year period after defendant’s discharge and dismissal of a charge in cases of deferred acceptance or guilty pleas
• The 5 year period following an arrest or citation for a petty misdemeanor
• Arrests in which convictions were not obtained due to the arrestee leaving the jurisdiction
• In cases where individuals were involuntarily hospitalized or had their charges dismissed due to physical or mental defects, diseases or disorders
• Charges resulting in convictions (except for first-time drug offenses and DUIs under age 21)

Sealing Hawaii criminal records should be performed by an offender’s attorney or public defender, but it is possible to do so without either. Prior offenders who want to check if their record is visible to the public should use the eCourt Kokua site to see if their report is accessible.⁴

After typing in search criteria, all cases fitting the search will show up with their case numbers for detailed viewing. For example, a search of “John Smith” brings up the following:

Even if an arrest record has been expunged by the Attorney General, court records and traffic violation records will still be visible here on eCourt Kokua and other public search sites unless an individual formally requests these records to also be sealed or removed by the court.

To request that a record be sealed, individuals should:

Step 1: Write a letter to the court where the case was filed including their full government name, mailing address, phone number, and a copy of the expungement certificate

Step 2: Deliver or mail the letter to the relevant court (addressed to the court with “Legal Documents” printed alongside the address)

Step 3: If the judge grants the request to seal expunged records, the requestor will receive a certificate of approval by mail

Juvenile records are automatically sealed, but juvenile expungements must be facilitated through Family Court and requests must be submitted in writing. Juvenile records are automatically expunged when the individual reaches age 21 if the arrest did not result in a conviction.

Addiotnally, Public Access to Court Electronic Records (PACER) allows the public to view images of federal case documents filed after 1997.¹⁷

How To Find Someone in HI Prison System (Hawaii State & Federal Prison Lookup)

Searchers hoping to find information on federal offenders can contact Hawaii’s only federal prison–the Federal Detention Center (FDC) in Honolulu–which holds both male and female prisoners. The FDC’s contact information is:

Federal Detention Center–Honolulu
351 Elliott St.
Honolulu, HI 96819
Phone: (808)838-4200

The Federal Bureau of Prisons search tool (shown below) is free for users to search for inmates by name or Bureau of Prisons (BOP) registry number and will return the following information on each inmate, if available:

• Name
• BOP Register Number
• Age
• Race
• Sex
• Release Date
• Location¹⁵

A state prisoner can be found by contacting Hawaii’s Corrections Division which oversees the four state prisons:¹⁵

Halawa Correctional Facility
99-902 Moanalua Road
Aiea, 96701
Phone: 808-485-5200

Waiawa Correctional Facility
94-560 Kamehameha Highway
Pearl City, 96782
Phone: 808-677-6150

Kulani Correctional Facility
Island of Hilo
Phone: 808-932-4430

Women’s Community Correctional Center
42-477 Kalanianaole Hwy
Kailua, 96734
Phone: 808-266-9580

How To Perform a Warrant Search in HI: Find Your Own Arrest Warrant or Someone Else’s in Hawaii

To find out if yourself or someone else has a warrant out for their arrest, you can use any of the above resources or tools since criminal record searches will reveal active warrants as well. The eCrim site, public access sites, and HCJDC will all give records that show active warrants–but each charge varying fees.

A free option for approved members of criminal justice and law enforcement agencies is Hawaii’s Judiciary Information Management System’s ​​eBench Warrants search page. Here, users can create a free account to seek criminal, traffic, and non-Family Court civil warrants. The database is updated constantly for current and accurate information.¹⁶

Searchers can also contact the Records and Identification Division of the Warrants Unit of the relevant police department (addresses and phone numbers in the tables above).

For example, someone needing to contact the Maui County Police Department would dial (808)244-6355 and inquire about an outstanding warrant.

While federal warrants issued by U.S. Marshals are stored in their WIN system database, these are only made available to certain LEO agencies and remain undisclosed to the general public.

Warrants expire 5 years after issuance date.

A Synopsis of Hawaii Background Checks

Official background checks are often much more informative and in depth than criminal or arrest records in Hawaii, as they often include prior employment information, traffic violations, education and work history, credit usage and more.

For professional purposes, Hawaii background checks are done by the Hawaii Criminal Justice Data Center and are name-based or fingerprints checks. This same information can be found via eCrim if it’s for personal reasons.

Agencies that require background checks in Hawaii and the process for each entity can be found by using the links below:

Hawaii Agency That Requires a Background Check	Reasons for Screening
Hawaii Office of Health Care Assurance Hawaii Background Check System (HI-BCS)	Prospective Public Health Applicants Direct Patient Access Employees Adult Healthcare Volunteers Adult Care Employees & Aids Healthcare Facility Employees Private Home Care Workers Foster Families or Individuals Senior Companions Respite Care Providers Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) Providers Developmental and Intellectual Disability Providers
Hawaii State Department of Education	Teachers Paraprofessionals Janitorial Staff All School Staff & Volunteers Administrators Field Placements Bus Drivers
Hawaii Criminal Justice Data Center	Armed Security Officers & Guards All Detective & Guard Agency Members, Directors & Partners Tenants Police Officers & Agency Members HVAC Pharmacists Employees in Certain Fields/Institutions LPNs RNs Physicians APRNs All Department of Commerce & Consumer Affairs Affiliates and Licensing Program Members Under Their Jurisdiction

Hawaii has not added any of its own state stipulations to the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) rules or regulations, so those seeking specific criminal records or credit history can refer to the federal mandates–including a maximum of 7 years’ worth of information on professional background checks. However, the state’s statute of limitations on debt is 6 years instead, so Hawaiians are subject to one less year of past credit reporting than the federal standard. Ins short, any and all background checks run for professional purposes must abide by Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) laws.

For searchers who are doing personal background checks instead, the agencies seen above and below in this article are a great way to check public records and determine if yourself, or someone else has a criminal history. Personal background checks can be performed for any reason so long as the information provided is not used to stalk, intimidate, or harass.

How To Navigate the Hawaii Sex Offender Registry (Find Sexual Predators in HI)

Hawaii has its own Sex Offender & Other Covered Offender Search that can be used instead of or alongside the national registry. Hawaii’s sex offender registry search site is made public under Chapter 846E. No account needs to be made, and users need only fill out the following online form to perform an online registry search.¹⁸

To perform a sex offender or other covered offender search, users should:

Step 1: Choose offender type, status, radius, and zip code from each dropdown menu

Step 2: Type in the offender’s first and last name, street, and city

Step 3: Click the blue “search” button, which will prompt the aggregated search results

Step 4: Scroll and browse resulting names for the offender in question and click their name for details

Search results will include all sex offenders and other offenders unless otherwise filtered and will show by specified radius. Both map and list views are offered and the following information will be included in each search result, if available:

Hawaii’s Laws Regarding Arrest Records & Criminal Records

Although individuals completing personal criminal record searches may do so without the person’s consent, landlords, employers, licensing agencies and any others using record checks for professional or official purposes must abide by all local, state, and federal laws.

Hawaii was the first state to “ban the box” where job applicants with criminal records had previously been required to check to disclose their criminal history; by banning the box on applications, Hawaii hoped that finding gainful employment would decrease the number of repeat offenders.

The “ban the box” policy was later revised in 2020 under Senate Bill 2193, in which the “look back period” for convictions was decreased from 10 years of criminal history to 7 years for convictions of felonies and 5 years for misdemeanor convictions.

According to Hawaii Revised Statute 378-2.5b, employers cannot inquire about a potential employee’s criminal convictions until after a conditional offer of employment has been made and they must not discriminate against anyone based on this information.²¹

Employers that do NOT have to abide by these restrictions or timelines are:

• Aircraft Companies
• Airlines
• Armed Security Guard Companies
• Banks & Other Financial Institutions
• Condominium HOAs
• CO-OP Boards
• County Offices & Agencies
• Department of Health
• Department of Human Services
• Department of Public Safety
• Detective Agencies
• Disability Service Providers
• Insurance Companies
• Judiciary
• Public Libraries
• Schools
• State Agencies

Similarly, in accordance with Hawaii Revised Statute 831-3.2, employers shall not take into account any expunged criminal records nor arrest records when decided whether or not to hire an applicant–with the exception of being able to provide indisputable evidence that the expunged record would directly interfere with the applicant’s job performance.²²

Under Chapter 92F-12 of the Uniform Information Practices Act (UIPA), any person may request public records without disclosing a reason or purpose.²³ Exempt information includes:

• Criminal Investigations
• Fitness to Be Granted a License
• Medical Information
• Personal Recommendations & Evaluations
• Personnel Files
• Psychiatric or Psychological Information
• Social Services or Welfare Benefits Information

Arrest record expungement must be requested through the Department of the Attorney General or HCJDC. Sealing court records can be done via court order.

The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) is a federal law under the Federal Trade Commission that protects consumer privacy during background checks and in other consumer reporting agency files and information databases.

The FCRA requires that employers notify applicants in writing of their intent to perform a background check and obtain written consent prior to conducting any such checks.²⁴

Any member of the public seeking arrest records in Hawaii can utilize this free guide and the local law enforcement agencies seen within to see if someone was arrested and what for. Available via multiple offices, websites, and record custodians for free or low cost, Hawaii criminal records can also be quickly found through Hawaii Criminal Justice Data Center, eCrim, eCourt Kokua, public access terminals and if all else fails, third party search sites.

Frequently Asked Questions