Hilo Traffic Ticket Records
Traffic ticket records for Hilo are processed at the Hilo District Court, one of two district courts serving Hawaii County on the Big Island. Hilo is the county seat of Hawaii County and falls under the Third Circuit of the Hawaii State Judiciary. The Hawaii Police Department handles all traffic enforcement in Hilo. This page covers how to find citations, respond to them, pay fines, and access official traffic records for incidents in Hilo.
Hilo Overview
Hilo District Court
All traffic citations issued in Hilo go to the Hilo District Court for processing. This court is part of the Third Circuit of the Hawaii State Judiciary and covers the eastern side of the Big Island, including Hilo and surrounding communities. The Traffic Violations Bureau at this court takes payments, processes hearing requests, and handles records orders for civil traffic infraction cases. Criminal traffic matters are scheduled and heard here as well.
The court address is 777 Kilauea Avenue, Hilo, HI 96720. Phone is (808) 961-7470. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 1:00 PM. The court is closed on state and federal holidays. For current hours and contact information, check the Hawaii Judiciary district court contact page. The Hilo District Court is centrally located and easy to reach from most parts of the Hilo area.
The Hawaii Judiciary district court contact page lists the current address, phone, and hours for the Hilo District Court, which handles all Hilo area traffic citations under the Third Circuit.
The district court contact page confirms current hours and phone numbers for the Hilo District Court, which processes all traffic citation cases from Hilo under the Third Circuit of the Hawaii State Judiciary.
| Court | Hilo District Court |
|---|---|
| Address | 777 Kilauea Avenue, Hilo, HI 96720 |
| Phone | (808) 961-7470 |
| Hours | Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM - 1:00 PM |
| Circuit | Third Circuit |
Traffic Citations Issued in Hilo
The Hawaii Police Department (HPD on the Big Island, not to be confused with the Honolulu Police Department) handles all traffic enforcement in Hilo. HPD issues citations under the same statewide system used by all Hawaii police agencies. There are three citation types: the Notice of Traffic Infraction (NTI) for civil violations, the Criminal Traffic Citation and Arrest (CTCA) for criminal traffic offenses, and the Notice of Parking Infraction (NPI) for parking matters.
NTI citations are the most common type in Hilo. Under HRS Chapter 291D, you have 21 days from the citation date to respond. Your options are to pay the fine in full, request a no-contest plea at a reduced amount, or ask for a hearing. If you miss the 21-day deadline without responding, a default judgment may be entered against you. NTI fines can be paid online through eTraffic Hawaii. Online payments carry a $1.50 flat fee plus a 2.6% service charge. Visa, Mastercard, Discover, and American Express are accepted.
CTCA criminal citations cover offenses like DUI and reckless driving under HRS Chapter 291C. These require a mandatory court appearance at the Hilo District Court. The court date is printed on the face of the citation. Missing a CTCA court date can lead to a bench warrant. CTCA cases cannot be paid online or by mail and cannot be handled through the Traffic Violations Bureau.
Note: Kamehameha Avenue, Kanoelehua Avenue, and Route 11 near Hilo see regular traffic enforcement by HPD. All citations issued in these areas go to the Hilo District Court system.
Search Hilo Traffic Records Online
The eCourt Kokua public case search covers all circuits in Hawaii, including the Third Circuit and the Hilo District Court. You can search by name, citation number, or case number at no cost and without a login. Results include case status, hearing dates, charges, and outcomes. New citations usually appear in the system within a few business days of the court processing them.
The eTraffic Hawaii portal handles NTI fine payments and hearing requests online. You need your citation number and the date of the violation to look up your case. Use eCourt Kokua when you need complete case history or want to confirm court dates. Use eTraffic when you just need to pay a fine quickly. Both tools are explained on the Hawaii Judiciary traffic cases page.
The Hawaii Judiciary court records request page explains how to order certified copies of court documents from the Hilo District Court for Third Circuit traffic cases.
The court records request page describes how to get certified copies of traffic case documents from Hawaii courts, including cases filed at the Hilo District Court under the Third Circuit.
Traffic Abstracts and Driver History Records
A traffic abstract from the courts costs $20 and shows your citation history as recorded in the Hawaii judiciary's files. Request one at the Hilo District Court in person or by mail. Instructions are on the traffic abstracts page. Your request should include your name, date of birth, and driver's license number. The abstract reflects court records only and does not come from the state licensing database.
The Hawaii Driver History Record (DHR) from HIDOT costs $9 and is a separate document that comes from the state's licensing files. Request it from the HIDOT Motor Vehicle Safety Office. The DHR shows license status, restrictions, and point totals. Some insurers and employers specifically ask for the DHR rather than the court abstract, so confirm which is needed before ordering. Certified court document copies are $1.00 for the first page and $0.50 per page after that.
Hawaii Police Department Records for Hilo
Police reports for Hilo traffic incidents come from the Hawaii Police Department. HPD headquarters is at 349 Kapiolani Street, Hilo, HI 96720, phone (808) 935-3311. To request a police report, submit a written request under Hawaii's Uniform Information Practices Act, HRS Chapter 92F. Your request should include your name, contact information, the report number if you have it, the date and location of the incident, the type of record you need, and a copy of a government-issued ID that shows your involvement in the incident.
Download UIPA request forms from the OIP forms page. State agencies must respond to UIPA requests within 10 business days. The Hawaii Police Department serves the entire Big Island from multiple stations, with the main office in Hilo. Police report fees vary by agency. Contact the Hawaii Police Department directly for current fee information and instructions on submitting your records request.
Note: The Hawaii Police Department on the Big Island is a separate agency from the Honolulu Police Department. Do not confuse the two. All police reports for incidents in Hilo and Hawaii County come from the Hawaii Police Department, not HPD Honolulu.
Legal Resources for Hilo Drivers
If old unpaid citations have caused a license stopper, Volunteer Legal Services Hawaii may be able to help qualifying individuals on all islands including the Big Island. The Hawaii Judiciary self-help forms page has motion documents, hearing request forms, and guides for handling traffic cases without an attorney. Both HRS 291D and HRS 291C govern all traffic citation matters statewide, including cases filed at the Hilo District Court. The same deadlines and procedures that apply elsewhere in Hawaii apply here.
Hawaii County
Hilo is the county seat of Hawaii County, which is served by the Third Circuit of the Hawaii State Judiciary. For county-level court information and all Big Island traffic records resources, see the Hawaii County traffic ticket records page.
Nearby Hawaii Cities
Hilo is the only qualifying city on the Big Island. The nearest qualifying cities are on Maui island.