Hawaii County Traffic Ticket Records

Hawaii County traffic ticket records are maintained by the district courts serving Hawaii Island, the largest island in the state. This guide covers how to find Hawaii County traffic records through the Hilo, Kona, and South Kohala courts, plus how to get your driving history from the state.

Hawaii County District Courts for Traffic Cases

Hawaii County is part of the Third Circuit and has three district courts that handle traffic matters. Which court handles your case depends on where on Hawaii Island the citation was issued. All three courts share the same basic hours but serve different parts of the Big Island. Knowing which court has your case saves you time and extra trips.

The South Kohala court in Kamuela keeps only active case files on site. Older files are managed by the Kona court. If you need records from a case that is more than a few years old and it was filed in South Kohala, call the Kona courthouse first to confirm where those records are stored before making the drive.

See the official contact list for all Third Circuit district courts at courts.state.hi.us.

This page is the best starting point if you are unsure which court holds your Hawaii County traffic case.

Note: Older case files (five or more years) may be stored off-site, so call the court before visiting to check whether records are on hand.

How Traffic Citations Work on Hawaii Island

When you get a traffic ticket in Hawaii County, you have 21 days to respond. That deadline is set by Hawaii Revised Statutes Chapter 291D, which covers the traffic violations bureau process across the state. You can pay the fine, contest the citation, or request more time. If you do nothing within 21 days, the court may enter a default judgment and add fees to what you owe.

Most Hawaii Island citations fall under the Notice to Infractor (NTI) system. A few more serious moving violations may come through as a Criminal Traffic Citation and Arrest (CTCA), which requires a court appearance. For standard NTI tickets, you can pay online, by mail, or in person at the correct district court. The eTraffic Hawaii portal lets you pay citations online with a credit card. You will need your citation number and last name to look up the case.

For details on the traffic case process, the Hawaii State Judiciary provides a plain-language overview at courts.state.hi.us/self-help/traffic/traffic_cases.

This resource covers both NTI and CTCA cases and explains your options at each step.

Searching Hawaii County Traffic Records Online

The Hawaii State Judiciary runs eCourt Kokua, a free public search tool that covers all circuits including the Third Circuit courts on Hawaii Island. You can look up traffic cases by name, case number, or citation number. The system shows case status, hearing dates, charges, and outcomes for most traffic matters filed in Hawaii County courts.

To use it, go to the eCourt Kokua search page and select "Third Circuit" from the court dropdown. Not all records are available online. Very old cases and sealed matters will not appear. Some records may show limited information depending on the case type. Still, for most Hawaii County traffic ticket lookups, eCourt Kokua is the first place to check. It costs nothing and is available any time.

If you cannot find a record through eCourt Kokua, contact the Legal Documents Branch directly. Hilo handles Third Circuit records at (808) 961-7400. Kona handles records for the Kona and South Kohala courts at (808) 322-8750 or by email at konalegaldocs.3cc@courts.hawaii.gov. Staff can confirm whether a record exists and let you know how to get a copy.

Traffic Abstracts and Driver History Records

Two separate documents can show your traffic record in Hawaii. The first is a traffic abstract from the state courts. The second is a driver history record from the Hawaii Department of Transportation. They come from different agencies and cover different things, so it helps to know which one you need before you request it.

A court traffic abstract costs $20 and shows citations filed in Hawaii courts. You can learn how to request one at courts.state.hi.us/self-help/traffic/traffic_abstracts. This document is often used for legal or insurance purposes when someone needs proof of a court case outcome.

The page also clarifies the difference between a court abstract and a DMV driving record.

A driver history record (DHR) from the Hawaii Department of Transportation costs $9 and shows your license status, points, and violations as tracked by the state DMV system. You can request one through the Motor Vehicle Safety Office. The DHR reflects how violations affect your driving record under HRS Chapter 287, which governs driver licensing in Hawaii.

Note: Court abstracts and driver history records are separate documents from different agencies, so you may need both depending on what your situation calls for.

Hawaii Police Department Records Requests

The Hawaii Police Department (HPD) serves Hawaii County and handles law enforcement records for the Big Island. If you need a copy of an incident report, accident report, or other police record connected to a traffic matter, you contact HPD directly rather than the courts.

Requests for police records fall under Hawaii's Uniform Information Practices Act (UIPA). You submit your request in writing by mail or email. Include a clear description of the record you need, the date of the incident, and your contact information. Processing can take 10 to 20 business days. HPD prefers requests in electronic format when possible. You can find UIPA guidance and request forms at the Office of Information Practices and download forms at oip.hawaii.gov/forms.

For criminal traffic records that are part of Hawaii's statewide justice data system, the Hawaii Criminal Justice Data Center (HCJDC) maintains those records. You can learn more at ag.hawaii.gov/hcjdc. HCJDC records are separate from what the courts and HPD hold, and they cover offenses that resulted in an arrest or criminal charge rather than a standard traffic infraction.

Hawaii Island Court Forms and Legal Help

The Third Circuit has its own set of district court forms for traffic matters. These forms are specific to Hawaii County cases and are numbered in the 3DC series. If you want to contest a ticket, ask for more time, or file a motion, you will likely need one or more of these forms.

Key Third Circuit traffic forms include:

• Form 3DC11 - Continuance (Non-Hearing Motion)
• Form 3DC12 - Continuance (Stipulation)
• Form 3DC36 - Motion to Dismiss
• Form 3DC37 - Motion for Discovery
• Form 3DC38 - Motion (Hearing)
• Form 3DC39 - Motion (Non-Hearing)

You can find the full list of Hawaii court forms, including Third Circuit forms, at courts.state.hi.us/self-help/courts/forms. The forms are free to download. Court staff can tell you which form applies to your situation, though they cannot give legal advice.

Hawaii Island residents who need legal help with a traffic case can contact the Volunteer Legal Services Hawaii program at vlsh.org. VLSH connects people with volunteer attorneys and may be able to provide guidance on traffic matters. The organization serves low-income residents across the state, including those on Hawaii Island.

The traffic violations bureau process is governed by HRS Chapter 291D. Rules covering traffic infractions and moving violations appear in HRS Chapter 291C. Both are publicly available through the Hawaii State Legislature website. Reading the relevant section before your hearing can help you understand what the court will look at.

The same process applies to records from all three Hawaii County district courts.

Note: Court forms and procedures can change, so check the Hawaii State Judiciary website to confirm you have the current version before filing anything.

Cities in Hawaii County

Hilo is the county seat and the largest city on Hawaii Island. It is served by the Hilo District Court for traffic matters.

Nearby Counties

Hawaii County is one of four counties in the state. The other counties each have their own circuit courts and traffic record systems.