Hilo Felony Records
Hilo felony records are available through three main sources: the Hawaii Police Department, the Hawaii Criminal Justice Data Center, and the Third Circuit Court. Hilo is the county seat of Hawaii County and the largest community on the Big Island. Felony cases here are filed at the Third Circuit Court Hilo Division, and criminal history records are maintained statewide by HCJDC. You can search court records for free through eCourt Kokua or request a criminal history directly from HCJDC. This page covers each agency, their contact details, and how to get the records you need.
Hilo Overview
Hawaii Police Department Hilo Records
The Hawaii Police Department is the law enforcement agency for all of Hawaii County, including Hilo. Their headquarters are right in Hilo at 349 Kapiolani Street, Hilo, HI 96720. The main number is (808) 935-3311. HPD handles police report requests through the Records and Identification Section, which processes copies of incident reports for closed or adjudicated cases.
The HPD main website at hawaiipolice.gov has agency news, service information, and contact details for each division. Check there before calling to make sure you have the right section.
To request a police report from HPD in Hilo, mail your request to the Records and Identification Section at 349 Kapi'olani Street, Hilo, HI 96720. Reports are available after a case has been closed or adjudicated. Processing typically takes up to 10 working days. Once ready, you can pick up the report at any district station on the Big Island. This includes stations in Kona, Waimea, Pahoa, and other communities, not just the Hilo headquarters. That flexibility is useful if you live far from Hilo.
HPD does not issue criminal clearance letters or run general background checks. If you need a criminal history record, that goes through the Hawaii Criminal Justice Data Center, not HPD. HPD only provides reports from their own case files.
The HPD police report request page walks through the full process, including what documents are required, how to submit by mail, and what fees apply. Read through it before sending your request to avoid delays.
| Office | Hawaii Police Department Records and Identification |
|---|---|
| Address | 349 Kapiolani Street, Hilo, HI 96720 |
| Phone | (808) 935-3311 |
| Mail Requests To | 349 Kapi'olani Street, Hilo, HI 96720 |
| Processing Time | Within 10 working days |
Hilo Felony Records at HCJDC
The Hawaii Criminal Justice Data Center maintains the statewide database of criminal history records. This includes felony arrests and convictions from Hilo and all other parts of Hawaii County. HCJDC operates under the Hawaii Attorney General and serves both the public and authorized government agencies.
The HCJDC public access sites page lists every terminal location across the state, including the one in Hilo. Each site shows the contact number and hours so you can plan ahead before visiting.
In Hilo, the HCJDC public access terminal is available locally. The contact number for the Hilo terminal is (808) 961-2233. Each printout costs $25 and shows conviction records only. Non-conviction records are not available at the public terminal. If you need a fuller picture that includes arrests, dismissed charges, or non-conviction data, you'll need to submit a formal request to HCJDC directly.
The Kona Police Station on the west side of the island also serves as a public access site for people in West Hawaii. That number is (808) 326-4646 ext. 286. If you live closer to Kona than Hilo, that's a convenient option for the same $25 printout.
For mailed requests, HCJDC charges $30 for a name-based check and $35 for a fingerprint-based check. Fingerprint checks are more reliable because they tie results to a biometric ID rather than a name, which can have variations or belong to multiple people. The online eCrim system offers searches at $5 per search and $12 per full report. That's often the fastest option if you don't need to travel to Hilo or Kona. Full instructions are at the HCJDC website.
Third Circuit Court Hilo Felony Cases
Felony cases in Hilo are filed and heard at the Third Circuit Court Hilo Division. The courthouse is at 777 Kilauea Avenue, Hilo, HI 96720. The phone number is (808) 961-7400. Court hours are Monday through Friday, 7:45 AM to 4:30 PM. This court handles all criminal matters for Hawaii County, including felony arraignments, hearings, trials, sentencing, and post-conviction proceedings.
Court records for Hilo felony cases are available online through eCourt Kokua, the Hawaii Judiciary's free public case search system. eCourt Kokua lets you search by party name, case number, or charge type. It shows docket entries, case status, hearing dates, and charge details. The system covers all circuit and district court cases statewide, so you can pull up a Hilo felony case alongside records from other Hawaiian counties.
Certified copies of court records cost $2.00 per page plus a $2.00 certification fee. Those must be requested in person or by mail from the Third Circuit Court clerk. Felony case records are retained for 75 years, so older cases going back several decades are generally still available. The Hawaii State Judiciary website has clerk contact information, current fee schedules, and instructions for each circuit.
| Court | Third Circuit Court, Hilo Division |
|---|---|
| Address | 777 Kilauea Avenue, Hilo, HI 96720 |
| Phone | (808) 961-7400 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 7:45 AM to 4:30 PM |
| Certified Copy Fee | $2.00/page + $2.00 certification |
| Online Search | eCourt Kokua |
| Record Retention | 75 years for felony cases |
Note: eCourt Kokua is free to use and available anytime, but certified copies require a fee and must be requested from the court directly.
Open Records Law and Hilo Felony Records
Hawaii's Uniform Information Practices Act (UIPA) governs access to government records, including those held by Hawaii County agencies, HPD, and HCJDC. The law presumes all records are open unless a specific exemption applies. Criminal history records are addressed at HRS ยง 846-2.7, which sets rules for disclosure of criminal history record information. Felony conviction records are generally available to the public. Non-conviction records, juvenile records, and expunged matters have restricted access.
If a Hilo-area agency denies your request, the Office of Information Practices is the resource for appeals and guidance. Their UIPA page at oip.hawaii.gov has the full law, agency opinions, and tips on how to submit a proper request. Most people never need to go through OIP because records from HPD, HCJDC, and the Third Circuit Court are straightforward to access. But if a denial comes without a clear reason, OIP is the right place to push back.
The Hawaii Attorney General oversees HCJDC and handles questions about statewide criminal history data. For Department of Law Enforcement records, use the UIPA portal at law.hawaii.gov. Each agency processes requests separately, so make sure you're contacting the right one for what you need.
Hilo Felony Record Expungement
Hawaii allows expungement of some felony records through HCJDC. The fee is $35 and processing takes about 120 days. Not every case qualifies. Cases that ended in dismissal or acquittal are generally eligible. Most felony convictions are not eligible unless a specific provision under state law applies. The application and instructions are at ag.hawaii.gov/hcjdc/expungements.
An expunged record is removed from the HCJDC database, but records at the Third Circuit Court in Hilo may remain accessible through the court system. If your Hilo case ended without a conviction and you want to clear it from the state database, starting with the HCJDC expungement page is the right move. You can also call HCJDC for guidance on whether your record qualifies before paying the filing fee.
Hawaii County Felony Records
Hilo is the county seat of Hawaii County, which covers the entire Big Island. Felony cases from Hilo go through the Third Circuit Court and the same HCJDC database used across the state. For broader information on felony records across Hawaii County, including Kona and other communities on the island, visit the Hawaii County page.
Nearby Communities
These communities are located on the Big Island near Hilo. Kailua-Kona and Waimea do not currently have their own pages on this site, but their felony records are handled through the same Hawaii County system and the Third Circuit Court.
Kailua-Kona is about 90 miles west of Hilo on the leeward side of the island. Waimea sits in the north-central part of the Big Island. Both areas fall under Hawaii County jurisdiction for felony matters, and HCJDC serves all Big Island residents through the Hilo public access terminal or the Kona Police Station terminal at (808) 326-4646 ext. 286.