The court records of Maui County, Hawaii, are maintained by the office of the Second Circuit Court Clerk and are accessible through online tools, official court portals, and directly at the clerk's office. MauiCourt.us will help you find publicly available information about the court records of this county. Additionally, you can use the eCourt Kokua portal, call the court clerk's office, or visit the courthouse in person. The official website of Maui County also contains links to public records and online services.
Maui Court System Overview
Maui County is part of the Second Judicial Circuit of the Hawaii State Judiciary. This circuit covers the islands of Maui, Molokaʻi, and Lānaʻi. Unlike most mainland U.S. states, Hawaii has a unified statewide court system — there are no separate municipal courts. The county court system includes three levels of courts for criminal cases: the Circuit Court handles felonies, the District Court handles misdemeanors and minor offenses, and the Family Court handles family and juvenile cases.
The main courthouse is located in Wailuku:
Contact information for all divisions of the Second Circuit can be found on the Second Circuit contact page on the Hawaii State Judiciary website.
Courts Serving Maui
Residents of Maui County are served by several state and federal courts.
State Courts of Hawaii (Second Circuit)
Circuit Court of the Second Circuit
District Court of the Second Circuit
Family Court of the Second Circuit
Federal Court
U.S. District Court for the District of Hawaii
The U.S. Bankruptcy Court is also located in Honolulu and serves the entire state, including Maui County.
There are no municipal courts in Hawaii — the entire court system is statewide.
What Types of Cases Maui Courts Hear
The Second Circuit courts hear a wide range of cases. Here are the main categories:
- Criminal: felonies, misdemeanors, violations
- Civil: large claims (Circuit Court), small claims and lesser claims (District Court)
- Traffic Violations: fines, DUI
- Family Law: divorce, child custody, alimony, paternity, protective orders
- Probate: inheritance, guardianship, conservatorship, trusts
- Juvenile Matters: juvenile offenses, child protection cases, adoption
Each of these categories is discussed in more detail below.
District Court Cases in Maui
The District Court of the Second Circuit handles criminal misdemeanors, minor criminal offenses, and traffic cases. Civil claims up to $40,000 are also heard here. A District Court judge presides over hearings without a jury.
Cases typically begin with the filing of a complaint or citation by law enforcement. Once filed, the case is assigned to a judge. For criminal cases, the first step is an arraignment — a hearing where the defendant is informed of the charges and enters a plea (guilty or not guilty). Civil cases go through preliminary conferences and, if necessary, hearings.
Magistrate Court Cases in Maui
There is no separate magistrate court as an independent institution in Hawaii's judicial system. The functions that magistrate courts perform in other states are handled by the District Court in Hawaii. The District Court hears:
- Misdemeanors and violations
- Preliminary hearings in felony cases
- Civil claims up to $40,000
- Small claims up to $5,000
- Traffic violations and DUI
If at a preliminary hearing the District Court judge finds sufficient grounds for a felony, the case is transferred to the Circuit Court for further proceedings and, if necessary, a jury trial.
Family Law, Probate, and Juvenile Matters in Maui
Family Law. The Family Court of the Second Circuit handles divorce, custody, alimony, paternity, protective orders, and termination of parental rights. Forms for family cases are available on the Family Court forms page for the Second Circuit.
Probate. The Circuit Court handles cases involving the estates of deceased persons, guardianship of incapacitated individuals, conservatorship, and trust matters. Applications can be filed at the Circuit Court clerk's office in Wailuku.
Juvenile Matters. The Family Court Division is responsible for juvenile cases — offenses, child protection, adoption. Juvenile proceedings are closed to the public, and records are confidential. The court may provide only limited information.
How Cases Move Through the Maui Court System
- Filing a Case. A criminal case begins with a complaint or indictment. A civil case starts with a complaint or petition.
- Assignment of Judge. The court clerk's office registers the case and assigns a judge.
- First Hearing. In criminal cases — arraignment (announcement of charges). In civil cases — preliminary conference (scheduling conference).
- Pretrial Phase. Parties exchange evidence (discovery), file motions. In criminal cases, plea negotiations may occur.
- Case Resolution. Court or jury trial (in Circuit Court), guilty plea, settlement, or default judgment.
- Post-Judgment. Sentencing, appeal to the Intermediate Court of Appeals or Supreme Court of Hawaii, enforcement of judgment.
The status of a case can be tracked through eCourt Kokua.
Court Administration, Local Rules, and Public Access in Maui
The Second Circuit courts are administered under the leadership of the district's administrative judge and court administrator. General contacts for the administration are available on the Second Circuit page.
Local Rules. The rules of procedure for the Circuit Court and District Court of the Second Circuit are published on the Hawaii State Judiciary website. In addition to local rules, the Hawaii Rules of Civil Procedure, Hawaii Rules of Penal Procedure, and Hawaii Court Records Rules (including Rule 9 on confidentiality) apply.
Public Access to Records. According to Hawaii Revised Statutes and Hawaii Court Records Rules, most court records are publicly accessible. Exceptions include:
- Juvenile cases — confidential
- Adoption cases — confidential
- Certain family cases may be partially closed
- Records sealed by court order
Attending Hearings. Most court hearings are open to the public. Some hearings may be held remotely — check with the court clerk's office.
For public records requests in Maui County (not just court records), the UIPA portal is available, created in accordance with the Uniform Information Practices Act.
Court Records and Related Court Resources in Maui
- Online Case Search. eCourt Kokua provides access to public information on criminal, civil, family, and traffic cases from all Hawaii counties, including the Second Circuit.
- Criminal History. The Hawaii Criminal Justice Data Center allows you to check a person's criminal history. The online service eCrim shows information about adult convictions.
- Police Reports. Copies of police reports can be requested through the Maui Police Department's police reports portal.
- MPD Records Section. The MPD Records Section processes requests for criminal abstracts, fingerprinting services, and other documents.
- Sex Offender Registry. Hawaii Sex Offender Search — free search by name or location.
- Property Records. Maui Real Property Tax provides quick access to property assessments and tax records.
- Birth, Marriage, Death Certificates. Certified copies can be ordered through Hawaii Vital Records online or at the Vital Records office of the Department of Health.
- Forms and Self-Help Resources. The Hawaii State Judiciary offers forms for self-representation, including Family Court forms for the Second Circuit. Volunteer Court Navigators are also available in the District Court on Maui.
- Permits and Licenses. The MAPPS system allows you to search for information on permits, plans, inspections, and code violations.
- Driver Records. Requests for a copy of your driving history can be submitted through the Hawaii Department of Transportation.
For a comprehensive search of public records in Maui County, also visit MauiCourt.us or use the county online services.