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Hawaii’s court system serves more than 1.2 million residents of the state and handles more than 550,000 cases that are filed each year. The system has 78 authorized judgeships and about 2,000 employees, with an annual judicial system budget of about $108 million.

About Hawaii's Supreme Court

The Supreme Court of Hawaii is the state’s court of last resort. It hears appeals that are brought before the court upon application for writs of certiorari to the Intermediate Court of Appeals, and on applications for transfer from the Intermediate Court of Appeals.

The high court also hears: reserved questions of law from the circuit courts, Land Court and Tax Appeal Court; certified questions of law from federal courts; applications for writs to judges and other public officers; and, complaints regarding elections.

The Supreme Court also: makes the rules for the practice of law in Hawaii and courtroom procedures in the state; licenses, regulates and disciplines attorneys; and, disciplines Hawaii’s judges as necessary.

Each appeal to the court is decided based on prior written records. In some cases, the court may decide to hear oral arguments. The court’s five justices sit “en banc,” that is, will all justices present. Should a justice be absent, a substitute from the Intermediate Court of Appeals or Circuit Court can be called to participate in that justice’s stead.

The chief justice until March 30, 2013, is Ronald T.Y. Moon.

The supreme court’s opinions are available online, as is an online audio archive of oral arguments.

Hawaii's Intermediate Court of Appeals

The six judges who sit in panels of three on the Intermediate Court of Appeals are entrusted with hearing nearly all appeals arising from Hawaii’s trial courts and some state agencies. The present chief judge of the court is Mark E. Recktenwald, serving a term until April 30, 2017.

The Intermediate Court of Appeals has discretionary authority to entertain case submitted without a prior suit when there is a question of law that could be the subject of a civil action or other proceeding in Circuit Court or Tax Appeal Court, and when the parties agree upon the facts of the case.

Cases in the Intermediate Court of Appeals can be transferred to the state Supreme Court upon application to the high court under circumstances set out in the Hawaii Revised Statutes. The intermediate court’s judgments on appeal and dismissal orders are subject to review by the Supreme Court at that court’s discretion by way of an application for a writ of certiorari.

The oral arguments schedule is available online, as are the Court of Appeals’ opinions.

Hawaii's Circuit Court

Hawaii’s Circuit Court system provides the state with courts of general jurisdiction where jury trials are held.

The circuit courts have exclusive jurisdiction over probate, guardianship and criminal felony cases, and in civil cases where the amount contested exceeds $20,000. Circuit Court shares concurrent jurisdiction with District Court in civil non-jury cases in which the amounts in controversy are between $10,000 and $20,000.

Other cases heard by the Circuit Court include mechanics’ liens and misdemeanor violations that are transferred from District Court in order to be heard by a jury.

Circuit Court judges are appointed by the governor to serve 10-year terms. The governor must choose them from a list of four to six nominees provided by the Judicial Selection Commission. Circuit judges, like the courts above them, can render opinions which are available online.

Hawaii’s circuit courts are as follows: First Circuit (Oahu); Second Circuit (Maui, Molokai and Lanai); Third Circuit (Hawaii); Fourth Circuit (Kauai);

Hawaii District Court

About two dozen full-time judges serve in Hawaii’s District Court system, but since more than 500,000 cases are filed in District Court any given year, the chief justice of the Hawaii Supreme Court has the power to appoint jurists from a list of “per diem judges” who step up to the bench and help handle the caseload.

Hawaii’s district courts have exclusive jurisdiction over traffic violations, summary possession, eviction proceedings regardless of amount in contest, non-jury civil trials where the relief sought is below $10,000, and small claims cases with the amount involved does not exceed $3,500. The district courts also have jurisdiction over civil cases where the debt, damages, or value of the property $20,000, and where the remedy sought is valued under $20,000. The courts also handle criminal offenses that are punishable only by fine or by a jail term not to exceed one year, cases that arise from violations of county ordinance, and petitions for restraining orders and injunctions in cases of alleged harassment.

District Court venues are located on Oahu, Maui, Hawaii and Kauai.

Numerous online resources are available for Hawaiians who find themselves headed to District Court. The court system’s Self-Help section includes information on small claims and regular claims, landlord-tenant relations and traffic cases.

While there usually aren’t many of them listed, opinions rendered by District Court judges also are noted online.

Hawaii's Family Court

A small group of 14 judges, augmented by per diem judges, handle about 35,000 cases per year that pass through Hawaii’s Family Court system.

Established by statute in 1965, the family courts’ mission is to provide a fair, fast, economical and accessible venue for the resolution of matters involving families and children.

The court hears legal matters involving children that include delinquency, status offenses, abuse and neglect, termination of parental rights, adoption, guardianship and detention. The court hears domestic relations matters pertaining to divorce, child support, paternity, uniform child custody jurisdiction cases and miscellaneous custody matters. The court’s jurisdiction also includes domestic violence cases, including requests for civil restraining orders against family members, hearings for persons charged with abuse of family and household members, and felonies that are limited to offenses allegedly committed against household members.

Finally, the court also hears civil commitment cases, elder abuse cases and matters involving the guardianship of adults in need of care.

Family Court venues are found on Oahu, Maui, Hawaii and Kauai.

State of Hawaii Judiciary

US District Court - District of Hawaii

US Bankruptcy Court - District of Hawaii

Hawaii State Judiciary - Self-Help Helpful Information and Resources if you are representing yourself in court or in a legal action.

Hawaii Circuit Courts - Judges, Circuit Court Programs, Statistics and Opinions

O`ahu - First Circuit Court Information

Maui - Second Circuit Court Information

Hawaii- Third Circuit Court Information

Kaua`i - Fifth Circuit Court Information

Hawaii State Judiciary - Jury Service Information and Instructions

Hawaii State District Courts - Judges, Per Diem Judges, Programs, Statistics and Opinions