How to Look Up Eviction Records in Hawaii 2026
Court portal, certified copy fees, and expungement laws for Hawaii
Where to Search Hawaii Eviction Records
In Hawaii, an eviction case (a summary-possession action) is filed and decided in the District Court for the circuit where the rental sits, and the resulting record is unusually reachable for renters and landlords alike: the state runs a single statewide case-search system, Hawaii eCourt Kokua, so you do not have to drive island to island or call a county clerk to find a filing. Type in a party name and you can pull eviction matters from across the islands in one place.
The other half of the picture is less forgiving. Hawaii has no statutory right to expunge or seal an eviction record, so once a summary-possession case is on file it generally stays publicly visible. That combination, easy statewide access, no clean-up mechanism, shapes everything below: how a tenant should read a result, how a landlord should screen, and what limited options exist for getting a record off the radar.
How to look up a Hawaii eviction record
Start with the state's free portal, Hawaii eCourt Kokua, which searches court records statewide rather than one island at a time. Run a name search, then filter for the District Court, that is where summary-possession (eviction) cases are heard, regardless of which circuit the property is in. Each result lists the case number, the parties, the filing date, and the docket of events.
To obtain an official copy of anything you find, request it from the District Court clerk that handled the case. Hawaii charges $0.25 per page for certified copies, so a short summary-possession file costs only a few dollars. The online docket is enough for casual lookups; a certified copy is what you would use for a formal dispute, an appeal, or a screening challenge where the underlying paperwork matters.
Reading the result: a filing is not a judgment
The single most important field in any eCourt Kokua result is the disposition. A landlord filing a summary-possession complaint does not mean the tenant lost, cases are dismissed, settled, or decided for the tenant all the time. A filing is not a judgment. Check whether the case ended in a judgment for possession against the tenant, a dismissal, a stipulation, or no entered outcome at all.
Look at the docket chronologically: the complaint, any hearings, and the final order. If the disposition is blank or shows the case was dismissed or withdrawn, the renter was never adjudicated to owe possession. Because Hawaii's District Court records are open and detailed, you can usually reconstruct exactly what happened, which is far more reliable than judging someone by the mere existence of a case number.
Expungement reality and what it means for screening
Hawaii does not provide a statutory eviction-record expungement or sealing remedy. There is no state law that lets a tenant clear a summary-possession record, which means most filings remain in the District Court system and surface through eCourt Kokua indefinitely. A tenant's practical options are narrow: correcting clerical errors, or relying on the case's own disposition (a dismissal speaks for itself).
For landlords, that openness is not a license to act on everything you see. The federal Fair Credit Reporting Act governs tenant-screening reports, requires accuracy, and obligates you to give an adverse-action notice when a report drives a denial. Do not deny an applicant over a bare filing or an unverified, decade-old entry, read the disposition, confirm it is the same person, and weigh dismissals fairly. With average rent in Hawaii around $1,963, screening decisions carry real weight, so document your reasons.
The tenant's side: limiting the damage
Without a sealing statute, a Hawaii tenant cannot petition to erase an eviction record the way renters can in some mainland states. The strongest move is to make sure the record is accurate: pull your own case on Hawaii eCourt Kokua, confirm the disposition is correct, and ask the District Court clerk to fix any docketing mistakes.
If a case was dismissed, settled, or decided in your favor, keep a certified copy ($0.25 per page) on hand, when a screening report flags the filing, you can show the actual outcome rather than let a landlord assume the worst. You can also dispute inaccurate or outdated entries directly with the screening company under the FCRA, which requires reinvestigation of disputed items. Honesty up front, paired with proof of the real disposition, is usually a renter's best tool here.
Step-by-Step: How to Search Hawaii Eviction Records
- Go to Hawaii eCourt Kokua. Open https://ecourt.hawaii.gov in your browser.
- Search by party name. Enter the prospective tenant's full legal name (last name, first name) as a defendant/respondent. Try name variations including maiden names.
- Filter by case type. Select eviction, forcible detainer, unlawful detainer, or summary possession as the case type depending on the court's terminology.
- Review the disposition. Identify whether the case resulted in a judgment for the landlord (eviction), dismissal (tenant won or case settled), or is still pending. A filing alone does not mean the tenant was evicted.
- Check the filing date. Consider how old the record is, most tenant-screening best practices recommend discounting records older than 5-7 years.
- Request certified copies if needed. For a certified copy of the court record, contact the District Court clerk's office directly. Fees are typically $0.25/page.
This page was researched and maintained by the Eviction Risk Map research team using the Hawaii State Judiciary's public court-records system (Hawaii eCourt Kokua) and the District Court's published copy-fee schedule. Hawaii has no eviction-record expungement statute, so no sealing citation is provided. Last reviewed June 2026. This is general information, not legal advice; consult a licensed Hawaii attorney or the District Court clerk about a specific case.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I look up an eviction record in Hawaii?
Use Hawaii eCourt Kokua, the state's free statewide case-search portal. Search by party name and filter for District Court, which hears summary-possession (eviction) cases across all circuits. The online docket shows the case number, parties, filing date, and disposition. For an official version, request a certified copy from the District Court clerk.
Are Hawaii eviction records public?
Yes. Eviction cases in Hawaii are filed in District Court and are part of the open court record, searchable statewide through Hawaii eCourt Kokua. Anyone can look up a summary-possession case by name. Remember that a filing alone is not a judgment, always check the case's disposition before drawing conclusions.
Can a tenant expunge an eviction in Hawaii?
No. Hawaii has no statutory eviction-record expungement or sealing law, so a summary-possession filing generally stays publicly visible. A tenant's realistic options are to correct clerical errors with the court and to keep proof of a favorable disposition (dismissal, settlement, or win) to show screening companies and prospective landlords.
How much does a certified copy of a Hawaii eviction record cost?
Certified copies from the District Court cost $0.25 per page in Hawaii, so a typical summary-possession file runs only a few dollars. You can view the docket for free on Hawaii eCourt Kokua; you only pay when you need a certified copy for an appeal, a formal dispute, or a screening challenge.
Related Hawaii Landlord Guides
Court portal information sourced from the Hawaii court administrative office official website. Expungement laws from published Hawaii statutes (see citations above). Last updated August 28, 2026. For informational purposes only, not legal advice.