Kihei Traffic Court Records

Kihei traffic court records are filed at the Wailuku District Court under the Second Circuit, which serves all of south Maui including the Kihei coastline. Whether you need to look up a citation, request an official abstract, or check on a case tied to Kihei, this page covers how to search records online, what you can request in person or by mail, how to pay or contest a ticket, and which offices handle what at Hoapili Hale in Wailuku.

Which Court Handles Kihei Traffic Cases

Kihei does not have its own courthouse. All traffic cases from Kihei go through the Wailuku District Court, which sits at Hoapili Hale at 2145 Main Street in Wailuku. That courthouse is the main judicial facility for Maui County and handles traffic matters from across the island, including south Maui. Kihei falls within the Wailuku Division of the Second Circuit.

The Second Circuit covers a lot of ground. Beyond Maui island, it also serves Molokai, Lanai, and Kalawao County. Hoapili Hale is the hub for all of it. The building holds the District Court on the third floor in courtrooms 3C and 3D, the Circuit Court on the fourth floor, Family Court on the third and fourth floors, and a law library on the second floor. Knowing the layout helps when you go in person. If you're not sure where to start, the law library is a good first stop for self-help resources.

The Traffic Violations Bureau is the main office for most traffic-related requests. Call (808) 244-2800 to reach that office. The clerk's office line is (808) 244-2846, and the Circuit Court can be reached at (808) 244-2929. The Hawaii Judiciary Second Circuit contact page has a full directory of offices and numbers at Hoapili Hale.

Office hours run Monday through Friday, 7:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The public counter is open 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The traffic counter closes earlier, at 1:00 p.m. If you plan to visit for a traffic matter, make sure you arrive before that 1:00 p.m. cutoff. Arriving late means you'll need to come back another day.

Search Kihei Traffic Cases Online

The Hawaii State Judiciary offers free public access to court records through eCourt Kokua. The tool covers all circuits including the Second, so any traffic case from Kihei that was filed in Wailuku will show up there. You can search by name, case number, or citation number with no account needed. Results show the case status, hearing dates, charges, and docket activity. The official court records search page links directly to eCourt Kokua and explains how the system works.

eCourt Kokua is good for case lookups, not certified copies. You can confirm whether a citation was filed, see if a case is pending, and check the outcome of past cases. But if you need a certified copy of a document or an official traffic abstract, that has to go through the Traffic Violations Bureau either in person or by mail. The online tool is just for viewing.

The Maui Bar Association's overview of the court system is worth reading if you're new to navigating Hoapili Hale. It breaks down how the building is organized, which court sits on which floor, and how the Second Circuit structure works overall. It's a plain-language reference that can save you a lot of confusion when you get there.

Court Calendar and Hearing Schedule

The Wailuku District Court runs its civil calendar on Mondays. The criminal and traffic calendar runs Tuesday through Friday. If you have a hearing for a Kihei traffic citation, it will most likely be scheduled on one of those four days. Check your notice or eCourt Kokua for the exact date and time before you go. The calendar can shift, and it's better to confirm online than to show up on the wrong day.

Hearings for traffic infractions under HRS Chapter 291D are held in district court, not circuit court. The two courts are in the same building but operate independently. District court traffic hearings are typically in courtrooms 3C or 3D on the third floor. Circuit court traffic matters, which involve more serious criminal charges, are handled separately on the fourth floor.

The Hawaii Judiciary's traffic cases self-help page gives a good overview of what to expect at a traffic hearing. It covers how hearings are structured, what you can say, and how a judge makes a decision. Reading it before your hearing date is a smart move.

Traffic Abstracts and Official Record Copies

A traffic abstract is the official summary of your driving record as maintained by the court. It lists citations, convictions, and any related license actions tied to traffic cases. Moving violations from Kihei will appear on a certified traffic abstract under HRS Section 287-3, which sets the rules for motor vehicle records in Hawaii. The fee is $20. You can request an abstract at the Traffic Violations Bureau in person at Hoapili Hale, or by mail using a self-addressed stamped envelope and a money order made out to "District Court."

There is also a more detailed document called a traffic court report, which is a complete abstract. That costs $1 for the first page and $0.50 for each additional page. Unlike the standard abstract, the traffic court report is only available in person. You cannot request it by mail. If you need it for a legal matter or court proceeding, plan to visit the Traffic Violations Bureau during counter hours.

The Hawaii Judiciary page on traffic abstracts explains what each document covers and how to request one. Read it before you go so you know which document you need and what to bring. The traffic abstract from the court is a separate record from a driving history report issued by the state Department of Transportation, so make sure you're requesting the right one for your purpose.

Pay or Contest a Kihei Citation

You have 21 days to respond to a traffic citation. This deadline comes from HRS Chapter 291D, which governs traffic infractions across the state. If you miss it, the court can enter a default judgment. That adds penalties on top of the original fine and can create problems for your license.

There are four ways to pay. You can pay online at the eTraffic Hawaii portal, which takes credit and debit cards and is available any time. You can pay by phone at (800) 679-5949. You can pay in person at the Traffic Violations Bureau counter at Hoapili Hale during counter hours. Or you can pay by mail using a check or money order. If you want to contest the citation instead, you can request a hearing through the eTraffic portal or by visiting the bureau in person.

Before a hearing, it helps to know what type of violation you're dealing with. The Hawaii Judiciary page on types of traffic violations explains the difference between an infraction and a criminal traffic charge. That distinction matters because it determines which court handles your case, what procedures apply, and what your options are. Most standard tickets from Kihei are infractions handled in district court, but some driving offenses are criminal and go through circuit court instead.

Maui Police Department Citation Records

The Maui Police Department issues traffic citations in Kihei. MPD and the court are separate agencies. A record request to one does not give you anything from the other. If you need a citation record or want to see what was filed against you, start with eCourt Kokua. If you need an accident report or incident report from the police, that goes through MPD directly.

MPD's Records Division is at 55 Mahalani Street in Wailuku, which is close to Hoapili Hale. The phone number is (808) 244-6355. The Maui County Police Reports page explains how to request incident reports and what information you need to submit with the request. That page is the right place to start for any police-side records, including crash reports from Kihei roads.

Traffic court records, on the other hand, go through the Wailuku District Court. For in-person access, visit the clerk's office at Hoapili Hale. For online access, use eCourt Kokua. The Legal Documents Branch fax at Hoapili Hale is (808) 244-2932 if you need to submit documents remotely. Keep in mind that faxed submissions are generally for specific document types and you should call ahead to confirm fax procedures are still current.

If a traffic stop in Kihei led to a criminal charge rather than a simple infraction, the case will go to circuit court at Hoapili Hale rather than district court. Criminal traffic cases have different timelines and procedures. Contact the Circuit Court line at (808) 244-2929 if you're unsure which court is handling a matter.

Hawaii Traffic Law and Record Access Rules

Two main statutes govern how traffic records work in Hawaii. HRS Section 287-3 covers motor vehicle records. It sets the rules for who can access driving record information, what is included, and for what purposes the records can be used. This law applies across the state and controls what shows up in an official traffic abstract or driving history.

HRS Chapter 291D governs traffic infractions specifically. It defines what counts as an infraction, sets the 21-day response window, and describes the hearing and appeal process. Most standard traffic tickets from Kihei fall under this chapter. The definitions in Chapter 291D matter because they determine how a citation is processed and what your options are once you receive one.

Court records in Hawaii are generally public. Anyone can view a traffic case file unless a court order has sealed it. Access in person at Hoapili Hale is available during business hours with no appointment needed for standard requests. Certified copies carry a fee. Sealed records and anything protected under state privacy law are not open to the public.

Procedures at Hoapili Hale can differ in small ways from courts in other circuits. Counter policies, mail request formats, and walk-in processes may not match what you'd find on Oahu. When in doubt, call the Traffic Violations Bureau at (808) 244-2800 to confirm current procedures before making the trip. The district court contact information page on the Hawaii Judiciary site lists current details for all district court offices statewide, including the Wailuku Division that serves Kihei.

Maui County Traffic Court Records

Kihei is part of Maui County. All traffic cases from Kihei are filed through the Second Circuit, with Hoapili Hale in Wailuku serving as the central courthouse. The Maui County page covers the full picture of traffic court records available in the county, including information on other Second Circuit divisions, county-wide access options, and resources for residents across Maui, Molokai, and Lanai. If a citation was issued somewhere else in Maui County and you're not sure which court handles it, the county page is a good starting point.

Nearby Maui Cities

Two other qualifying Maui cities have pages on this site. Kahului is north of Kihei along the central Maui coast and also routes all traffic cases through Hoapili Hale in Wailuku. Wailuku is the county seat and home to Hoapili Hale itself, so it is the most direct reference point for any Second Circuit traffic matter on Maui.

All three cities use the same courthouse, the same Traffic Violations Bureau phone number, and the same eCourt Kokua search tool. If you received a citation in any of these areas, the process is consistent. Search online at eCourt Kokua, pay through the eTraffic portal, and contact (808) 244-2800 with any questions about your case.