Kahului Divorce Records

Kahului is the main population center of Maui, and divorce records for residents here are handled by the Second Circuit Family Court at Hoapili Hale in nearby Wailuku. The court is just a short drive away, roughly five to ten minutes from Kahului. You can search for Maui divorce cases online using eCourt Kokua, the Hawaii state court portal, or visit the courthouse in person to pull the full case file. Whether you need a certified copy of a final divorce decree or just want to confirm that a case was filed, this guide walks you through the key steps and resources.

Second Circuit Family Court Serves Kahului

Kahului residents file for divorce and request divorce records through the Second Circuit Family Court. The court is located at Hoapili Hale in Wailuku, which is the county seat of Maui. The drive from central Kahului takes about five to ten minutes. Under Hawaii Revised Statutes § 580-1, a person must be domiciled in Hawaii to file for divorce, but the state sets no minimum residency period before you can file. Maui has a single circuit court building that handles family law cases for the entire island, as well as cases originating from Molokai and Lanai.

The Second Circuit Family Court manages all divorce filings, family court orders, and related case records. Staff at Hoapili Hale can take your petition, process service, and handle requests for copies of prior divorce decrees. The Records Division is the right place to call if you need to pull older case files or ask about what documents are on file.

Hoapili Hale has public access terminals on the first floor. The Legal Documents section and the Traffic Violations Bureau are both on that level. These terminals let you look up case information and view some documents at no cost. The Second Circuit manages case files for the entire circuit, so records from Lahaina, Hana, Molokai, and Lanai are all housed at this same building.

Search Kahului Divorce Cases Online

The Hawaii State Judiciary offers a free public search tool called eCourt Kokua. You can search Second Circuit divorce cases by party name, case number, or filing date. The system is free to search and shows basic case details like party names, filing dates, hearing schedules, and current case status. To narrow results to Maui cases, select "Second Circuit" from the court dropdown when you run your search.

Divorce case ID numbers in the Second Circuit follow a specific format. Look for IDs starting with 2DV, followed by the two-digit year, a 1, and a six-digit sequence number. Knowing this format helps if you need to confirm whether a case number you have on file is actually a Second Circuit divorce matter.

Document downloads through eCourt Kokua cost $3 for the first document and $0.10 per additional page. That fee applies to electronic copies pulled through the portal. If you need a certified paper copy, you have to request that directly from the court clerk at Hoapili Hale.

The Hawaii courts system also provides self-help resources for divorce at courts.state.hi.us/self-help/divorce. That page has links to forms, instructions for uncontested cases, and information on what the court expects from parties who file without an attorney.

Getting Copies of Kahului Divorce Records

You can get copies of Kahului divorce records in person at Hoapili Hale or by mail. In-person requests are handled at the Records Division, which you can reach at (808) 244-2752 to confirm what you need to bring. Copy fees at the courthouse are $1 per page for plain copies, and $2 plus $1 per page for certified copies. Certified copies carry the court's official stamp and are accepted for legal purposes like name changes, benefits claims, or remarriage.

For mail requests, send a written letter to the Second Circuit Court, Family Division, at 2145 Main Street, Wailuku, HI 96793. Your letter should include the full names of both spouses, the approximate date of the divorce or the year the case was filed, and the case number if you have it. Attach a copy of your photo ID, a self-addressed stamped envelope for return mail, and a money order or cashier's check made payable to the State Director of Finance. Processing usually takes three to ten business days after the court receives your request.

Note: Divorce records are permanently maintained by the Second Circuit, so even older cases should still be on file at Hoapili Hale.

Maui DOH Office and Vital Records

The Hawaii Department of Health issued divorce certificates for cases finalized between July 1951 and December 2002. As of February 1, 2026, the DOH stopped issuing divorce certificates entirely. If you need a record from that range, you can still request it through the DOH Vital Records office or the online system at vitrec.ehawaii.gov/vitalrecords. Fees are $10 for the first copy and $4 for each additional copy.

The Maui District Health Office is located at 54 South High Street, Room 301, Wailuku, HI 96793. You can reach that office by phone at (808) 984-8210. There is one very important point to know: there is no pickup service on Maui. All certificates are mailed. You cannot walk in and pick up a divorce certificate from the Maui District Health Office. Plan for additional time to receive your documents by mail.

The statewide DOH Vital Records page at health.hawaii.gov/vitalrecords has current information on ordering procedures, fees, and acceptable ID. For divorces finalized after December 2002, go directly to the Second Circuit Family Court at Hoapili Hale rather than the DOH.

The public access terminals at Hoapili Hale are a good starting point if you want to look at a case file before ordering copies. Staff at the Legal Documents window on the first floor can help direct you to the right file.

Filing for Divorce in Kahului

To file for divorce in Kahului, you submit your petition at the Second Circuit Family Court at Hoapili Hale. Under HRS § 580-41, Hawaii uses a no-fault standard. The only ground needed is that the marriage is "irretrievably broken." You don't need to show fault or assign blame to either spouse. One spouse files the petition, the other is served, and the court sets a hearing date from there.

Filing fees at the Second Circuit are $215 for cases without minor children and $265 for cases involving children. The higher amount includes a $50 Kids First surcharge, which funds court services related to child custody and support. These fees apply at the time of initial filing.

When children are involved, the court applies Hawaii's equitable distribution model under HRS § 580-47, which treats marriage as an "economic partnership" and weighs 13 statutory factors when dividing assets and setting support. The court looks at the length of the marriage, the financial contributions of each spouse, and the needs of any children, among other things. Property division and custody issues can extend the timeline significantly for contested cases.

Hawaii also issues an automatic temporary restraining order (ATRO) upon filing under HRS § 580-10.5. This order restricts both parties from transferring assets, canceling insurance, or taking other major financial actions while the case is pending. It kicks in automatically when you file and binds both sides from that point forward.

Historical Divorce Records for Maui

Very old Maui divorce records from the 1800s and early 1900s are not at Hoapili Hale. The Hawaii State Archives holds Second Circuit divorce case files from 1848 to 1900. The Archives also has 1915 case files A1 through A319 on microfilm, filed under MFL 54. These records cover cases from Maui, Moloka'i, and Lana'i.

If you are doing genealogy research or need records from that era, the Hawaii State Archives at ags.hawaii.gov is the right starting point. Their genealogy research guide explains what is available, how the records are organized, and how to request access. Most researchers contact the Archives directly with the names of the parties and the approximate year to see if a file exists.

Legal Help for Kahului Residents

If you need legal assistance with a divorce case in Kahului, several resources are available. The Legal Aid Society of Hawaii serves residents statewide and handles family law cases for people who qualify based on income. Their website at legalaidhawaii.org explains eligibility and how to apply for help.

The University of Hawaii Library has a courts research guide at guides.library.manoa.hawaii.edu/hawaiicourts that covers how to navigate the Hawaii court system, find case records, and access legal forms. It is a solid resource for people who want to understand the process before deciding whether to hire an attorney.

The Second Circuit Family Court does not provide legal advice, but the clerks at Hoapili Hale can tell you what documents to file and how to format your request. For general questions about the divorce process, the self-help resources at courts.state.hi.us/self-help/divorce are a good place to start. For more complex situations involving property, custody, or support, talking to a licensed attorney is worth the time.

Maui County Divorce Records

Kahului is in Maui County. All divorce filings for residents of Kahului go through the Second Circuit Family Court, which covers the entire county including Wailuku, Kihei, Lahaina, and the outer islands of Molokai and Lanai. For more on how the Second Circuit handles divorce cases across Maui County, visit the Maui County divorce records page.

View Maui County Divorce Records

Nearby Cities

These cities are near Kahului and also file divorce cases through the Second Circuit Family Court at Hoapili Hale.