Kalawao County Divorce Records

Kalawao County is unlike any other county in the United States. With fewer than 100 residents and no local government of its own, divorce records for Kalawao County residents are handled through the Second Circuit Family Court in Maui County, not a local courthouse. The county is administered by the Hawaii State Department of Health, and all judicial matters, including divorce filings and court records, fall under Maui's jurisdiction. If you need to find or file divorce records connected to Kalawao County, this page explains exactly how that process works and where to go.

How Kalawao County Divorce Records Work

Kalawao County has no county council, no county administrative offices, and no local court system. It was formed on April 22, 1903, from Maui County, but it never developed the typical county government structure found elsewhere in Hawaii or the rest of the United States. Instead, the Hawaii State Department of Health administers the county directly. This means that for divorce purposes, Kalawao does not maintain any local court records at all.

All judicial matters for Kalawao County residents are handled by the Second Circuit, which is the Maui judicial circuit. The Second Circuit Family Court sits in Wailuku on Maui. When a Kalawao resident files for divorce, the case is assigned a Second Circuit case number, heard by a Second Circuit judge, and stored in Second Circuit court records. There is no separate Kalawao case file system or courthouse on the peninsula.

The county seat is Kalaupapa, located on the Makanalua Peninsula on the north coast of Moloka'i. The name "Kalawao" means "mountain-side wild woods" in Hawaiian. Kalaupapa was historically the site of a leprosy settlement, and this history has a real effect on how some older records are handled and accessed. We cover that in more detail later on this page.

Because all vital records for Kalawao County residents, including birth, death, marriage, and divorce certificates, are processed through the state system, there is no local office to contact for copies. You go through the Hawaii State Department of Health or the Second Circuit court, depending on what type of record you need and when the event occurred.

Where Kalawao County Residents File for Divorce

There is one place to file for divorce if you live in Kalawao County. That is the Second Circuit Family Court, located at Hoapili Hale in Wailuku, Maui. This court handles all family law matters for both Maui County and Kalawao County residents. You cannot file locally because there is no local court. The trip to Wailuku requires traveling by air or ferry to Maui, which is the practical reality of living in such a remote and unique county.

Second Circuit Family Court (Hoapili Hale)
2145 Main Street
Wailuku, HI 96793
Phone: (808) 244-2700
Hours: Monday through Friday, 7:45 AM to 4:30 PM

There is also a Moloka'i District Court that may be able to help with certain case searches or basic questions. That office can be reached at (808) 553-1100. However, divorce filings and court hearings take place on Maui, not at the Moloka'i courthouse. The Moloka'i District Court handles district-level matters, not family court cases, so its role in divorce proceedings is limited.

The lack of a local court is a direct result of Kalawao's unusual structure. Because the state Department of Health administers the county, there was never a need to build out a local judiciary. The Second Circuit has always served this purpose, and that arrangement continues today.

The Hawaii State Archives maintains historical divorce case files for the Second Circuit, which covers Maui, Moloka'i, and Lana'i, including records that may be connected to Kalawao. Their genealogy research guide for divorce case files is a good starting point for anyone researching older records from this region of Hawaii.

Searching Kalawao County Divorce Records

The main tool for searching divorce records connected to Kalawao County is the Hawaii Judiciary's online case search system, known as eCourt Kokua. When using this system, select "Second Circuit" from the circuit dropdown, since all Kalawao cases are filed there. Divorce cases in the Second Circuit carry a case ID that starts with the number 2, and the case type code "DV" identifies divorce matters.

eCourt Kokua gives you access to case index information, including case numbers, party names, filing dates, and case status. It does not display the full text of court documents, but it can confirm whether a case exists and give you the information you need to request certified copies from the clerk's office. The system is free to use and available at any time.

For older divorce records, the Hawaii State Department of Health held divorce certificates from July 1951 through December 2002. It is worth noting that the DOH stopped issuing new divorce certificates effective February 1, 2026. If the divorce occurred before 2003, you may still be able to request a certificate through the DOH. For anything filed after that period, the court is your primary source.

You can reach the Moloka'i District Court at (808) 553-1100 for general questions about navigating the Second Circuit system. Staff there may be able to point you toward the right resources even though the court itself does not hold the divorce case files.

Getting Copies of Kalawao County Divorce Records

There are two ways to get copies of divorce records tied to Kalawao County, and which one you use depends on the date of the divorce and what type of document you need.

For certified court records, including filed documents, decrees, and final judgments, contact the Second Circuit Family Court at Hoapili Hale. You can request copies by mail or in person. Mail requests should be sent to 2145 Main Street, Wailuku, HI 96793. Include the case number if you have it, the names of both parties, and the approximate date of the divorce. The court charges a per-page fee for copies, and certified copies carry an additional certification fee. Processing times vary, so allow several weeks if you are mailing your request.

For divorce certificates issued by the state, visit the Hawaii Department of Health Vital Records office. Their mailing address is Office of Health Status Monitoring, Vital Records Issuance Section, P.O. Box 3378, Honolulu, Hawaii 96801. Online ordering is available through the state's vital records portal. Keep in mind that the DOH only holds divorce certificates for events that occurred between July 1951 and December 2002, and as of February 2026 the DOH no longer issues new divorce certificates going forward.

If you are not sure which source holds the record you need, start with eCourt Kokua to check the court system. If the case is not there, try the DOH. For records that may predate both systems, the Hawaii State Archives is your next option.

Filing for Divorce as a Kalawao County Resident

Hawaii divorce law applies to Kalawao County residents just as it does to residents anywhere else in the state. Under Hawaii Revised Statutes Section 580-1, there is no minimum residency period required before you can file. You only need to be domiciled in Hawaii at the time you file. That change came through Act 69 of 2021 and removed the prior one-year waiting requirement. For Kalawao residents, this means you can file as soon as Hawaii is your legal home.

Hawaii is a no-fault divorce state. Under HRS Section 580-41, the only grounds needed are that the marriage is "irretrievably broken." You do not need to prove fault or misconduct. Courts divide property under HRS Section 580-47 using an equitable distribution model that treats marriage as an economic partnership. This means property is divided fairly, though not necessarily equally, based on each spouse's contributions and circumstances.

When you file at the Second Circuit Family Court, an Automatic Temporary Restraining Order takes effect under HRS Section 580-10.5. This order prevents either party from selling property, hiding assets, or taking children out of state while the case is active. It applies the moment the case is filed, without any separate motion needed.

Filing fees at the Second Circuit are $215 for cases without minor children and $265 for cases with minor children. The higher fee includes a $50 surcharge for parent education, which is a program called Kids First Hawaii. You can learn more about the parent education requirement at kidsfirsthawaii.com. The Second Circuit handles the case from start to finish even though the filing party is a Kalawao County resident. Nothing about the unique nature of Kalawao changes the legal process once the case is in the court system.

The Hawaii Judiciary's self-help divorce page provides forms, instructions, and guidance for people who are representing themselves in a divorce case. Since Kalawao residents must file through the Second Circuit, all of the forms and steps listed there apply directly to anyone going through the Wailuku courthouse.

Historical Records and Privacy Considerations

The Hawaii State Archives holds historical court records for the Second Circuit going back to the 1800s. Their genealogy research guide references Series 011, which covers Second Circuit Divorce Case Files from 1848 to 1900 and some from 1915. This collection includes cases from Maui, Moloka'i, and Lana'i. Since Kalawao is part of Moloka'i geographically, historical divorce records for people who lived in the Kalaupapa area would fall under the Second Circuit collection in the State Archives.

Access to some records tied to Kalaupapa may be restricted. The settlement's history as a place where people with leprosy, now called Hansen's disease, were sent by the state means that medical privacy laws apply to certain records. Federal and state privacy protections for Hansen's disease patients are strong, and some archival records that might otherwise be public could be sealed or require special authorization to access. This is not a barrier for most divorce records, but it is something to be aware of when doing genealogical or historical research.

If you are researching older records and run into access issues, the State Archives staff can advise you on what is available and what restrictions apply. The practical effect for most people searching for modern divorce records is minimal. For post-1950 records, the standard DOH and court access procedures apply without special restrictions tied to Kalaupapa's history.

The University of Hawaii at Manoa library guide on Hawaii courts is another useful resource for understanding how the state court system is organized and what historical records exist at different levels. It covers the circuit court structure and points to additional research tools for those doing in-depth research.

Legal Help for Kalawao County Residents

Getting legal help as a Kalawao County resident takes some planning. The county's remote location and lack of local services means you will likely need to reach out by phone or travel to Maui for in-person legal assistance. There are real options available, though.

The Legal Aid Society of Hawaii serves low-income residents across all of Hawaii's counties, including Kalawao. They can help with divorce cases and family law matters. Reaching them by phone is the most practical first step for someone in Kalaupapa. Their services are income-based, and they have experience working with clients in remote parts of the state.

The Second Circuit Family Court at Hoapili Hale has a Self-Help Center where people who cannot afford a lawyer can get assistance filling out forms and understanding the divorce process. Since all Kalawao County divorce cases go through this courthouse, the Self-Help Center is directly relevant to anyone in this situation. Staff there are familiar with the process and can guide you through the paperwork.

The Maui Office of the Hawaii Department of Health can be reached at (808) 586-4412 for questions about vital records, including divorce certificates issued during the period the DOH held those records. For general questions about the state vital records system, the DOH website at health.hawaii.gov/vitalrecords has detailed information about ordering procedures and fees.

Other Hawaii Counties

Kalawao County's divorce cases are handled through the Second Circuit, which is the same circuit that serves Maui County. All four of Hawaii's other counties have their own court systems and records offices. You can find divorce records information for each one through the links below.