Kauai County Divorce Records Search

Divorce records in Kauai County are held by the Family Court of the Fifth Circuit, located at the Pu'uhonua Kaulike Building in Lihue. You can search these records online through the state's eCourt Kokua system, visit the courthouse in person, or submit a mail request. The Fifth Circuit handles all divorce filings for Kauai and Niihau. This guide covers how to find, search, and get copies of Kauai County divorce records, along with filing fees, legal help options, and access to historical case files dating back to 1852.

Kauai County Divorce Records Location

The main place to go for Kauai County divorce records is the Family Court of the Fifth Circuit. It sits inside the Pu'uhonua Kaulike Building at 3970 Ka'ana Street, Suite 210, Lihue, HI 96766. The phone number is (808) 482-2330. The office is open Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM, and is closed on state holidays. This is where divorce case files are stored, where you can request copies, and where new divorce cases get filed. The building also houses the Fifth Circuit Court at (808) 482-2347, open 7:45 AM to 4:30 PM on weekdays, and the Kauai District Court at (808) 482-2303.

For certified divorce certificates, the Hawaii Department of Health is a separate source. However, the DOH only issues certificates for divorces that occurred between July 1951 and December 2002. Effective February 1, 2026, the DOH stopped issuing new divorce certificates altogether. If your divorce falls outside that window, or happened after 2002, you need to go directly to the Fifth Circuit Family Court. The Kauai District Health Office is located at 3040 Umi Street, Lihue, HI 96766, phone (808) 241-3498, and can assist with DOH certificate requests for older records within that eligible date range.

The Kauai Law Library, also in the same judicial complex at 3970 Ka'ana Street, maintains public records indices that are available to the public at no charge. Phone: (808) 482-2327. These indices can help you identify case numbers before you request full documents.

How to Search Kauai Divorce Records Online

The Hawaii Judiciary runs an online case search system called eCourt Kokua. This is the main tool for searching Kauai County divorce records from home or work. When you get to the site, select "Fifth Circuit" from the circuit dropdown to limit results to Kauai cases. You can search by case number, party name, or attorney name. Kauai divorce case IDs begin with the number 5 (for the Fifth Circuit) and include the letters "DV" for divorce. Basic case information is free to view. If you need to pull actual documents, the cost is $3.00 per document for up to 30 pages.

If you prefer to search in person, free public access terminals are available at the Family Court of the Fifth Circuit. These terminals let you look up party names, case numbers, filing dates, hearing schedules, and current case status. No fee, no appointment needed. They are available during court hours, Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM. This is a good option if you are not sure of the exact case number and want to confirm details before paying for copies.

Phone searches are also an option. Call the Circuit Court at (808) 482-2347, the District Court at (808) 482-2303, or the Family Court at (808) 482-2330 to ask about a specific case. Staff can often confirm basic case details over the phone, though they cannot read out full record contents. If you need official documentation, a formal records request is required.

The Kauai Law Library provides public indices at no charge. These indices won't give you full case files, but they can help you narrow down the case number and filing year so your request is faster and more accurate. The UH Manoa library system also maintains a Hawaii court records research guide with background on how to trace case files across circuits.

The eCourt Kokua case search portal is the primary online tool for finding Kauai County divorce records by name or case number.

Select "Fifth Circuit" when you open the search. Case IDs for Kauai divorce matters start with 5DV. You can view basic case info at no cost and order documents at $3.00 each.

Getting Copies of Kauai County Divorce Records

To get copies from the Family Court of the Fifth Circuit, you first need to complete a records request form at the courthouse. Fees are set by the Hawaii Judiciary. A record search costs $5.00 per name searched. Regular copies are $1.00 per page. Certified copies cost $2.00 per document plus $1.00 per page. These fees apply whether you visit in person or send a written request by mail.

Mail requests are accepted. Send your written request to: Kaua'i Fifth Circuit Court, Family Division, 3970 Ka'ana Street, Lihue, HI 96766. Include the full names of both parties, the approximate filing date, the case number if you have it, a copy of a valid photo ID, a self-addressed stamped envelope, and your contact information. Do not send cash. Payment must be by money order or cashier's check, made payable to "State Director of Finance." The court will mail copies back once the request is processed.

For divorces between July 1951 and December 2002, you can also order a certified certificate through the Hawaii Department of Health. Online ordering is available through Hawaii's vital records portal. The fee is $10.00 for the first copy and $4.00 for each additional copy. Keep in mind that DOH stopped issuing new divorce certificates as of February 1, 2026, so this option only covers older records.

If cost is a barrier, you may qualify for a fee waiver. The In Forma Pauperis process lets people with financial hardship request that court fees be reduced or waived. Ask at the Family Court clerk's window or at the Kauai Self-Help Center for the correct forms and income guidelines.

Filing for Divorce in Kauai County

Hawaii law under HRS §580-1 no longer requires a minimum period of residency before you can file for divorce. As of Act 69 of 2021, you just need to be domiciled in Hawaii at the time you file. That means Kauai residents can file right away without waiting. The grounds for divorce in Hawaii are found in HRS §580-41, which uses a no-fault standard. The court only needs to find that the marriage is "irretrievably broken." You don't have to prove fault or wrongdoing by either party.

Once you file, an Automatic Temporary Restraining Order takes effect under HRS §580-10.5. This ATRO restricts both parties from doing things like moving assets, canceling insurance, or taking children out of state while the case is open. It kicks in automatically on filing and does not require a separate court hearing.

Filing fees at the Fifth Circuit depend on whether children are involved. A divorce without minor children costs approximately $215. A divorce with minor children costs approximately $265, which includes a $50 parent education surcharge. Parents with minor children must complete a court-approved parent education program. Kids First Hawaii at kidsfirsthawaii.com is one approved provider for this requirement.

The Kauai Self-Help Center offers free help with divorce paperwork. It is located at the Kauai Judicial Complex, 3970 Ka'ana Street, Lihue, HI 96766. Hours are Thursdays only, 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM. Staff can help you understand forms and procedures, though they cannot give legal advice. The Hawaii Judiciary self-help divorce page also has forms and instructions for uncontested cases.

What Kauai County Divorce Records Include

A Kauai County divorce case file typically contains the original divorce petition, any responses filed by the other party, financial disclosure statements, agreements on property or debt division, child custody and support orders, and the final divorce decree. The decree is the document most people need. It shows the date the divorce was granted, terms of the settlement, and the legal names of both parties.

People need these records for many different reasons. Common uses include proving you are legally divorced before getting remarried, supporting a legal name change, updating Social Security records, applying for benefits that depend on marital status, documentation for loan or mortgage applications, and evidence in immigration proceedings. Genealogical researchers also use older divorce records to trace family history.

Property division in Hawaii follows HRS §580-47, which uses an equitable distribution model. The court treats the marriage as an "economic partnership" and applies 13 factors to decide how to divide assets and debts. This means the split is not automatically 50/50, but is based on what the court finds fair given each party's situation. Details of the property division are part of the public case file, though some financial documents may be sealed by court order.

Most Kauai divorce records are open to the public. Anyone can request a search and get copies by paying the required fees. Certain records involving minors or sensitive matters can be restricted, but the basic case record, including the final decree, is generally accessible.

The Hawaii Judiciary's self-help divorce page provides forms, instructions, and resources for people handling their own Kauai divorce case.

This includes packets for uncontested divorces and guidance on how to file with the Fifth Circuit Family Court in Lihue.

Historical Kauai County Divorce Records

The Hawaii State Archives holds historical divorce case files for the Fifth Circuit Court under Series 025. These records cover the period from 1852 to 1899 and include cases numbered 1 through 206. Note that files for cases 190 and 191 were not transferred to the archives and are not available. The collection has been microfilmed and is accessible as MFL 60, which makes it easier to view without handling the original documents.

The records are arranged numerically by case number. If you are doing genealogical research, having the approximate year or full names of the parties will help you locate the right case faster. The Archives provides a genealogy research guide specifically for divorce case files, which is a useful starting point.

One thing to know about pre-1892 records: before 1892, Kauai and Niihau were designated as the Fourth Circuit, not the Fifth. So if you are looking for records from before that year, they may be labeled or catalogued as Fourth Circuit Court documents. The Archives research guide addresses this and can help you navigate the transition in circuit designations. After 1892, all Kauai court records fall under the Fifth Circuit.

Civil and criminal minute books for the Fifth Circuit, recorded under Series 251, also contain references to divorce matters. These can supplement the main case files, especially for cases where the full file is incomplete or missing.

Legal Help in Kauai County

The Legal Aid Society of Hawaii serves Kauai residents who cannot afford a private attorney. They handle family law matters including divorce, custody, and support cases. Contact them early in the process to find out if you qualify for free or low-cost legal help. Eligibility is based on income.

The Kauai Self-Help Center is a free walk-in resource at the Kauai Judicial Complex, 3970 Ka'ana Street, Lihue. It is only open on Thursdays from 9:00 AM to noon. Staff there can walk you through the forms you need and explain court procedures. They don't give legal advice, but they can save you time by helping you fill out paperwork correctly the first time.

The Kauai Law Library, phone (808) 482-2327, is another resource. It is open to the public and has legal materials including Hawaii family law codes and court rules. The library staff can point you to the right resources, and the free public record indices can help you track down a case number before you make a formal records request.

For online research, the University of Hawaii at Manoa maintains a Hawaii courts research guide that covers how to locate court records across all circuits, including the Fifth. This guide is free to use and walks through both current and historical records sources.

Other Hawaii Counties

Divorce records in Hawaii are maintained at the county level by each circuit court. The other counties in the state are listed below.