Find Recent Arrests in Hawaii County

Hawaii County recent arrests are tracked by the Hawaii Police Department, which covers the Big Island. East Hawaii is run out of the Hilo station. West Hawaii runs through the Kona station. Both feed booking data into the county's records system. To look up a recent arrest, you can call the arrest info line in East Hawaii at (808) 961-2213 or West Hawaii at (808) 326-4646, ext. 293. For a full arrest report, send a written request to the Records and Identification Section at 349 Kapi'olani Street in Hilo. The Third Circuit Court handles cases that follow.

Hawaii County Recent Arrests Police

The Hawaii Police Department handles all arrests on the Big Island. The main Records and Identification Section is at 349 Kapi'olani Street, Hilo, HI 96720. Mail goes to P.O. Box 1902, Hilo, HI 96721. Phone is (808) 935-3311. Fax is (808) 961-2309.

The image above shows the department's services page. HPD on the Big Island offers police incident reports, arrest records, background checks for Hawaii County only, fingerprinting services, verification letters, and clearance letters. Report requests need a completed form, a valid photo ID, and payment. Fees run $5 for the first page and 25 cents for each page after. Processing runs 5 to 10 business days.

The department splits the island into East and West. East Hawaii runs out of the Hilo headquarters. West Hawaii runs through the Kona Police Station at 74-5221 Queen Kaahumanu Highway in Kailua-Kona. West Hawaii main line is (808) 326-4646. West Hawaii arrest info is at (808) 326-4646 ext. 293.

Report pickup is available at either main station after processing. Booking logs list name, age, sex, race, date and time of arrest, arresting officer, charges, and bail amount. Recent logs appear on the HPD website. Older booking records require a written records request.

Hawaii County Recent Arrests Detention

Hawaii County arrestees are booked into the Hawaii Community Correctional Center, known as HCCC. The facility is at 60 Punahele Street, Hilo, HI 96720. Mail goes to P.O. Box 1019, Hilo, HI 96721. Main phone is (808) 933-0431. Visitation is at (808) 933-0431 ext. 250.

HCCC holds about 200 inmates. The population includes pretrial detainees, sentenced misdemeanants, and work furlough participants. The official DPS page for HCCC posts current facility rules.

The booking process runs in steps: arrest by police, transport to HCCC, photos and fingerprints, medical screening, then initial appearance within 48 hours. If no charges are filed within 48 hours (not counting weekends or holidays), the person must be released. Bail hearings follow if needed.

To find inmate info at HCCC, the SAVIN/VINE system at vinelink.com is the fastest tool. It gives custody status and release alerts. Phone the facility Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM. In-person inquiries happen at the facility lobby.

Third Circuit Court for Hawaii County Arrests

The Third Circuit Court serves all of Hawaii County. There are two divisions. The Hilo Division handles East Hawaii at 777 Kilauea Avenue, Hilo, HI 96720, phone (808) 961-7400. The Kona Division serves West Hawaii at 74-5451 Kamakaeha Avenue, Kailua-Kona, HI 96740, phone (808) 322-8700.

Both divisions run Monday through Friday, 7:45 AM to 4:30 PM. Circuit Court handles felonies and civil cases over $40,000. District Court handles misdemeanors, traffic, and civil cases under $40,000. Family Court handles domestic, juvenile, and guardianship matters.

Criminal case process steps:

• Arraignment (initial appearance)
• Preliminary hearing (felonies only)
• Pre-trial conferences
• Trial (jury or bench)
• Sentencing if convicted

Case numbers on Hawaii County files use 3CC for Third Circuit Court or 3DC for Third Circuit District Court, plus year and a sequential number. All criminal dispositions get forwarded to HCJDC for the state record. Public access terminals sit in both courthouses. You can also search on eCourt Kokua for basic info.

Document copies cost $3 per file or 10 cents per page, whichever is more. Certification adds $2 per document. Payment comes by cash, credit/debit card, money order, or cashier's check.

Hawaii County Recent Arrests Laws

Hawaii County arrest records are public under the state Uniform Information Practices Act in chapter 92F of the Hawaii Revised Statutes. The rule sets the baseline: government records are open unless another law closes them. Police blotter data falls under the open rule.

Under Hawaii Revised Statutes §846-9, there is a split between conviction and non-conviction data. Conviction info is fully public. Non-conviction info, including pending cases and arrests without convictions, is limited to criminal justice agencies. Juvenile records are always confidential under §571-84.

Hawaii County arrest records contain a set list of fields. Full legal name, date of birth, gender, height, weight, eye and hair color, address at time of arrest, state ID, booking number, date, time, and location of arrest, arresting agency, charges, statute numbers, charge classification (felony or misdemeanor), bail amount, whether bail was posted, court of jurisdiction, and case number.

Mugshots are taken during booking at HCCC but not posted online. The Hawai'i Police Department keeps booking photos on file. To get a copy, send a records request to HPD with identifying info and a $5 fee for the first page. Mugshots from the HPD booking logs are not part of the daily online posts.

Expunging Hawaii County Arrests

Under Hawaii Revised Statutes §831-3.2, an arrest that did not end in conviction may be expunged. The person must apply in writing through the HCJDC Expungement Section in Honolulu. Processing runs about 120 days.

A first expungement costs $35. Second and later ones cost $50. A $10 processing fee is non-refundable. The application needs a completed form, a fingerprint card, a certified copy of the court disposition, and payment.

Cases that can be expunged include arrests with no charges filed, cases dismissed by the prosecutor, acquittals, cases dismissed by court, and deferred acceptance pleas after discharge. Cases that cannot be expunged include convictions, bail forfeitures for petty misdemeanors inside the 5-year wait, and cases where the defendant absconded.

Once granted, the arrest record is sealed. The subject may state they have no record of that arrest. Law enforcement may still see the sealed file under narrow rules. A certificate of expungement is issued to the person.

Legal Resources for Hawaii County Recent Arrests

Several groups can help with arrest-related matters in Hawaii County. The Hawaii State Judiciary offers self-help forms and guides. The main Judiciary site at courts.state.hi.us has case forms, expungement applications, and the full rules.

For bail-related questions, call the court where the case is filed. Third Circuit Hilo is (808) 961-7400. Third Circuit Kona is (808) 322-8700. Public defenders handle cases for people who cannot afford a lawyer. Contact the court clerk to request appointment.

Crime victim resources include Unsolved Homicides Division at (808) 961-2380 and Crime Stoppers at (808) 961-8300. The SAVIN system at vinelink.com lets victims sign up for free alerts when an offender's custody status changes.

Cities in Hawaii County

Hawaii County covers the entire Big Island. The main population centers include Hilo on the east side and Kailua-Kona on the west. Every city on the Big Island files through the Hawaii Police Department and the Third Circuit Court.

Other Hawaii County communities include Kailua-Kona, Kealakekua, Captain Cook, Honaunau, Holualoa, Waikoloa, Waimea, Keaau, and Volcano. All run through the same county arrest record system.

Nearby Counties

Hawaii County sits on its own island. The nearest neighbors are across the channel. Check the location of the arrest to find the right county.