Kalawao County Recent Arrests
Kalawao County recent arrests are handled through shared resources with Maui County. This small county on the Kalaupapa Peninsula of Molokai has under 100 residents and no local government. Arrests made in Kalawao County are processed by Maui Police Department officers or State of Hawaii Sheriff's deputies. Court cases run through the Molokai District Court or the Second Circuit Court in Wailuku. This page walks through how to find arrest records for Kalawao, who to contact, and what resources feed data on arrests made in this tiny corner of Hawaii.
Kalawao County Overview
About Kalawao County Recent Arrests
Kalawao County resides on the northern coast of Molokai. The largest community is Kalaupapa. A local census found 82 inhabitants in 2020. The county was founded in 1905 as a setting for a leprosy settlement. Today the area is the Kalaupapa National Historical Park. Access is tightly limited.
The NPS image above shows the historical park page that runs point for most operations in the county. Because Kalawao has county status but no local government, it does not have a police department, sheriff's office, or courthouse. All services come from Maui County, the National Park Service, or the state.
Kalawao keeps arrest records for each crime that occurs within its jurisdictional area. Crimes are divided into two primary categories, violent and property. The area rarely sees any activity. Crime rates are not reported for Kalawao County because of the small population.
Law Enforcement for Kalawao County Arrests
Kalawao County does not have its own police department. Law enforcement is provided by a mix of agencies that share duties.
The agencies covering Kalawao:
- State of Hawaii Department of Law Enforcement Sheriff Division
- Maui County Police Department (Molokai Division)
- National Park Service Law Enforcement Rangers
The Molokai Police Station at 110 N. Kaunakakai Place, Kaunakakai, HI 96748 covers the bulk of Molokai including Kalaupapa approach. Phone is (808) 553-1611. Molokai police officers make most of the arrests that occur in Kalawao County.
After an arrest, the detainee is transported from Molokai to Maui Community Correctional Center in Wailuku. Transport runs by plane or boat. Booking at MCCC covers photos, fingerprints, medical screening, and classification. Initial appearances for Kalawao arrestees may run via video conference back to the Molokai District Court.
Courts for Kalawao County Recent Arrests
Kalawao County is part of the Maui Judicial District and falls under the Second Circuit Court. The local courthouse is the Molokai District Court at 55 Makaena Place, Kaunakakai, HI 96748. Phone is (808) 553-1100. Hours run Monday through Friday, 7:45 AM to 4:30 PM.
The Molokai District Court handles all Kalawao County cases at the District Court level. That includes misdemeanor criminal cases, traffic citations, civil cases under $40,000, and small claims. Felony cases from Kalawao may be transferred to the Second Circuit Court in Wailuku on Maui.
Arraignments may be conducted via video conference. Bail can be posted at Molokai District Court. The Second Circuit Court at Hoapili Hale, 2145 Main Street, Wailuku, HI 96793 handles the felony side. Phone there is (808) 244-2800.
Court records for Kalawao cases are accessible through eCourt Kokua online. Public access terminals at both Molokai and Wailuku courthouses show case details. The Clerk's Office at either location can provide document copies.
Kalawao County Recent Arrests Records Access
Because Kalawao County has no local records office, requests for arrest records go through one of several other agencies. The Maui Police Department Records Section at 55 Mahalani Street, Wailuku handles arrest record requests for crimes processed through Molokai Police. Phone is (808) 244-6400.
Second Circuit Court records office handles court documents. Hawaii Department of Law Enforcement Sheriff Division records cover arrests made by sheriff deputies. For state-level criminal history info, the Hawaii Criminal Justice Data Center at 465 S. King Street in Honolulu is the central repository.
Fees follow the Maui Police schedule. Standard copies cost $0.25 per page. Certified copies run $1.00 per page. Large requests over 50 pages may need a deposit. Processing time is 10 business days for standard requests.
For background check questions, contact the Maui Office of the Hawaii Department of Health at (808) 586-4412. They can direct inquiries related to law enforcement and public safety in Kalawao County.
Note: Kalawao County shares government resources with Maui. Arrest record requests should be directed to the Maui Police Department Records Section or the Second Circuit Court, depending on the type of record.
Hawaii Arrest Records Laws Applied to Kalawao
Kalawao County falls under the same state rules that apply across Hawaii. The Uniform Information Practices Act in chapter 92F of the Hawaii Revised Statutes opens government records to the public. Police blotter data is included.
Under Hawaii Revised Statutes §846-9, conviction info is fully public. Non-conviction info is limited to criminal justice agencies. Juvenile records are confidential under §571-84.
Expungement rules in §831-3.2 also apply. Even a small county like Kalawao follows these state-wide rules. Expungement applications go to the HCJDC Expungement Section in Honolulu. Processing runs about 120 days.
The 48-hour charge rule under chapter 846 applies to every arrest in Hawaii, including those made in Kalawao. Police must charge the arrested person within 48 hours, not counting weekends and holidays, or release them.
Historical Context of Kalawao
Kalaupapa was established in 1866 as a leprosy settlement. The settlement operated under strict isolation rules. Residents were sent to the peninsula by law and could not leave. Kalawao County was created in 1905 to give the area a legal structure.
Today the area is a National Historical Park. A small remaining patient population lives there alongside National Park Service staff. Law enforcement in the park runs through National Park Service rangers for park-specific offenses. Serious crimes go to Maui Police or state sheriff deputies.
Because of its unique status, Kalawao has no mayor, no city council, and no local police chief. State-level agencies handle everything that would normally fall to a county. The arrangement is called for by the limited population and remote geography.
Sex Offender Registry for Kalawao County
The Hawaii Criminal Justice Data Center maintains the statewide Sex Offender Registry under HRS Chapter 846E. It covers every county including Kalawao. The registry is free to search by name, zip code, or city.
Because Kalawao has no local police department, any required registration is handled through the Maui County Police Department or directly through HCJDC. The Molokai Police Station at 110 N. Kaunakakai Place assists when local verification is needed.
Email alerts from the Attorney General's site can notify residents and staff at Kalaupapa National Historical Park about registered offenders in specified zip codes. The service is free.
Nearby Counties
Kalawao County shares the island of Molokai with the rest of Maui County. Because of its small size and lack of local government, it leans heavily on Maui for services. Kauai and Honolulu Counties are the closest neighbors on other islands.