Kahului Dissolution of Marriage Case Lookup
Kahului residents can search dissolution of marriage records and file new cases through the Second Circuit Family Court at Hoapili Hale in Wailuku. This page covers how to find court records for Kahului and Maui County dissolution cases, what the filing process looks like, where to get forms, and how to request certified copies of final decrees and related documents.
Kahului Overview
Where Kahului Residents File Dissolution of Marriage Cases
Kahului is the largest town on Maui and serves as the commercial center of Maui County. For dissolution of marriage cases, Kahului residents file at the Second Circuit Family Court, which is located at Hoapili Hale in Wailuku. Wailuku is just a few miles from Kahului, making this one of the more convenient courthouse trips in the state. The drive takes under 10 minutes from most parts of Kahului.
The Second Circuit covers Maui County, which includes Maui island as well as Molokai and Lanai. If you live anywhere in Maui County and want to file for dissolution, Hoapili Hale is your courthouse. The Legal Documents Branch is in Room 106. That's where you go to file papers, request copies, and ask questions about existing cases.
| Court | Second Circuit Family Court |
|---|---|
| Address | Hoapili Hale 2145 Main Street Wailuku, HI 96793 |
| Phone | (808) 244-2700 |
| Legal Documents Branch | Room 106, (808) 244-2752 Fax: (808) 244-2932 Hours: 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM |
| Filing Fee | $215 without children / $265 with children |
Under HRS Chapter 580, Section 580-1 gives the Family Court of the circuit where you are domiciled exclusive jurisdiction over dissolution of marriage cases. Since Kahului is in Maui County and the Second Circuit, all dissolution cases here go to Hoapili Hale.
How to File for Dissolution of Marriage in Kahului
Hawaii is a no-fault state. Under HRS Section 580-41, the only grounds needed for dissolution is that the marriage is irretrievably broken. You don't have to prove fault, show that a spouse did anything wrong, or get your spouse's agreement. One party filing is enough. This keeps the legal bar lower than fault-based states, though the process still involves several steps and paperwork.
Before you file, you need to meet Hawaii's residency requirement. At least one spouse must have lived in Hawaii for six months or more before the filing date. Hawaii does not require that the marriage happened here. You can have been married in another state or even another country. What matters is where you live now. If you moved to Kahului from elsewhere and have been here for six months, you can file in Hawaii courts.
The filing process starts at Room 106 of Hoapili Hale. You submit a complaint for divorce along with a matrimonial action information form and the filing fee. Cases without minor children cost $215 to file. Cases with children cost $265. Fee waivers are available for people who qualify based on income. You can ask about the waiver process at the clerk's window when you file, or get waiver forms in advance.
Once you file, the complaint and summons must be served on the other spouse. They have time to respond. If they don't contest the case, the court can proceed to a hearing. Most uncontested Maui cases are resolved in two to three months. Contested cases involving disputes over property, custody, or support take longer. Those cases may need mediation before a trial date is set, and timelines can extend from nine months to over a year depending on complexity.
The minimum wait after serving the other spouse is 30 days before the court can finalize a dissolution. Plan your timeline around that requirement when estimating when your case will close.
Searching Dissolution Records for Kahului Cases
Dissolution of marriage records from Maui County are searchable through the Hawaii Judiciary's free online portals. eCourt Kokua covers all circuits and updates daily. No account or payment is needed for basic searches. Enter a party name or case number to see case status, hearing dates, and docket entries. The Ho'ohiki system covers Family Court records going back to 1983 for more detailed historical searches.
Both tools are available through the Judiciary records search page. Direct access to eCourt Kokua is at this link. For Kahului cases, Second Circuit records appear in the same search system as other circuits. You can filter by circuit or search statewide.
The Second Circuit family court forms page provides dissolution of marriage packets and all required documents for Kahului residents filing in Maui County.
To read actual documents rather than just docket entries, you need to visit the Legal Documents Branch at Room 106 in Hoapili Hale. You can review files there or request copies. The fee is $3 for the first 30 pages and $0.10 per page after that. Mail requests are accepted as well. Include both party names and the case number if you have it, and send a money order or cashier's check. Personal checks are not accepted. Allow 15 to 20 business days for mail requests to be processed.
If you don't have a case number and need to search by name only, there may be a $5 name search fee added to your request. Call the Legal Documents Branch at (808) 244-2752 to ask about current fees and how to submit a mail request before sending payment.
Dissolution of Marriage Forms for Maui
All official forms for Second Circuit dissolution cases are available at the Maui family court forms page. These forms are specific to the Second Circuit. Do not use Oahu forms for a Maui case. The packets include complaints, answer forms, matrimonial action information, restraining order forms, financial disclosure forms, and the final divorce decree. Forms cover both cases with and without minor children.
If children are involved, additional forms are required. You will need a parenting plan, a child support worksheet based on Hawaii guidelines, and possibly documentation related to custody arrangements. Kids First services are available through the Second Circuit at (808) 244-2770. Participation may be required before the court finalizes custody orders in contested cases.
The Hawaii Judiciary's divorce facts self-help page explains the dissolution of marriage process in plain language and is useful for Kahului residents considering filing or trying to understand what to expect.
The court can't give legal advice, but the self-help resources on the Judiciary website are detailed enough to help many people handle uncontested cases on their own. If your situation is complex, you have children, or property and debt division is contested, consulting an attorney is a reasonable step. The Hawaii State Bar Association has a referral service, and Legal Aid Society of Hawaii serves qualifying individuals on Maui.
Divorce Certificates and State Archives
Divorce certificates are separate from court records. The Hawaii Department of Health issues certificates for divorces granted in Hawaii between July 1951 and December 2002. If your divorce or the divorce you are researching falls in that range, you can request a certificate from Hawaii Vital Records. Note that the DOH certificate program is ending February 1, 2026, so requests should be submitted before that date.
For divorces finalized after 2002, you need a certified copy from the Second Circuit directly. That certified decree is the standard document used for legal name changes, updating government records, and other purposes. Contact the Legal Documents Branch at (808) 244-2752 to request a certified copy and ask about current fees.
Older historical records may be at the Hawaii State Archives. The Archives holds records going back to the territorial period and can be searched using their genealogy research guide. This is useful if you are researching a family member's divorce from many decades ago.
The Hawaii State Archives genealogy research guide helps people find older dissolution of marriage records not available through the court system's online portals, including Maui County cases from earlier decades.
Maui County Dissolution of Marriage Records
Kahului is in Maui County, and all dissolution of marriage filings go through the Second Circuit Family Court at Hoapili Hale in Wailuku. The county page has more on the court system, fee schedules, and related resources for Maui County residents.
Nearby Cities
These cities are near Kahului and also use the Second Circuit Family Court for dissolution of marriage cases.