Dissolution of Marriage in Kalawao County

Kalawao County dissolution of marriage cases are handled by the Second Circuit Family Court in Wailuku, Maui, since Kalawao County does not operate its own court system. This page explains which court to contact, how to search for dissolution records, what the filing process involves for Kalawao County residents, where historical records are held, and what online tools are available for research.

Which Court Handles Kalawao County Dissolution Cases

Kalawao County does not have its own court system. All judicial matters, including dissolution of marriage, are handled by the Second Circuit Court based in Wailuku, Maui. This has been the arrangement since the county was created on April 22, 1903, when it was carved from Maui County. The county occupies the Makanalua Peninsula on the north coast of Molokai and is one of the smallest counties in the United States by both area and population.

Kalawao County residents who need to file for dissolution of marriage go to the Second Circuit Family Court at Hoapili Hale, 2145 Main Street, Wailuku, HI 96793. The general phone number for the Family Court is (808) 244-2700. Family Court records requests use (808) 244-2969. The Legal Documents Branch is in Room 106 at the same address, phone (808) 244-2752, fax (808) 244-2932. Hours at the Legal Documents Branch are 8 AM to 4 PM Monday through Friday, except state holidays.

The judicial district courthouse address listed for Kalawao is 200 S. High Street, Kalana O Maui Building, Wailuku, HI 96793, with a phone number of (808) 323-4881. This is another contact point for judicial matters related to Kalawao County, all routed through the Maui-based Second Circuit system.

Under HRS Section 580-1, the Family Court of the circuit where you are domiciled has exclusive original jurisdiction over dissolution of marriage. For Kalawao County, that means the Second Circuit in Maui handles the case. All filings, hearings, and records for Kalawao dissolution cases go through the same Wailuku courthouse that serves all of Maui County.

The screenshot below is from the Second Circuit contact page on the Hawaii State Judiciary website, showing contact details for the court that handles Kalawao County dissolution cases.

The Second Circuit contact page has current phone numbers and addresses for the court serving Kalawao County in Wailuku, Maui.

The Second Circuit Family Court in Wailuku handles all Kalawao County dissolution of marriage cases, since Kalawao has no court of its own.

Filing for Dissolution of Marriage as a Kalawao County Resident

The process for filing dissolution of marriage as a Kalawao County resident is the same as for any Maui County resident, since the Second Circuit handles both. Hawaii is a no-fault state. The ground for dissolution under HRS Section 580-41 is that the marriage is irretrievably broken. You do not need to prove fault or wrongdoing. Living separate and apart is also listed as a ground under the same statute.

You must have lived in Hawaii for at least six months before filing. HRS Section 580-1 requires that you file in the circuit where you are domiciled. Since Kalawao County falls under the Second Circuit, you go to Wailuku to file. Military personnel stationed in Hawaii can use their posting location to satisfy the six-month residency rule.

To start the case, you file the Complaint for Divorce, the Automatic Restraining Order, and the Summons at the Legal Documents Branch at Hoapili Hale in Wailuku. Bring the originals plus copies. The clerk stamps everything, keeps the originals, and returns copies to you with your case number. The next step is serving the other party. If your spouse signs an Appearance and Waiver, formal service is not needed. If they won't sign, you must serve them formally and file proof of service with the court.

The filing fee is $215 for cases without minor children and $265 for cases involving children. Fee waivers are available for qualifying low-income individuals. If you have minor children, both parents must complete the Kids First program before the court finalizes the dissolution. Contact the program at (808) 244-2770 to schedule. A notice to attend is required as part of the filing papers when children are involved.

All Second Circuit dissolution forms are free at courts.state.hi.us. The forms include complete dissolution packets for cases with and without children, plus individual forms for financial disclosures, proof of service, and other steps in the process.

How to Search Kalawao County Dissolution of Marriage Records

Since Kalawao County dissolution cases are filed through the Second Circuit, you use the same search tools that cover all Maui County cases. The two main portals are eCourt Kokua and Ho'ohiki, both operated by the Hawaii State Judiciary.

eCourt Kokua at jimspss1.courts.state.hi.us lets you search by party name or case number. The system covers all Hawaii circuits and updates daily. Data is usually available within 48 hours of any court event. Second Circuit case numbers start with "2." Searching is free. Document downloads cost $3 per document for up to 30 pages, with $0.10 per additional page. Subscriptions are available at $125 per quarter or $500 per year for unlimited access.

Ho'ohiki at courts.state.hi.us is the other statewide case search tool. It is also free to use for basic lookups. Both portals show docket entries, filing dates, case status, and party names. Neither provides full document text for free.

For in-person access, go to the Legal Documents Branch at Room 106, 2145 Main Street, Wailuku. Bring the names of the parties and the approximate year of filing. Staff can help locate cases and make copies. Mail requests take at least 10 business days to process. Mailed responses take 15 to 20 business days. If you don't include a case number, the court may charge a $5 name search fee. Pay by money order, cashier's check, or certified check only. Do not send payment with your request; wait for the court's invoice.

The state judiciary records search image below illustrates the statewide Ho'ohiki portal used to search Second Circuit cases including Kalawao County dissolution records.

Access Ho'ohiki to search Second Circuit dissolution cases that include Kalawao County filings handled by the Maui court.

Ho'ohiki covers all Hawaii circuits including the Second Circuit that handles Kalawao County dissolution of marriage cases through the Wailuku courthouse.

What Kalawao County Dissolution Records Contain

Dissolution of marriage case files for Kalawao County are part of the Second Circuit records system. They contain the same types of documents found in any Maui County dissolution case. The complaint is the first document. It names both parties, states the date of marriage, identifies children, and sets out what the filing party is asking the court to order.

The final decree of dissolution is the most important document for most purposes. It sets the terms that both parties must follow. The decree may address alimony, legal and physical custody of children, visitation schedules, child support amounts, health insurance for children, and division of all marital property and debts. Property covered includes real estate, vehicles, bank accounts, retirement plans, and personal property. Debt allocation is also part of the decree. Financial disclosure forms from both parties are part of the case file too.

Only adult family court records are public. Juvenile records are sealed by statute. Social Security numbers and bank account numbers are redacted from all public-facing documents. The eCourt Kokua system shows the public, redacted version of documents when you download them.

Historical Records for Kalawao County

Government records in Kalawao County began in 1905. Before that, the area was managed as a leprosy settlement without formal county-level record-keeping. The county's formation in 1903 led to the start of official records in 1905, covering births, marriages, deaths, court matters, land, and probate. Census records for the area begin in 1910.

Historical dissolution records for the Kalawao area are found within Second Circuit records held at the Hawaii State Archives. The Archives hold Second Circuit case files from 1848 to 1900 and from 1915, covering cases A1 through A319, cataloged as MFL 54. These are Maui-based records that cover the same judicial district as Kalawao County.

The Hawaii State Archives also holds special historical materials related to the Kalaupapa settlement era, including Kalaupapa Marriage Documents, Kalaupapa Patient Registers, and the Kalaupapa Death Register of Patients. These are distinct from court dissolution records but may be relevant for genealogy research connected to the leprosy settlement period. The Hawaii State Archives dissolution case files collection page describes the circuit court records available for the Second Circuit.

For older records and genealogy research, the Hawaii State Archives genealogy guide is a useful resource. It explains what records are held, how they are organized, and how to submit research requests. Some materials from this era are also accessible through the Hawaii Digital Archives online without a physical visit to the Archives building at 364 S. King Street in Honolulu.

The supplemental image below is from the Hawaii State Archives genealogy resources page, which covers dissolution case files and other historical court records.

The Hawaii State Archives genealogy guide explains how to research historical Second Circuit dissolution records that include cases from the Kalawao County judicial district.

The Archives hold Second Circuit historical dissolution case files covering the judicial district that includes Kalawao County, with records going back to 1848.

About Kalawao County and Its Court System

Kalawao County is the smallest county in the United States by area. It sits on the Makanalua Peninsula, a narrow stretch of land on the north coast of Molokai cut off from the rest of the island by steep sea cliffs. The county was created on April 22, 1903, carved from what had been part of Maui County. The name Kalawao means "mountain-side wild woods" in Hawaiian.

The area is historically significant as the site of the Kalaupapa Leprosy Settlement, now managed as Kalaupapa National Historical Park. Populated places within the county include Kalaupapa, Kalawao, Makanalua, and Waikolu. The county has never had its own court system. Since its formation, all judicial matters including dissolution of marriage have been handled by the Second Circuit based in Wailuku, Maui.

The practical effect for anyone needing to file for dissolution as a Kalawao County resident is that they travel to Wailuku or manage the process by mail and phone through the Second Circuit. The same forms, fees, procedures, and timelines that apply to Maui County residents apply to Kalawao County residents as well. Both sets of records are part of the same Second Circuit filing system and can be searched through the same online portals.

The supplemental image below is from the eCourt Kokua portal, which is the main online tool for searching Second Circuit dissolution records including cases from Kalawao County.

Use eCourt Kokua to search Second Circuit dissolution of marriage records, which include all cases filed on behalf of Kalawao County residents.

The eCourt Kokua portal covers all Hawaii circuits and is the primary tool for searching dissolution records, including Second Circuit cases tied to Kalawao County.

Legal Resources for Kalawao County Dissolution Cases

The Hawaii State Judiciary offers monthly "Divorce Law in Hawaii" public education seminars at no charge. These cover the full dissolution process under Hawaii law. Check the Judiciary website for current dates. Residents of Kalawao County who want to attend in person would typically look for seminars on Maui or in Honolulu.

All Second Circuit forms are free to download at courts.state.hi.us. The self-help divorce overview at courts.state.hi.us/self-help/divorce/divorce_facts explains the dissolution process in plain language. For the full text of Hawaii dissolution law, see HRS Chapter 580 on Justia.

Legal aid organizations that serve Maui County also cover Kalawao County. Contact legal aid to see if you qualify for free help with your dissolution case. The Hawaii Department of Health holds dissolution certificates for July 1951 through December 2002. Visit health.hawaii.gov/vitalrecords for the current request process. After February 1, 2026, the DOH will stop maintaining these records, and you will need to request certificates from the Second Circuit Family Court directly.

The supplemental image below is from the Hawaii Revised Statutes Chapter 580 page, which governs dissolution of marriage throughout Hawaii including Kalawao County.

Review HRS Chapter 580 on Justia for the full text of Hawaii's dissolution of marriage statutes that apply to Kalawao County cases.

HRS Chapter 580 governs all dissolution proceedings in Hawaii, including cases filed by Kalawao County residents through the Second Circuit in Wailuku.

Communities in Kalawao County

Kalawao County's populated places are Kalaupapa, Kalawao, Makanalua, and Waikolu, all located on the Makanalua Peninsula on the north coast of Molokai. None of these communities qualify for individual records pages based on population. All dissolution of marriage cases from Kalawao County are filed at the Second Circuit Family Court at Hoapili Hale in Wailuku, Maui.

Nearby Counties

Hawaii's counties each fall under a specific Family Court circuit. Kalawao County is served by the same Second Circuit as Maui County. The other Hawaii counties have their own circuits.