Hilo Police Records

Hilo is home to the Hawaii Police Department headquarters, making it the central access point for police records across the entire Big Island. The Records and Identification Section is at 349 Kapiolani Street and handles requests for incident reports, criminal history printouts, and related documents. You can request records in person, by phone, or by mail. Staff respond within 10 business days. This page covers how to get records from HPD, how to search court cases through Third Circuit Court in Hilo, how to look up inmate information, and what public records laws apply to your request.

Hilo Police Records and Hawaii Police Department

The Hawaii Police Department (HPD) serves all of Hawaii County, which covers the entire Big Island. Its main headquarters sits right in Hilo at 349 Kapiolani Street. That means Hilo residents have direct access to the main records office without traveling to a branch station. The Records and Identification Section is inside the same building and handles all public records requests for incident reports and related police documents.

The Hawaii Police Department website provides department contact information, news, booking logs, and links to the records request process.

HPD headquarters is located in Hilo, making it the central hub for Big Island law enforcement records and the primary point of contact for all Hawaii County police report requests.

Records Section staff can be reached at (808) 961-2233. Office hours run from 7:45 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. If you need to reach the main non-emergency line, call (808) 935-3311. The Police Chief's Office can be reached at (808) 961-2244. For questions about a specific adult who was arrested, call (808) 961-2213. Community Policing East Hawaii is at (808) 961-2350.

HPD also maintains an Unsolved Homicides section and a Hawaii County Crime Map on its website. These are public-facing tools meant to help residents stay informed. Crime Stoppers tips can be submitted at (808) 961-8300, and vice or drug tips for the Hilo area go to (808) 934-8423.

Note: The Records and Identification Section closes at 3:30 p.m., which is earlier than many government offices, so plan your visit or call before mid-afternoon to avoid missing staff hours.

How to Request Hilo Police Records

HPD accepts police report requests in person, by phone, and by mail. In-person requests are handled at 349 Kapiolani Street during the hours listed above. Mailed requests go to Records and Identification Section, 349 Kapiolani Street, Hilo, HI 96720. Phone requests can be placed at (808) 961-2233. The department responds to all requests within 10 business days.

The Hawaii Police Department get a police report page explains the submission process for each method and what information to include with your request.

The department offers multiple ways to request a police report, and the 10-business-day response standard applies to all submission methods, whether you visit in person, send a letter, or call the records office.

Fees are set by Hawaii County. The first page of a report costs $1.00. Each page after that costs $0.10. Cash is the only accepted payment at the Records Section window. If you send a mail request, confirm the preferred payment method when you call ahead. These fees apply to incident reports and basic document copies.

Reports are generally not released until the related case is fully closed. If a case is still open, the department will not release the full report. Victims who need a copy for insurance purposes may be able to get a partial copy before the case closes. Ask Records Section staff when you submit your request.

Standard copies are redacted. Names, addresses, phone numbers, dates of birth, Social Security numbers, medical details, financial information, and information about juvenile parties are blacked out. Your own information stays in the report when you are the reporting party. If you are picking up a report on behalf of another person, you must bring a signed authorization letter from that person.

The HPD FAQ on obtaining a police report goes over what types of documents are available, who can request them, and what the standard processing steps look like.

Note: If you are picking up records on behalf of someone else and do not have a written authorization letter, the Records Section will not release the documents to you on that visit.

Hilo Public Access Site for Criminal History

Hilo is one of six public access sites in Hawaii where you can get a criminal history printout in person. The site is at 349 Kapiolani Street, the same address as HPD headquarters. Call (808) 961-2233 to confirm current hours before you visit. Each printout costs $25. Cash is not accepted, so bring a money order, cashier's check, or payment card.

These printouts come from the Hawaii Criminal Justice Data Center database and show conviction records only. Non-conviction arrests are not included in public criminal history printouts. To run a search, you need the full name of the subject, their date of birth, gender, and Social Security number if available. A name-based search can return results for people who share a name, so be specific with the information you bring.

The HCJDC public access sites page lists all six in-person locations statewide, including the Hilo site, with addresses and phone numbers for each.

The public access printout is one of the most direct ways to get an official criminal history document for Hawaii County subjects. It is issued on-site with no waiting period. If you need a certified document or a fingerprint-based check, those require a separate request through the Hawaii Criminal Justice Data Center in Honolulu.

Note: Public access sites print conviction records only and do not include records from other states or from federal courts, so results reflect Hawaii arrests and convictions exclusively.

Booking Logs and Recent Arrest Information in Hilo

HPD publishes booking logs on its website. These logs cover individuals who were arrested and charged within a 48-hour period. They are available through the Hawaii Police Department News and Media section. The logs are posted as a public service and are updated regularly. They include the person's name, the charges filed, and the date of arrest.

Booking logs are a fast way to find recent arrest activity in Hilo without submitting a formal records request. They are useful if you need to confirm a recent arrest or look up current charges. Because they cover only a 48-hour window, older booking information will not appear in the current log. For older arrest records, you would need to submit a formal request to the Records Section or search through court records.

For general questions about an arrested adult, including bail status or custody information, call (808) 961-2213. This line is separate from the Records Section and is set up specifically to handle inquiries about adults in custody.

Note: Booking logs reflect arrests and charges at the time of booking and are not a final record of conviction; charges can be modified, reduced, or dismissed after the initial booking entry is posted.

Court Records for Hilo Cases

Criminal cases in Hilo are heard at Third Circuit Court. The courthouse is at 777 Kilauea Avenue, Hilo, HI 96720. The main phone line is (808) 961-7400. Third Circuit Court covers all of Hawaii County, so cases from anywhere on the Big Island, not just Hilo, go through this court. The clerk's office there handles case files and certified copy requests.

The Hawaii State Judiciary website gives public online access to court records through the eCourt Kokua system. The system is free and runs around the clock. You can search by party name or case number. Results show charges filed, hearing dates, current case status, and judgments. Some records may be restricted or sealed. For help with the system, call the court at (808) 961-7400 or reach the statewide judiciary line at (808) 539-4700.

The Ho'ohiki system, also on the judiciary's site, lets you search by party name, case number, or filing date range. You can create an account to save searches and set up notifications for case updates. This is useful if you need to monitor an ongoing case without checking back manually.

In-person searches are also available at the courthouse public access terminal. Court staff can assist if you need help finding a specific case or understanding the results. Certified copies of court documents require a separate request through the clerk's office and carry a per-page fee set by the court.

Note: eCourt Kokua covers civil, criminal, and traffic cases from all Hawaii counties, so the same search system works whether you are looking up a Hilo case or a case filed elsewhere in the state.

Inmate and Detention Records in Hilo

Hawaii Community Correctional Center is the facility that serves Hawaii County. It holds pretrial detainees and sentenced inmates from the Big Island. The Hawaii Department of Public Safety website hosts the offender database for all state correctional facilities, including Hawaii Community Correctional Center.

You can search the database by name or identification number. Results include custody status, the facility where the person is held, and projected release information. The database covers sentenced inmates and pretrial detainees in the state system. If you cannot locate someone through the online search, contact the facility directly. The Department of Public Safety also manages prisoner transport across all islands and works with the Sheriff Division for court security and related functions.

Hawaii does not use a traditional county sheriff model. State-level law enforcement outside of the four county police departments falls under the Hawaii Sheriff Division, which is part of the Department of Law Enforcement. For matters specific to Hawaii Community Correctional Center or the Big Island jail population, contact the facility or call the Department of Public Safety directly.

Note: The DPS offender database reflects current custody information and may not show individuals who have been released, transferred, or processed out of the system within the past 24 to 48 hours.

Public Records Laws That Apply to Hilo Police Records

Two main laws govern access to police records in Hilo. The first is the Uniform Information Practices Act, or UIPA, found at HRS Chapter 92F. The second is HRS Chapter 846, which governs criminal history records specifically.

Under UIPA, government agencies including HPD must respond to written records requests within 10 business days. Section 92F-12 requires disclosure unless an exemption applies. Exemptions under Section 92F-13 include records that could invade personal privacy or interfere with ongoing investigations. That is why open-case reports are withheld and why standard copies come with redactions. If an agency denies your request, Section 92F-15 allows you to seek a court review.

HRS Chapter 846 sets the rules for criminal history records. Under Section 846-9, conviction records are public and can be shared without restriction. Non-conviction arrest records are confidential. Only authorized criminal justice agencies or organizations specifically approved under state law can access non-conviction data. Unauthorized disclosure of criminal history information is a criminal offense under state law. Individuals have the right to review their own criminal history record through HCJDC's Access and Review process and can challenge inaccurate entries.

If you have a UIPA-related dispute with HPD or any state agency, the Office of Information Practices handles appeals and issues formal opinions. OIP is at 250 South Hotel Street, Suite 107, Honolulu, HI 96813, phone (808) 586-1400. The Hawaii Department of Law Enforcement UIPA request page has model request forms and submission instructions for state law enforcement records.

Note: OIP opinions are binding on state agencies, so filing a complaint with OIP is a formal step that can compel disclosure if the agency's denial was not properly justified under the law.

Hawaii County Police Records

Hilo is the county seat of Hawaii County, and all police records for the Big Island flow through the Hawaii Police Department, which is based here. The county page covers HPD district offices, public access site details, local legal aid organizations, and broader resources for Hawaii County as a whole.

View Hawaii County Police Records