Urban Honolulu Police Records
Urban Honolulu police records are handled by the Honolulu Police Department, which serves the downtown core and surrounding neighborhoods that make up this census-designated place on Oahu. HPD District 1 covers the area, and the department's headquarters on South Beretania Street is the main point of contact for records requests in this part of the city. Arrest records that resulted in a conviction are public under state law. You can search them online, visit a public access site in person, or submit a written request. This page covers each option, along with court records, criminal history checks, and the state laws that govern public access to police and arrest records in Urban Honolulu.
Urban Honolulu Overview
HPD and Urban Honolulu Police Records
The Honolulu Police Department is the agency responsible for law enforcement across all of Oahu, and it uses a district-based structure to manage patrols and field operations. HPD District 1 covers Urban Honolulu, which takes in the downtown business core, Chinatown, the civic center area, and nearby residential blocks. The district boundary runs along the Honolulu side of Pali Highway down to Punahou Street. An administrative office operates out of the Pawaa Annex, and there is a Chinatown Substation in the heart of downtown to support community policing in that corridor.
HPD headquarters is at 801 South Beretania Street, Honolulu, HI 96813. This building serves both administrative and public functions. The Records and Identification Division, which handles police report requests and public access to criminal history printouts, operates from this location. The non-emergency line for the Honolulu Police Department is (808) 529-3111. For records-specific questions, call (808) 529-3191. These are different numbers that serve different purposes, so use the right one for what you need.
The Honolulu Police Department website gives a general overview of the department's structure, services, and contact information for each division.
HPD District 1 covers the downtown Urban Honolulu area, including the main headquarters building where public records access is available.
Under HRS Chapter 846, all Hawaii law enforcement agencies must report arrest data to the Hawaii Criminal Justice Data Center. HPD follows this rule. Every arrest made by an HPD officer in Urban Honolulu generates a booking record at the Alapai Headquarters facility. From there, fingerprints, photographs, and charge information are forwarded to HCJDC as required by HRS Section 846-3. This process keeps the statewide criminal history database current and means that conviction data from Urban Honolulu arrests will show up in a standard HCJDC records check.
Under HRS Section 803, HPD officers may arrest a person with or without a warrant when probable cause exists that the person committed a crime. Arrests made in Urban Honolulu by District 1 officers follow the same booking and data-reporting procedures as any other HPD arrest. If a person who is arrested cannot post bail, they are transferred to Oahu Community Correctional Center, a 950-bed pretrial detention facility that holds Honolulu County arrestees pending case resolution.
How to Request Urban Honolulu Police Records
The process for getting police records in Urban Honolulu depends on what type of record you need. Police reports, criminal history printouts, and court records are all different things kept by different agencies. Knowing which one you need saves time and keeps you from contacting the wrong office.
For police incident reports, the HPD online police report system accepts non-emergency report requests for incidents that happened on Oahu. You fill out the form online and submit it. An HPD officer then calls you back from (808) 768-0000. That number does not accept incoming calls, so make sure you answer when they reach out. Do not use this system for emergencies, for incidents where a suspect is known or still present, or for anything that happened off Oahu. The online system is for a limited set of non-emergency incident types only. In-person requests for police reports go directly to HPD headquarters at 801 South Beretania Street.
For criminal history checks, the main tool is the eCrim online system run by the Hawaii Criminal Justice Data Center. It searches adult conviction records only and is open to the public around the clock. The HPD highlights and statistics page provides additional data on crime trends in Honolulu that may be useful for context. To run a check in person, visit one of the two public access sites that serve Urban Honolulu, both discussed in the next section.
Written UIPA requests for records not available through standard channels can be submitted to the agency holding the record. The Hawaii Department of Law Enforcement UIPA request page explains how to submit a written request and what details to include. Agencies must respond within 10 business days under state law. If your request is denied, the Office of Information Practices handles appeals.
Note: The HPD online report system is for non-emergency incidents on Oahu only and does not accept calls at the callback number (808) 768-0000, so plan to be available when HPD calls you back.
Public Access Sites Near Urban Honolulu
Two public access sites serve people looking for criminal history printouts in the Urban Honolulu area. Both charge $25 per search and use the same HCJDC database. Cash is not accepted. Bring a money order, cashier's check, or payment card. A 3% non-refundable service fee applies to all card transactions. Before you go, have the subject's full legal name, date of birth, social security number, and sex ready. That information is needed to run a name-based search.
The first site is at HPD headquarters, 801 South Beretania Street, Honolulu, HI 96813. The records line there is (808) 529-3191. This is the most central option for Urban Honolulu residents given that the building is in the heart of the area. Security screening is required at the door, so bring a valid photo ID and leave unnecessary items behind. The second site is at the Hawaii Criminal Justice Data Center, 465 S. King Street, Room 102, Honolulu, HI 96813. That office is the statewide repository for criminal history data and can be reached at (808) 587-3279. It is a short distance from HPD headquarters and serves all of Honolulu County.
The HCJDC public access sites page lists all six statewide locations with addresses and phone numbers. Calling ahead to confirm current hours is a good idea before making a trip.
Note: Both Urban Honolulu public access sites run name-based searches only; if you need a fingerprint-based check, contact HCJDC directly to arrange that service, which requires a separate process and higher fee.
Criminal History and Arrest Records for Urban Honolulu
Criminal history records for Urban Honolulu arrests are held by the Hawaii Criminal Justice Data Center, which is part of the Department of the Attorney General. HCJDC maintains the official statewide repository of arrest and conviction data. The main office is at 465 S. King Street, Room 102, Honolulu, HI 96813, and the phone number is (808) 587-3279. The HCJDC home page has a full list of services, including the different types of records checks available and what each one covers.
Conviction records from Urban Honolulu arrests are public under HRS Section 846-9. Non-conviction records, including arrests that did not lead to charges or cases that were dismissed, are treated as confidential and are not released to the general public. Only authorized criminal justice agencies and certain organizations approved by state law can access non-conviction data. This distinction matters. You can search for conviction data through eCrim or at a public access site, but if an arrest did not end in a conviction, it will not show up in those results.
Fingerprint-based checks are more reliable than name-based checks because they match against the actual biometric record rather than a name that may have variations or errors. HCJDC offers both types. The fingerprint check is the only way to be certain you have the right person's record, especially in a dense urban area where common names appear frequently. That check costs more and requires in-person fingerprinting, but the accuracy is higher.
Individuals who want to review their own records can do so through HCJDC's Access and Review process. If the record contains errors, HCJDC has a procedure for challenging inaccurate information. Expungements for eligible arrests can also be processed through the same office under HRS Section 831-3.2. Call (808) 587-3279 for details on either process.
Juvenile records are not included in standard HCJDC checks. Cases involving juveniles that were transferred to adult court may appear, but standard juvenile records are handled separately by the Hawaii State Judiciary Family Court. Call (808) 954-8190 for juvenile record questions.
Court Records for Urban Honolulu
Criminal cases arising from arrests in Urban Honolulu go through the First Circuit Court, which serves all of Honolulu County. The courthouse is at 777 Punchbowl Street, Honolulu, HI 96813. The main phone number is (808) 539-4700. The Hawaii State Judiciary website gives access to court case information through its eCourt Kokua and Ho'ohiki systems, both available free to the public around the clock.
eCourt Kokua lets you search by name or case number across all Hawaii counties. Results include charges filed, hearing dates, case status, and judgments. Some records may be sealed or restricted by court order and will not appear in public searches. Ho'ohiki is a related system on the same site that lets you search by party name, case number, or filing date range. You can also create an account to save searches and receive notifications when a case is updated.
Public access terminals are available at the First Circuit Court courthouse for in-person searching. For certified copies of court documents, you need to submit a separate request through the clerk's office at 777 Punchbowl Street. The clerk's office can confirm the fee and turnaround time. Call (808) 539-4700 before visiting to ask about current procedures and any forms you may need to bring.
Note: eCourt Kokua shows case status and docket entries for public records but does not provide full case file documents, so a separate certified copy request through the clerk is needed for official documentation.
Public Records Law in Honolulu
Hawaii's main public records law is the Uniform Information Practices Act, known as UIPA. It is codified at HRS Chapter 92F. Section 92F-12 requires government agencies to disclose records unless a specific exemption applies. Section 92F-13 lists the exemptions, which include records whose disclosure would constitute a clearly unwarranted invasion of personal privacy, records related to active investigations, and records that are sealed or expunged by court order. Section 92F-14 identifies specific privacy interests the law protects.
For arrest records in Urban Honolulu, UIPA works alongside HRS Chapter 846, which governs criminal history specifically. Under Chapter 846, conviction data is public and can be shared without restriction. Non-conviction records are restricted. The general public cannot access arrest information that did not lead to a conviction. If you want unredacted copies of records that are not part of the standard public access set, you may need to show a direct and tangible interest to justify the release. The Office of Information Practices can advise on what that standard requires for a particular type of request.
Agencies receiving a UIPA request must respond within 10 business days. If an agency denies your request, UIPA Section 92F-15 allows judicial enforcement. You can also file a complaint with the Office of Information Practices, which is at 250 South Hotel Street, Suite 107, Honolulu, HI 96813. OIP's phone number is (808) 586-1400. The office investigates complaints, issues formal opinions on UIPA interpretation, and provides model request forms and training for agencies and the public alike.
If you need help putting together a UIPA records request, the Department of Law Enforcement's UIPA request resource page walks through the process step by step. Include your contact information, a description of the specific record you want, and the format in which you want to receive it. Vague requests slow the process, so be as specific as you can about the record type, the date range, and the subject involved.
Note: OIP does not hold police records itself but acts as an oversight body that can direct your appeal if an agency denies a records request or fails to respond within the required 10-business-day window.
Honolulu County Police Records
Urban Honolulu is part of Honolulu County, and all police and criminal history records for this area flow through county-level and state-level agencies based on Oahu. HPD is the county's sole law enforcement agency, and HCJDC holds the statewide conviction database. For a full breakdown of resources, public access sites, and records procedures across the entire county, visit the Honolulu County police records page.
Nearby Cities
These cities are in Honolulu County and also use HPD and the First Circuit Court for police records and criminal cases.