Kauai County Police Records

Kauai County police records are kept by the Kauai Police Department and the Hawaii Criminal Justice Data Center, and cover arrest logs, incident reports, and criminal history files for the entire island of Kauai. You can request a copy of a report from KPD directly, search conviction records through the state eCrim system, or visit the public access site at KPD headquarters on Kaana Street in Lihue for a criminal history printout. This page covers where each record type is held, how to request what you need, what the online tools offer, and what state law says about who can get these records and when.

Kauai County Police Department Overview

The Kauai Police Department is the only municipal law enforcement agency for Kauai County. It covers the entire island, from Lihue in the east to Waimea on the west side. One department handles it all: urban areas, resort corridors, and remote rural communities alike. KPD headquarters is at 3990 Kaana Street in Lihue, and the public access site for criminal history printouts is at that same address. The non-emergency dispatch line is (808) 241-1711. For emergencies, call 911.

KPD runs three district stations in addition to the main Lihue headquarters. The Kapaa station handles the east side of the island. The Waimea station covers the western communities. Each station has its own patrol staff, but records requests and public access all run through the main headquarters in Lihue. The Records Section handles arrest record requests and can be reached directly at (808) 241-1655. For public access site inquiries, call (808) 241-1661.

KPD also runs a number of community programs. K-PAL, the Kauai Police Activities League, works with youth across the island. The department has a Chaplaincy Corps and offers resources tied to domestic violence services. RAISE Grant and RISE Initiative programs are also in place. Staff can field media inquiries through the Public Information Office. The department accepts commendations and complaints through a formal process listed on its website.

All arrest data from KPD feeds into the statewide criminal history system maintained by the Hawaii Criminal Justice Data Center. That makes HCJDC the main repository for Kauai criminal history records, just as it is for all other Hawaii counties.

The KPD official page is the starting point for most Kauai County police records requests, online reporting, and department contact information.

The Kauai Police Department website provides links to the Records Section, arrest log, crime mapping tool, and online reporting system for the island.

KPD serves the entire island of Kauai from its headquarters in Lihue, with district stations in Kapaa and Waimea extending coverage across the island's communities.

How to Get Kauai County Police Records

The Records Section at KPD handles requests for arrest records and police reports. Call (808) 241-1655 to reach the Records Section directly. You can also submit a public records request through the county's online portal, described on the KPD Records Section page. Written requests must include your contact information, a description of the record you want, and how you want to receive it. KPD follows Hawaii's UIPA guidelines, which give agencies 10 business days to respond.

Redacted copies are standard for most police records. Officers remove personal details for uninvolved parties, including home addresses, phone numbers, and dates of birth. Your own information as the requester stays in the report. If you are requesting a report about yourself, bring a valid photo ID. For reports involving other parties, a written authorization from that party may be required depending on the record type.

The KPD Records Section page explains how to submit a public police report request and what information to include in the submission.

KPD also offers an online public police report request system, which allows you to submit requests without visiting the Lihue headquarters in person.

Reports tied to open investigations may not be released until the case is closed. If you are a victim and need a partial copy for insurance purposes, ask the Records Section about your options before a case closes. Processing times may vary based on case complexity and whether records need to be redacted before release.

Note: KPD arrest records are public under UIPA, and agencies must respond to written requests within 10 business days under HRS Chapter 92F.

Online Crime Reporting in Kauai County

KPD runs an online reporting system for non-emergency incidents. You can find it at the KPD Online Reporting page. The system is designed for situations where no one is in danger, no suspect is known, and the incident took place within Kauai County jurisdiction. If you know who the suspect is, do not use the online form. Call dispatch at (808) 241-1711 instead so an officer can respond.

There are a few rules for using the online system. You must be at least 18 years old to submit a report. A valid email address is required because KPD sends your permanent report number and a copy of the report to that address. Filing a false report is a crime, and the system notes that clearly before you submit. The online tool is not a substitute for a 911 call. If a crime is happening or someone is at risk, call 911 right away.

The online report system works best for minor property crimes, lost items, and similar non-emergency incidents where getting a report number is the main goal. You get confirmation via email once the report is processed. Keep that email. The report number in it is what you need if you contact KPD later or need documentation for an insurance claim.

Note: Only use the online reporting system for incidents that occurred within Kauai County. Incidents outside county jurisdiction require contacting the agency that covers that area.

Kauai Arrest Log and Crime Mapping

KPD maintains a public arrest log on the county website. You can view it at the KPD Arrest Log page. The log is updated regularly with current booking information and is available to the public under Hawaii's Uniform Information Practices Act. Arrest records are public records under UIPA, so the log does not require any special login or request to access.

The arrest log page includes two helpful features. The Offense Lookup tool lets you search for entries by offense type. Release Codes are also explained on the page, which helps you understand the status of each booking. These tools make the log more useful than a raw list of names and dates.

KPD also offers a crime mapping tool that shows incident data across the island in a geographic format. You can reach it at the KPD Crime Mapping page. The map lets you filter by incident type and date range and see where crimes have been reported across Kauai. It is a useful resource for anyone who wants to understand crime patterns in a specific neighborhood or part of the island.

The KPD crime mapping tool presents incident data across the island of Kauai and supports filtering by type and location.

The crime mapping tool supports multiple language options, including Hawaiian, Japanese, Spanish, and Tagalog, making it accessible to a broader range of Kauai residents.

The KPD arrest log is the primary public source for recent booking data in Kauai County.

The Offense Lookup feature and Release Codes information available on the arrest log page help users interpret entries and understand the status of individual bookings.

Public Access Site in Kauai County

KPD headquarters at 3990 Kaana Street, Lihue, is one of six public access sites across Hawaii where you can get a criminal history printout in person. Call (808) 241-1661 to confirm hours before you visit. Each printout costs $25. This is a direct search of the HCJDC database, the same system used at all six statewide sites. It is not a third-party background check service.

For a name-based search, bring the subject's full name, date of birth, social security number, and sex. Name-based searches have a known limitation: if someone was booked under a different name, the search may not turn up a record. Fingerprint-based checks are more accurate. For a fingerprint check, contact the HCJDC directly at its Honolulu office at 465 S. King Street, Room 102, phone (808) 587-3279. HCJDC handles both digital roll and ink roll fingerprinting.

Cash is not accepted at the public access site. Bring a credit or debit card, or a money order or cashier's check. Card payments carry a 3% non-refundable service fee. Results reflect conviction data only under HRS Section 846-9. Arrests that did not lead to conviction are restricted and will not appear. A result of "No Criminal Convictions Found" is a valid and official outcome, not an error.

Note: The KPD public access site covers Hawaii criminal history only. Records from other states and federal courts are not included in these searches.

Court Records for Kauai County

The Fifth Circuit Court handles all criminal and civil cases for Kauai County. If someone was arrested by KPD and charges were filed, their case ends up here. The court clerk keeps the official case files, dockets, and judgments. For information about the Fifth Circuit Court, contact the Hawaii State Judiciary at courts.state.hi.us or call the circuit court directly through the state judiciary system.

You can search court records for free through eCourt Kokua, the Hawaii State Judiciary's public access tool at courts.state.hi.us. The system runs 24 hours a day and covers criminal, civil, and traffic cases from all five Hawaii counties, including Kauai. Search by name or case number. Results show charges, hearing dates, case status, and judgments. Some records may be sealed or restricted by court order and will not appear in search results.

The Ho'ohiki tool, also available through the state judiciary website, lets you search by party name, case number, or filing date range. You can create a free account to save searches and get notifications when case activity is updated. For certified copies of court documents, contact the Fifth Circuit Court clerk's office directly. Certified copies cannot be printed from eCourt Kokua and require a separate request. Public access terminals at the courthouse in Lihue are also available for those who prefer in-person searching.

Kauai County Detention Records

The Kauai County Community Correctional Center, known as KCCC, is the detention facility for Kauai County. It sits at 3-5351 Kuhio Highway in Lihue, HI 96766. The main contact number is (808) 241-3300. KCCC holds individuals who have been arrested and charged but have not yet posted bail, as well as those serving shorter sentences. Sentenced inmates may be transferred to other state facilities depending on available space and program needs.

To look up an inmate at KCCC or any other Hawaii state correctional facility, use the offender database at dps.hawaii.gov. You can search by name or identification number. Results show custody status, the facility where the person is held, and projected release information where available. For questions about a specific person in custody, contact KCCC directly at (808) 241-3300 or reach the Hawaii Department of Public Safety through its main website.

Hawaii does not have traditional county sheriffs. The Hawaii Sheriff Division, which is part of the Department of Law Enforcement, provides court security and prisoner transport statewide and holds law enforcement authority in areas without a local police presence. On Kauai, KPD handles local law enforcement while the Sheriff Division covers court-related functions and state-level responsibilities. The two agencies work in parallel but serve different roles.

Note: Inmate records and detention information are subject to privacy rules, and some information about individuals in custody may not be publicly available depending on the nature of the case.

Public Records Laws Governing Kauai County Police Records

Two state laws shape access to Kauai County police records. The first is HRS Chapter 846, which governs criminal history records statewide. Under HRS Section 846-3, all Hawaii law enforcement agencies, including KPD, must report arrest data to the HCJDC. This is what makes HCJDC the most complete source for Hawaii criminal history. Section 846-9 says conviction records are public and can be shared freely. Non-conviction data, meaning arrests that did not lead to a guilty verdict, is restricted and not available to the general public. Sharing criminal history without authorization is a criminal offense under Chapter 846.

The second law is the Uniform Information Practices Act, or UIPA, found at HRS Chapter 92F. Section 92F-12 says agencies must disclose government records on request unless a specific exemption applies. Section 92F-13 lists exemptions, including records that could interfere with active investigations or expose personal information about people not involved in a matter. Agencies must respond to written UIPA requests within 10 business days. If an agency denies your request without a proper basis, Section 92F-15 lets you seek judicial enforcement.

For written records requests directed at state law enforcement agencies, you can use the Hawaii Department of Law Enforcement's UIPA request portal. For requests directed at KPD specifically, contact the Records Section at (808) 241-1655 or submit your request in writing to KPD headquarters at 3990 Kaana Street, Lihue, HI 96766.

If your UIPA request is denied, you can file a complaint with the Office of Information Practices at 250 South Hotel Street, Suite 107, Honolulu, HI 96813, phone (808) 586-1400. OIP oversees UIPA statewide, investigates denials, and issues formal opinions on whether agency responses were proper. The office also provides model request forms and guidance for people who want to structure a strong records request. Individuals have the right to review their own criminal history and dispute inaccurate entries through the HCJDC Access and Review process.

Other Hawaii Counties

Hawaii has four other counties, each with its own police department and records process. If the incident you are researching happened on a different island, start with the county that covers that area.