Kihei Divorce Decree Records
Kihei residents who need to search for or obtain a divorce decree go through the Second Circuit Family Court, located in Wailuku about 30 minutes away. All divorce cases in Maui County are handled there, at the Hoapili Hale courthouse on Main Street. You can look up Kihei divorce decree records using eCourt Kokua, the state court's free public search tool, or go in person to the clerk's office in Wailuku. This page covers where to file, how to search case records, how to get copies, and what local resources are available to help Kihei residents through the process.
Kihei Quick Facts
Where Kihei Residents File for Divorce
Kihei is a resort community on Maui's south shore. It sits in Maui County, which falls under the Second Circuit of the Hawaii State Judiciary. All divorce filings for Kihei residents go to the Second Circuit Family Court in Wailuku, roughly 30 minutes north by car. The courthouse is called Hoapili Hale, and it is the only place on Maui where you can file a divorce petition or pick up official decree documents in person.
The address is 2145 Main Street, Wailuku, HI 96793. The divorce and forms line is (808) 244-2969. Legal Documents Branch, where you get copies of filed records, is in Room 106 of the same building and can be reached at (808) 244-2752. Office hours run from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday. There is no satellite office or remote filing option for Kihei residents. Molokai, Lanai, and Hana residents can call in for some services, but Kihei falls under the standard in-person requirement.
Second Circuit covers the island of Maui plus Molokai and Lanai. Kihei divorce cases are assigned case numbers through this circuit, and all court records stay with the Second Circuit clerk unless a case gets transferred for some reason. Knowing the circuit matters when you search eCourt Kokua, because you pick the court from a dropdown.
Searching Kihei Divorce Decree Records Online
The Hawaii State Judiciary provides a free public case search tool called eCourt Kokua. Kihei residents can use it to look up divorce decree records filed in the Second Circuit without driving to Wailuku. The search portal is at courts.state.hi.us/legal_references/records/search_court_records. No login is needed and there is no fee to search.
To find a Kihei divorce case, open eCourt Kokua and choose "Maui - Second Circuit Family Court" from the court selection list. Search by the name of one of the parties. Look for case types labeled "DV - Divorce" in the results. The system shows the case number, both parties' names, the date the case was filed, and the current status. You can also see hearing dates and some docket entries. Full documents are not posted online. To read the actual divorce decree, you have to visit Room 106 at Hoapili Hale or send a written request by mail.
The search tool works well for recent cases. Older Second Circuit records from 1848 to 1900 are held by the State Archives rather than the court. The Hawaii State Archives keeps those historical files and can help Kihei residents searching for very old divorce cases.
The image below links to the eCourt Kokua search portal, where you can look up Second Circuit divorce decree cases from Kihei and other parts of Maui County.
eCourt Kokua lets Kihei residents pull up basic case details for any Second Circuit divorce decree without paying a fee or making a trip to Wailuku.
Getting Copies of a Divorce Decree from Wailuku
If you need an actual copy of a Kihei divorce decree, the Second Circuit clerk at Hoapili Hale handles all copy requests. Walk-in service is available at Room 106, 2145 Main Street, Wailuku, HI 96793. Call (808) 244-2752 before you go to confirm hours and ask about wait times. Bring a valid photo ID and the case number if you have it. If you don't have the case number, clerk staff can search by name.
Copy fees are set by state court rules. A record search costs $5.00 per name. Regular (plain) copies are $1.00 per page. Certified copies cost $2.00 per document plus $1.00 per page. Certified copies are what you need for legal purposes, such as updating a name on a driver's license, transferring property, or submitting proof of divorce to another agency. Ask the clerk which type fits your situation before you pay.
Mail requests are also accepted. Send your written request to: Legal Documents Branch, Room 106, 2145 Main Street, Wailuku, HI 96793. Include both parties' names, the approximate year of the divorce, and any case number you have. State whether you need a plain copy or a certified copy. Enclose a check or money order payable to the State of Hawaii along with a self-addressed stamped envelope. Mail takes longer than in person, so build in extra time if you have a deadline.
Note: As of February 1, 2026, the Hawaii Department of Health no longer maintains divorce records. All requests for Kihei divorce decree copies go directly to the Second Circuit Family Court clerk in Wailuku.
Self-Help Resources for Kihei Residents
The Second Circuit Family Court runs a self-help center at Hoapili Hale in Wailuku. It is open on Thursdays from 9 a.m. to noon, and the phone number is (808) 463-1360. Staff there can help Kihei residents understand which forms to fill out, what steps to take before a hearing, and how the court process works in general. They do not give legal advice, but they explain procedures clearly and point people to the right resources.
Kihei residents must come to the Wailuku self-help center in person. Unlike Molokai, Lanai, and Hana, Kihei does not qualify for remote phone access to self-help services. The drive takes about 30 minutes from most parts of Kihei, and parking near Hoapili Hale is available. Plan your visit for a Thursday morning and get there early, as walk-in availability fills up quickly.
The court also provides divorce forms specific to Maui residents at courts.state.hi.us/self-help/divorce/forms/maui_molokai_and_lanai. These are the forms Kihei filers use. You can download and review them before you come in, which saves time at the self-help session. Family court forms more broadly are posted at courts.state.hi.us/self-help/courts/forms/maui/family_court_forms.
Families with children have an added requirement. Kids First Maui runs a program that some divorcing parents must complete before the court will finalize the divorce. Call (808) 244-2770 for details on the program and to find out if it applies to your case. The clerk's office can also tell you at the time you file.
The image below links to the Maui Family Court forms page, where Kihei residents can download the documents they need before visiting the self-help center.
Downloading Maui Family Court forms before your Thursday self-help visit can cut down the time you spend at the clerk's window.
Legal Aid Organizations Serving Kihei
Legal Aid Society of Hawaii has a Maui office that serves Kihei residents. The address is 24 North Church Street, Suite 401, Wailuku, HI 96793, and the local number is (808) 244-3731. They take family law cases including divorce, and they can help with forms, filings, and in some cases representing clients at hearings. Income guidelines apply. Call ahead to ask about eligibility and current case intake.
Two statewide options are also open to Kihei residents. The Legal Aid Society of Hawaii general line is (808) 536-4302. Volunteer Legal Services Hawaii (VLSH) connects people with volunteer attorneys and can be reached at (808) 528-7046. Both programs are income-based. Services change depending on staffing and case loads, so it is worth calling both to see who can help sooner. Getting on a list early makes a difference if your case has a court date coming up.
Hawaii Divorce Law for Kihei Residents
Hawaii divorce law is found in Title 31 of the Hawaii Revised Statutes. The key statute for Kihei filers is HRS § 580-1, which sets out the grounds for divorce and the residency rules. To file in the Second Circuit, at least one spouse must be a Hawaii resident. The statute also covers domicile requirements that courts use to decide which circuit has authority over a case.
Hawaii operates as a no-fault divorce state. That means neither party has to prove the other did anything wrong. The court grants a divorce when the marriage is irretrievably broken. HRS § 580-41 addresses how divorce records are kept by the courts and sets the rules for access. This statute is what gives the Second Circuit clerk the authority to maintain and release copies of Kihei divorce decree records.
Public access to court records in Hawaii is governed by the Uniform Information Practices Act, or UIPA. The relevant law is HRS § 92F. Under UIPA, divorce decrees are generally considered public records. Any person can request a copy from the clerk. A judge can seal portions of a case file when there is a specific reason, but most standard Kihei divorce decrees are open to the public through a proper records request. Knowing this can help if a clerk seems reluctant to pull a file. The law is on your side.
Nearby Cities
These cities are close to Kihei and share the Second Circuit Family Court in Wailuku for all divorce filings.
Maui County Divorce Records
Kihei is in Maui County. All divorce cases for Maui County residents are handled by the Second Circuit Family Court at Hoapili Hale in Wailuku. The county page has more detail on the court system, clerk contact information, and how to access Maui County divorce decree records.