Kauai County DUI Records

Kauai County DUI records are held by two main agencies: the Kauai Police Department and the Fifth Circuit Court in Lihue. If you need to find an OVUII arrest report, check a court case, or get a criminal history record tied to a DUI charge in Kauai County, each agency has its own steps and fees. This guide covers where to go, what to ask for, and how to search DUI records in Kauai County.

Kauai Police Department: DUI Records and Reports

The Kauai Police Department is the primary law enforcement agency for Kauai County. KPD handles OVUII arrests, motor vehicle incidents, and the release of police reports tied to DUI cases. The main office is in Lihue. You can reach them by phone or visit in person to ask about reports. There is no mail-in option listed for DUI report requests, but you should call first to confirm what they need from you.

The Kauai Police Department official website lists the department's structure, contact details, and services available to the public for records and other inquiries.

Knowing which KPD unit to call before you visit can save you a trip and make the DUI records request process faster.

KPD is split into three patrol districts: Kawaihau, Lihue, and Waimea. Each district commander can be reached directly if your inquiry relates to a specific area of the island. The Kawaihau District is at (808) 246-8104, Lihue District at (808) 241-1638, and Waimea District at (808) 338-1831. The Criminal Investigations Division, which handles serious DUI cases and related crimes, can be reached at (808) 241-1649. Crime Stoppers for Kauai County is at (808) 246-8300.

KPD Records Section: Getting a DUI Police Report

To get a police report for a DUI arrest in Kauai County, contact the KPD Records Section. New hours of operation took effect April 1, 2024, so call (808) 241-1929 or email kpdrecords@kauai.gov before you visit to confirm current hours. If you cannot come in during open hours, the email and phone line are the best ways to ask about alternatives.

When you request a report, you will need to provide: your full name and mailing address, your phone number, the police report number, the type of report, the date of the incident, and the location where it happened. Having the report number ready speeds things up. If you don't have it, the Records Section staff may still be able to locate the file with the date and location of the DUI arrest.

The Kauai Police Department contact page provides a full list of direct lines for each division, including records, legal documents, and administrative units.

Using the right direct line saves time and makes sure your DUI records request reaches the correct unit at KPD.

Note that KPD handles police reports only. For background checks or full criminal history records tied to DUI convictions in Kauai County, you must go through the Hawaii Criminal Justice Data Center, not KPD. The two are separate systems. A police report shows what happened at the time of arrest. A criminal history record shows the outcome of the case.

The Kauai Police Department Records Section page explains what documents the unit handles and what information you need to submit a request.

Reviewing the Records Section page before you submit your request will help you gather the right information and avoid delays.

Fifth Circuit Court and Traffic DUI Records

The Fifth Circuit Court in Lihue handles all DUI and OVUII court cases for Kauai County. This is where you go for court records, case dispositions, and traffic abstracts tied to DUI charges. The court is located at 3970 Ka'ana Street, Lihue, HI 96766, and can be reached at (808) 482-2355. The Traffic Violations Bureau is in Room A-105 of the same building, at Windows 5, 6, and 7.

Traffic abstracts cost $20 each. They show all alleged moving violations, convictions, and administrative license revocations on a driver's record under Hawaii Revised Statutes § 287-3. A traffic abstract is one of the most common documents people need when searching for DUI records in Kauai County because it shows the full record of traffic offenses and their outcomes. Court report copies cost $1.00 for the first page and $0.50 for each page after that. Driver history records are also available through the court.

The Hawaii State Judiciary traffic cases page explains how traffic and DUI cases are handled at the circuit court level, including steps for the Fifth Circuit serving Kauai County.

This page gives you a clear picture of how DUI court cases move through the Fifth Circuit and what records you can get from each stage.

You can also look up traffic abstracts and view traffic case records through the Hawaii State Judiciary's self-help section. The administrative license revocation process for DUI cases is handled through the Administrative Driver's License Revocation Office, which operates separately from the criminal court process.

How to Search Kauai County DUI Records Online

There are two main ways to search DUI records for Kauai County online. The first is eCourt Kokua, which is the Hawaii State Judiciary's public case search tool. It lets you search by name or case number and see court case details, hearing dates, and case status. It is free to use. The second is the eCrim portal, run by the Hawaii Criminal Justice Data Center, which gives you access to official criminal history records for a fee.

For the eCrim portal at ecrim.ehawaii.gov, a name search costs $5 and a full criminal history report costs $12. This portal is run by the Hawaii Criminal Justice Data Center. It covers statewide records, so it will pull up any DUI convictions for a person in Kauai County as long as they are in the state system. These records are maintained under Hawaii Revised Statutes § 846-2.7.

In-person requests for criminal history record checks for Kauai County residents go through the Hawaii Criminal Justice Data Center at 465 South King Street, Room 101, Honolulu, HI 96813, phone (808) 587-3100. You can also check the HCJDC criminal history records check page for full instructions on how to submit a request and what forms of ID are needed.

Two other agencies in Lihue can assist with Kauai County DUI records. The Hawaii Department of Law Enforcement, Sheriff Division, Kauai Section, is at 3060 Eiwa Street, Room 315, Lihue, HI 96766, phone (808) 482-2470. The Hawaii State Judiciary Fifth Circuit Court criminal division is at 3970 Kaana Street, Lihue, HI 96766, phone (808) 482-2347.

Kauai County DUI Conviction Rates and Criminal Records

Kauai County has one of the higher DUI conviction rates in the state. Per ACLU Hawaii data for fiscal year 2022-2023, Kauai County had a 73% DUI conviction rate. That compares to 57% for Honolulu County, 69% for Hawaii Island, and 87% for Maui County. A high conviction rate means that most DUI arrests in Kauai County result in a guilty verdict or plea. This matters when you are searching DUI records because it increases the chance that a DUI arrest in Kauai County will also appear as a conviction in criminal history records.

Criminal records for Kauai County residents are maintained by the Hawaii Criminal Justice Data Center under state law. The HCJDC is the central repository for all criminal history records in Hawaii, including DUI and OVUII convictions. Kauai Police Department and the Fifth Circuit Court both feed data into the HCJDC system. So a DUI arrest in Kauai County that leads to conviction should appear in both the court's own records and the statewide HCJDC database.

The Kauai Police Commission also plays a role in oversight of KPD, which can matter if a DUI arrest is disputed. The Commission is located at c/o Office of Boards and Commissions, 4444 Rice Street, Suite 300, Lihue, HI 96766. Phone: (808) 241-4920. The Commission meets at 9:00 a.m. on the fourth Friday of each month. Complaints about KPD must be filed within 30 days of the incident and must be notarized.

Cities in Kauai County

Nearby Counties

DUI records for other Hawaii counties are handled by their own circuit courts and police departments. You can find records for nearby counties using the links below.