Hawaii DUI Court by County: Oahu, Maui, Big Island, and Kauai

Your Case Goes to the County Where You Were Arrested

OVUII criminal cases in Hawaii are prosecuted in the District Court of the county where the arrest occurred. Hawaii has four counties, each with its own District Court and its own procedural rhythms. The penalties under HRS § 291E-61 are the same statewide, but the way your case moves through the system — hearing formats, calendaring pace, remote hearing availability — varies by island.

Understanding your county's court system helps you plan around scheduling, travel, and whether you'll need to appear in person.

Oahu — City and County of Honolulu

The vast majority of Hawaii's OVUII cases are prosecuted in Honolulu. Cases are heard at the District Court of the First Circuit, with most DUI matters calendared at the Honolulu District Court at 1111 Alakea Street.

Remote hearings: Honolulu District Court conducts many proceedings via Zoom, with specific courtroom Zoom IDs assigned by division. Pre-trial conferences, status hearings, and some arraignments may be handled remotely, though the court can require in-person appearance for trials and evidentiary hearings.

Volume and calendaring: Because Oahu handles the largest caseload in the state, expect longer wait times between hearing dates. The interval between arraignment and trial can stretch several months, and continuances are common.

Practical note: If you were arrested in Honolulu but live on a neighbor island, you'll need to coordinate travel for any required in-person appearances. Remote participation is typically available for non-evidentiary proceedings, but confirm with the court clerk before assuming you can appear by Zoom.

Maui County

Maui County OVUII cases are heard at the District Court of the Second Circuit. The primary courthouse is the Hoapili Hale Courthouse in Wailuku.

Remote hearings: Maui offers remote hearing options similar to Honolulu, with Zoom used for routine proceedings. The court generally accommodates remote participation for scheduling and status conferences.

Inter-island coordination: Maui County also covers Molokai and Lanai. Defendants arrested on those islands may have their cases heard at the Maui courthouse, creating travel requirements for appearances that can't be handled remotely.

Traffic violations clearance: Before processing license reinstatement at the Maui DMV (Kahului Service Center at 110 Ala'ihi Street, Suite 101), you must clear any outstanding traffic fines at the Traffic Violations Bureau at 2145 Main Street in Wailuku. This is a separate step from the ADLRO clearance process.

Hawaii County — Big Island

Big Island OVUII cases are prosecuted at the District Court of the Third Circuit. Cases are typically heard at the Hilo courthouse or the Kona courthouse, depending on where the arrest occurred.

Geographic spread: Hawaii County covers the entire Big Island, and the distance between Hilo and Kona is significant. If you were arrested in Kona but live in Hilo (or vice versa), travel time for court appearances can be substantial. Ask the court about remote options for non-evidentiary hearings.

DMV specifics: As of late August 2026, the Hilo driver license office operates at its consolidated location at 120 Pauahi Street. Hawaii County charges a $50 financial responsibility reinstatement fee — higher than the $20 charged on Oahu and Maui, though below Kauai's $60.

Walk-in and online scheduling: The county accepts both online appointment booking and walk-in tickets for DMV services, though walk-ins face unpredictable wait times.

Kauai County

OVUII cases on Kauai are heard at the District Court of the Fifth Circuit in Lihue.

Smaller caseload, different pace: Kauai has the smallest court system in the state, which can work in your favor — cases may move through the calendar more quickly, and the smaller bar means you're more likely to deal with the same prosecutor and judge throughout your case.

Remote hearings: Kauai offers Zoom participation for eligible proceedings, which is particularly important given the island's limited transportation options.

Resource limitations: Kauai has reported logistical delays for mandatory substance abuse treatment programs due to fewer certified providers on the island. Smart Start ignition interlock service availability is also more limited compared to Oahu. Plan ahead for both requirements — wait times for assessments and device installations may be longer than on other islands.

DMV location: The Lihue Driver License Division at 4444 Rice Street, Suite A-480, handles all reinstatement processing for Kauai County.

The ADLRO Is Centralized, Not County-Based

While your criminal case is prosecuted in your county's court, the ADLRO process is centralized. The ADLRO office is located at 1001 Bishop Street, American Savings Bank Tower, Fifth Floor, Suite 500, in Honolulu. All administrative revocation hearings — regardless of which county the arrest occurred in — are managed through this office.

For neighbor island residents, the ADLRO conducts hearings via Zoom or telephone. You can also request an in-person hearing on the island where the arrest occurred, which requires the ADLRO to send an adjudicator to the local circuit court. Documents can be filed via email to [email protected] (PDF, JPG, JPEG, or PNG formats) or by fax to 808-534-6888.

Navigating Both Systems

Regardless of which county court handles your criminal case, the administrative process follows the same statewide timeline — 30-day temporary permit, 3-day reconsideration window, 6-day hearing request deadline. The county-specific details affect logistics and scheduling, but the deadlines and penalties are uniform.

Our Hawaii First-Offense DUI Guide covers the complete process for all four counties, with deadline calendars and form-filing checklists that work regardless of which island your case is in.

See more Hawaii guides →