How to file to clear a record in Hawaii

The steps, cost, fee waiver and forms to clear a record in Hawaii.

Checked against official sources: October 25, 2026.

Short answer

Mail or drop off Expungement Application HCJDC 159(b), a copy of a government photo ID, the fee and a self-addressed stamped envelope to the Hawaii Criminal Justice Data Center, 465 South King Street, Room 102, Honolulu.

Main remedy
Expungement of non-conviction arrest records (Attorney General)
Cost
$35 for a first expungement, $50 for later ones (includes a non-refundable $10 processing fee); $20 for a duplicate certificate.
Forms
2

Where and how to file in Hawaii

Expungement of non-conviction arrest records (Attorney General)

Mail or drop off Expungement Application HCJDC 159(b), a copy of a government photo ID, the fee and a self-addressed stamped envelope to the Hawaii Criminal Justice Data Center, 465 South King Street, Room 102, Honolulu. No court hearing. You receive an expungement certificate by mail within 120 days. Since July 1, 2025, HCJDC sends the order to the Judiciary so court records can be sealed from public court databases.

Cost
$35 for a first expungement, $50 for later ones (includes a non-refundable $10 processing fee); $20 for a duplicate certificate. Money order or cashier's check payable to 'State of Hawaii'.

Court-ordered expungement of certain convictions

Ask the sentencing court (by written application or motion; your probation officer may also apply). After the court grants an Order for Expungement of Conviction, send a copy with Form HCJDC 159(b) and the fee to HCJDC. The conviction is removed from the statewide repository only; the arresting agency and courts may keep records.

Cost
$35 first / $50 later HCJDC fee.

Court self-help

Checklist: what to gather before you file

What you can say afterwards

With an expungement certificate you may say, under oath or not, that you have no record of that arrest, and you cannot be punished for perjury, sued or fired for saying so. Expunged records remain available only to courts preparing presentence reports, agencies hiring for positions directly affecting national or state security, and police. Separately, most private employers may ask about convictions only after a conditional job offer and may consider only felony convictions from the last 7 years and misdemeanor convictions from the last 5 years, excluding time in prison.

Law: HRS § 831-3.2(b)-(e); HRS § 378-2.5

Who cannot use these remedies in Hawaii

  • Expungement of non-conviction arrest records (Attorney General): Felony or misdemeanor arrests where there was no conviction only because bail was forfeited; cases where you made prosecution impossible by leaving the jurisdiction; people involuntarily hospitalized or acquitted or dismissed because of a mental disease, disorder or defect; charges without a final disposition. A pardon does not make an arrest eligible.
  • Court-ordered expungement of certain convictions: Drug distribution or manufacturing and listed methamphetamine offenses; property offenders with a prior felony conviction. Other convictions cannot be expunged.

Law: HRS § 831-3.2 (as amended by Act 3, SLH 2025 and Act 152, SLH 2026); HRS § 712-1200; HRS §§ 706-622.5, 706-622.8, 706-622.9, 291E-64(e)

Get your own record in Hawaii

Hawaii Criminal Justice Data Center (HCJDC), Department of the Attorney General · (808) 586-1500

Search conviction records online through eCrim ($5 per name search, $12 per certified record), or request a sealed name-based check with Form HCJDC-073 in person or by mail at 465 S. King Street, Room 102, Honolulu ($30; certification +$20). No cash.

Letter: ask the state records office for a copy of your record

In nearby states

  • Texas: The filing fee is set by each county; ask the district clerk. The clerk charges $25 for each listed agency that cannot receive notice electronically.
  • New Mexico: District court civil filing fee; e.g. $132 in the Second Judicial District Court, Bernalillo County (court instructions, rev.
  • Arizona: The law sets no state court filing fee for the petition. The Department of Public Safety may charge a fee set by its director for the background report and, if you win, for correcting your record, unless you are indigent or your case was dismissed, not filed or ended in a not-guilty verdict.

Your next steps in Hawaii

  1. Collect what you need

    You need your case numbers, court papers and proof you finished your sentence. Checklist: what to gather before you file.

  3. Turn in the petition

    After you file, the prosecutor may respond and the court decides.

  4. Talk to legal aid

    Free help: Legal Aid Society of Hawaii.

Free legal help in Hawaii

Questions about filing in Hawaii

When can I ask to clear my record in Hawaii?

Dismissed, not charged, or acquitted: No waiting period, counted from end of the case; Deferred acceptance of guilty or no contest plea (DAG/DANC), discharged: 1 year, counted from discharge and dismissal of the charge; Deferred plea for prostitution: 3 years, counted from discharge; Petty misdemeanor or violation, bail forfeited: 5 years, counted from arrest or citation.

How much does it cost to clear a record in Hawaii?

Expungement of non-conviction arrest records (Attorney General): $35 for a first expungement, $50 for later ones (includes a non-refundable $10 processing fee); $20 for a duplicate certificate. Money order or cashier's check payable to 'State of Hawaii'. Court-ordered expungement of certain convictions: $35 first / $50 later HCJDC fee.

How do I get a copy of my criminal record in Hawaii?

Search conviction records online through eCrim ($5 per name search, $12 per certified record), or request a sealed name-based check with Form HCJDC-073 in person or by mail at 465 S. King Street, Room 102, Honolulu ($30; certification +$20). No cash.

Where can I get free help in Hawaii?

Legal Aid Society of Hawaii.

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