How it works in Hawaii

  1. Request your Record

    Complete and submit your application to request an official copy of your criminal history record from the Hawaii Criminal Justice Data Center.

    Cost: $35.00 to $55.00 — depending on whether you request it in-office or by mail

  2. Review your Record

    Confirm there is no disqualifying information in your history. If there is something incorrect, follow the process to challenge the issue. If everything is accurate, make a copy for your file and keep the original somewhere safe.

  3. Request Certified Documents

    Collect certified copies of relevant documents. These include a copy of the disposition of the case from the clerk of court that handled the original case and the arrest record from the arresting agency. If you had probation or parole, had to take classes, had to pay fees, or had any other obligations, you also need certified proof that you completed those requirements.

    Certified copy fee: $2.00 to certify; $1.00 first page; $0.50 each subsequent page

  4. Verify the Final Documents

    Review each document for accuracy. Confirm each one is certified and clearly shows you completed your obligations. Make copies of every original.

  5. Prepare your Petition

    Complete the petition based on the type of charge and outcome you are seeking. Note the timing restrictions: certain arrest records and non-guilty findings — both misdemeanor and felony — require one year to pass before you can file.

  6. Finalize your Petition

    Take the completed petition from Step 5, the documents collected in Step 3, and the background check from Step 1, and put them together in a complete package. Double-check every file in the package is the original and ensure you have a copy of the complete package for your personal file.

  7. File your Expeal Request

    Once you have confirmed you have everything, file the petition with the Hawaii Criminal Justice Data Center.

    Cost: $35.00 to $50.00 — depending on whether it is your first expungement or a subsequent one

  8. Work with the Center

    After the Hawaii Criminal Justice Data Center confirms it has received your filing, watch for the next instructions — typically a request for additional information or documentation. Respond promptly to anything the Center asks for.

  9. Receive the Court's Order

    Once the court rules on the petition, it issues an order either granting or denying expungement. Review the order's terms carefully — they spell out which records are covered. Keep a certified copy of the order for your own files.

  10. Verify the Record Update

    Under Haw. Rev. Stat. § 706-622.5, the Hawaii Criminal Justice Data Center updates or removes the criminal history records covered by the order. Confirm with the arresting agency and the clerk of court that handled the original case that their records reflect the expungement as well. If a background-check provider later produces an outdated report, your certified copy of the court's order is your authoritative reference.

If you have to mail anything, remember to keep a copy of whatever you send and to use a method with a tracking number like the USPS Flat Rate Envelope.

Official agencies

Court forms

Hawaii record-clearing statutes

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