Traffic Cases

Most traffic cases in Hawai`i begin when a law enforcement officer issues a citation, commonly called a “traffic ticket.” The citation, which is filed with a state court, charges a motorist, pedestrian, or the registered owner of a parked vehicle (the defendant) with committing a traffic offense and requires the defendant to respond to the allegations in the citation.

For more serious traffic offenses where the defendant is physically arrested and taken into police custody, the defendant’s court case begins when a prosecutor orally charges the defendant in court or files a written complaint or information against the defendant, or when a grand jury returns an indictment charging the defendant with committing a traffic crime.

TO PAY TRAFFIC VIOLATIONS

• OPTION 1: ADMIT AND PAY – You can admit the infraction and pay the amount written on the citation, either by mail, using the pre-addressed envelope or in person at any district court.   Please do not send cash.  Imprinted checks or money orders (U.S. dollars only, payable to “DISTRICT COURT”) and credit or debit cards (MasterCard & VISA) are accepted.  A $25 service charge will be assessed for dishonored payments.
   
• OPTION 2: PAY BY PHONE – You may pay by telephone by calling (800) 679-5949.  You must pay the total of the amounts stated on a citation within 21 days after receiving the citation. Please have your traffic or parking citation number; license plate number; and VISA or MasterCard ready before dialing this number.
   
  This phone payment system is NOT available if:
  More than 21 days have elapsed since you received your citation;
  Your citation indicates that you must appear in court for the offense(s) charged;
  You have appeared in court and were ordered to pay fines, fees, costs, or other monetary assessments; or
  Your ticket has not been entered into the system. It may take 13 days or longer after the violation occurred for your ticket or case to be entered into the court’s system.
   
  If you are unable to make a payment online after the 13-day period or would like to make a payment before the ticket has been entered into the system, you always have the option of paying by mail using the pre-addressed envelope that accompanied the citation or in person at the District Court. Please do not send cash.  Imprinted checks or money orders (U.S. dollars only, payable to “DISTRICT COURT”) and credit or debit cards (MasterCard & VISA) are accepted.  A $25 service charge will be assessed for dishonored payments.
   
• OPTION 3: PAY ONLINE– eTraffic Hawai`i is a fast, secure, and convenient way to pay for traffic or parking infractions that are payable without going to court and for which you admit responsibility. Do not use this system if you deny committing the offense(s) you were cited for or wish to explain circumstances mitigating the offense(s).
   
  To use eTraffic Hawai`i, you must pay the total of the amounts stated on a citation within 21 days after receiving the citation. You may pay by VISA or MasterCard.

   
  This on-line payment system is NOT available if:
  More than 21 days have elapsed since you received your citation;
  Your citation indicates that you must appear in court for the offense(s) charged;
  You have appeared in court and were ordered to pay fines, fees, costs, or other monetary assessments; or
  Your ticket has not been entered into the system. It may take 13 days or longer after the violation occurred for your ticket or case to be entered into the court’s system.
   
  If you are unable to make a payment online after the 13-day period or would like to make a payment before the ticket has been entered into the system, you always have the option of paying by mail using the pre-addressed envelope that accompanied the citation or in person at the District Court.  Please do not send cash.  Imprinted checks or money orders (U.S. dollars only, payable to “DISTRICT COURT”) and credit or debit cards (MasterCard & VISA) are accepted.  A $25 service charge will be assessed for dishonored payments.
   
  If you wish to pay on-line by eTraffic Hawai`i, please have the following information ready:
   
  Your traffic or parking citation;
  Your license plate number; and
  Your VISA or MasterCard

   
  

• OPTION 4: PAY IN PERSON at any district court.  Imprinted checks or money orders (U.S. dollars only, payable to “DISTRICT COURT”) and credit or debit cards (MasterCard & VISA) are accepted.  A $25 service charge will be assessed for dishonored payments.

Here is a list of District Court locations statewide:

First Circuit (Oahu)

Kauikeaouli Hale
1111 Alakea Street
Honolulu, HI 96813
 808-538-5500
[ map ]

`Ewa-Pearl City Division
870 Fourth Street
Pearl City, HI 96782
 808-534-6900
[ map ]

Kane`ohe Division
Abner Paki Hale
45-939 Pookela Street
Kane`ohe, HI 96744
 808-534-6300
[ map ]

Wahiawa Division
1034 Kilani Avenue
Wahiawa, HI 96786
 808-534-6200
[ map ]

Wai`anae Division
4675 Kapolei Parkway
Kapolei, HI 96707
 808-954-8575
[ map ]

Second Circuit – Maui, Moloka’i, Lana’i

Wailuku District Court
Hoapili Hale
2145 Main Street, Suite 137
Wailuku, Maui, HI 96793
 808-244-2800 
[map]

Hana District Court
4974 Uakea Road
Hana, HI 96713
(Mailing: 1870 Honoapiilani Hwy, Lahaina, HI  96761)
 808-661-0970
[map]

Lahaina District Court
1870 Honoapi`ilani Hwy.
Lahaina, Maui, HI 96761
(808) 565-6447
[map]

Lana`i District Court
312 Eighth Street
Lanai City, HI  96763
(Mailing: 1870 Honoapiilani Hwy, Lahaina, HI  96761)
 808-565-6447
[ map ]

Moloka`i District Court
(P.O. Box 284), 55 Makaena Street
Kaunakakai, Moloka`i, HI 96748
 808-553-1100
[ map ]

Third Circuit – Island of Hawai’i

Third Circuit Court – Hilo
Hale Kaulike
777 Kilauea Avenue
Hilo, HI 96720
(808) 961-7470
[map] [parking]

Keahuolū Courthouse – Kona
 74-5451 Kamakaeha Avenue
Kailua-Kona, Hawaii 96740
(808) 322-8700

South Kohala District Court [map]
Waimea Civic Center Park at Kamuela
67-5187 Kamamalu Street
Kamuela, HI 96743
(808) 443-2030

Fifth Circuit – Kaua’i, Niihau

Fifth Circuit Court
3970 Ka’ana Street
Lihue, HI 96766
(808) 482-2355
[map]