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Hawaii Revised Statutes

Haw. Rev. Stat. § 603-1 (2026)

  Judicial circuits

✓ current as of July 2026
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PART I.  CIRCUITS AND JUDGES

 

     §603-1  Judicial circuits.  The State is divided into four judicial circuits, as follows:

     (1)  The first judicial circuit is the island of Oahu and all other islands belonging to the State not hereinafter mentioned;

     (2)  The second judicial circuit includes the islands of Maui, Molokai, Lanai, Kahoolawe, and Molokini;

     (3)  The third judicial circuit is the island of Hawaii;

     (4)  The fifth judicial circuit includes the islands of Kauai and Niihau. [L 1892, c 57, §29; am L 1913, c 34, §1; RL 1925, §2234; RL 1935, §3630; am L 1943, c 141, §1(a); RL 1945, §9631; RL 1955, §215-1; HRS §603-1; am L 1994, c 103, §1]

 

Cross References

 

  These circuits as "districts" within meaning of Const. art. I, §14, see §806-17.

 

 

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 8 cases (2 in the last 5 years), 1985–2023 · leading case: Hawaii Home Infusion Assocs. v. Befitel, 157 P.3d 526 (Haw. 2007).
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Hawaii Home Infusion Assocs. v. Befitel, 157 P.3d 526 (Haw. 2007). · cites it 8× “in the seat of government in [the City and County of] Honolulu[, hence, in the first circuit, see HRS § 603-1(1) (Supp.1994)]. . . . The purpose underlying .”
Arbitration Between United Pub. Workers, AFSCME, Local 646 v. Cnty. of Hawai'i-Holiday Pay, 264 P.3d 655 (Haw. App. 2011). · cites it 8× “HRS § 603-1(1) (Supp.2010). [5] HRS § 658A-27 provides: HRS § 658A-27 Venue.”
State v. Holbron, 895 P.2d 173 (Haw. App. 1995). · cites it 4× “Pursuant to HRS § 603-1 (1985), the entire island of 0‘ahu is included in the first circuit.”
State v. Correa, 706 P.2d 1321 (Haw. App. 1985). · cites it 2× “HRS § 603-1(1) (1976). The City and County of Honolulu covers the same area as the first judicial circuit except that the City and County of Honolulu does not include the district of Kalawao on the Island of Molokai.”
State v. Puaoi, 891 P.2d 272 (Haw. 1995). · cites it 2× “HRS § 806-17 (1985) defines “district” as any one of the four judicial "circuits” as provided in HRS § 603-1 (1985), which include: (1) the first judicial circuit, consisting of the island of O'ahu, all other islands not hereinafter mentioned, and the Kalawao district on the…”
State v. Bailey, 319 P.3d 284 (Haw. 2013). · cites it 4× “With respect to the first question, the ICA observed that HRS § 603-1 (Supp.1994) states that “[t]he State is divided into four judicial circuits .”
State v. McQueen, 517 P.3d 800 (Haw. App. 2022). · cites it 2× “]" HRS § 603-1(1). As this court has stated, "the City and County of Honolulu covers the same area as the first judicial circuit .”
State v. Bautista, 524 P.3d 1271 (Haw. App. 2023). · cites it 2× “That same complaint also alleged that the offenses occurred "in the Division of Wailuku, County of Maui, State of Hawaii," which is in the Second Circuit.”
— Haw. Rev. Stat. § 603-1(1) — 5 cases
Hawaii Home Infusion Assocs. v. Befitel, 157 P.3d 526 (Haw. 2007). “in the seat of government in [the City and County of] Honolulu[, hence, in the first circuit, see HRS § 603-1(1) (Supp.1994)]. . . . The purpose underlying .”
State v. Correa, 706 P.2d 1321 (Haw. App. 1985). “HRS § 603-1(1) (1976). The City and County of Honolulu covers the same area as the first judicial circuit except that the City and County of Honolulu does not include the district of Kalawao on the Island of Molokai.”
Arbitration Between United Pub. Workers, AFSCME, Local 646 v. Cnty. of Hawai'i-Holiday Pay, 264 P.3d 655 (Haw. App. 2011). “HRS § 603-1(1) (Supp.2010). [5] HRS § 658A-27 provides: HRS § 658A-27 Venue.”
State v. McQueen, 517 P.3d 800 (Haw. App. 2022). “]" HRS § 603-1(1). As this court has stated, "the City and County of Honolulu covers the same area as the first judicial circuit .”
State v. Bailey, 319 P.3d 284 (Haw. 2013). “With respect to the first question, the ICA observed that HRS § 603-1 (Supp.1994) states that “[t]he State is divided into four judicial circuits .”
— Haw. Rev. Stat. § 603-1(3) — 1 case
Arbitration Between United Pub. Workers, AFSCME, Local 646 v. Cnty. of Hawai'i-Holiday Pay, 264 P.3d 655 (Haw. App. 2011). “HRS § 603-1(1) (Supp.2010). [5] HRS § 658A-27 provides: HRS § 658A-27 Venue.”
— Haw. Rev. Stat. § 603-1(4) — 1 case
Hawaii Home Infusion Assocs. v. Befitel, 157 P.3d 526 (Haw. 2007). “in the seat of government in [the City and County of] Honolulu[, hence, in the first circuit, see HRS § 603-1(1) (Supp.1994)]. . . . The purpose underlying .”
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