Showing 50 results

Contains cases 1 through 225, index, and minute books. Case numbers 146 through 174 were not used by the court.

Case files generally contain libel complaints, warrants, bonds, petitions, monitions (summons), bill of costs, motions, subpoenas, notices of motion for hearing, statements of claim, claims, accounts, affidavits, appeals, testimony, proceedings, judgments, satisfactions of judgment, decisions of the court, briefs, agreements between parties, depositions, exhibits which may include report of survey on a vessel, cargo lists, passenger lists, crew member rosters, maps, and drawings depicting locations of vessels in port. Appeals from the district or police court contain the lower court records relating to the case.

Cases involve violations of port regulations, claims against vessels for damages and lost cargo in collisions, claims by businesses and shipping agents against vessels to recoup cargo losses, claims for wages by the crew of a vessel, claims for lost personal property, smuggling, and libel for salvage.

Cases were heard by a First Circuit Court judge or Supreme Court justice in chambers. The minute books document the admiralty proceedings heard in chambers and contain holograph copies of claims, complaints, affidavits, orders, judgments, decrees, petitions, lists of property, and court costs. Disputes between merchants and shipping agents against vessel owners, disputes between the ship’s crew and vessel owners, and disputes between vessel owners are commonly found throughout the records.

Admiralty cases were not heard in the circuit court after 1900, when the Hawaiian Islands became a territory of the United States. Jurisdiction over maritime cases resides in federal district courts.

The 1859 Civil Code, Chapter XXI, Section 1065 authorized the Supreme Court to examine and admit as practitioners in the courts of record, such persons, being Hawaiian subjects, of good moral character, and having then the prescribed oath of office, as said court may find qualified for that purpose.

Contains letters written by applicants addressed to the Chief Justice of the Hawaiian Supreme Court soliciting permission to practice law before the local circuit judge and the Police and District court justices on a particular island. In addition to the letters of application there may also be affidavits attesting to the good character of the applicant, recommendations from other attorneys and judges, and letters in support of the applicant from friends. Personal and professional information regarding the applicant may include age, education, names of associates and length of time spent in the practice of law. A license granted to the successful applicant is filed with the letters of application and supporting references. Unsuccessful applicant and supporting letters are in the file.

Oaths were issued by the Aha Hookolokolo Kiekie or the Supreme Court to the licensed attorney. Oaths are forms with the name of the practicing attorney, date of oath, jurisdiction of practice and signed by the attorney and Chief Justice.

The applications and oaths cover all circuits. Applications are dated 1870, 1876, 1878-1890, 1895-1898. Oaths are dated 1878-1881 and 1883.

Approximately 90% of the records are in Hawaiian. None have been translated.

Contains minutes of adoptions, appeals, civil, criminal, divorce, equity, guardianship, law, naturalization, and probate proceedings. Minute book entries contain court date, defendant and plaintiff names, names of attorneys representing the defendant and plaintiff, court proceedings, judgments, sentencing in criminal cases, and appeals. Civil cases were filed in circuit court to adjudicate property claims and to seek monetary compensation in disputes. Criminal proceedings were taken in the courts against persons charged with some violation of the criminal laws. Divorce entries may also contain separation and permission to marry again proceedings.

Records in this series dated before 1892 may be identified as Fourth Circuit Court documents. Kauai and Niihau were designated as the Fourth Circuit prior to 1892.

None of the documents have been translated.

Other record books contain minutes of appeals, bankruptcy, criminal, divorce, equity, and law proceedings. Minute book entries contain court date, defendant and plaintiff names, names of attorneys representing the defendant and plaintiff, court proceedings, judgments, sentencing in criminal cases, and appeals. Civil cases were filed in circuit court to adjudicate property claims and to seek monetary compensation in disputes. Criminal proceedings were taken in the courts against persons charged with some violation of the criminal laws. Divorce minute books contain divorce, separation and permission to marry again proceedings.

The Supreme Court minutes are dated 1844 to 1848 and contain appeals from the island courts. The Court of Oahu record book dates from 1846 to 1848 and contains appeals, civil, criminal, divorce and probate proceedings.

Contains minutes of adoptions, appeals, bankruptcy, civil, criminal, divorce, equity, and law proceedings. Minute book entries contain court date, defendant and plaintiff names, names of attorneys representing the defendant and plaintiff, court proceedings, judgments, sentencing in criminal cases, and appeals. Civil cases were filed in circuit court to adjudicate property claims and to seek monetary compensation in disputes. Criminal proceedings were taken in the courts against persons charged with a violation of the criminal laws. Divorce minute books contain divorce, separation and permission to marry again proceedings.

None have been translated.

Minute books document adoption, appeals, bankruptcy, criminal, divorce, equity, guardianship, law, naturalization, probate, and tax appeals proceedings. Entries include court date, defendant and plaintiff names, names of attorneys representing the defendant and plaintiff, court proceedings, judgments and awards, sentencing in criminal cases, and appeals. Adoption and guardianship proceedings may provide names of biological parents, background information, and circumstances involved with the case, and names of guardians and adoptive parents. Civil, equity and law cases were filed in circuit court to adjudicate property claims and to seek monetary compensation in disputes. Criminal proceedings were taken in the courts against persons charged with violation of the criminal laws. Divorce entries may also contain separation and permission to marry again proceedings.

Contains cases 1 through 285.

In order to adjudicate property claims and to seek monetary compensation in disputes, the plaintiff filed a civil case in the circuit court. Case files generally contain petitions, proceedings, receipts, plaintiff statements, summons, defendant briefs, evidence, bills of court and attorney costs, decisions, judgments and appeals. If a case involved property claims, the file may contain information on land titles and family history of plaintiffs and defendants. Appeals from the district or police court contain the lower court records relating to the case.

Case files from 1850 to 1893 for the districts of Hamakua, Hilo, and Puna on the island of Hawaii are filed with Third Circuit Court records.

Contains cases A1 through A1204.

In order to adjudicate property claims and to seek monetary compensation in disputes, a plaintiff filed a civil case in circuit court. Case files generally contain petitions, proceedings, receipts, plaintiff statements, summons, defendant brief, evidence, bill of court and attorney costs, decisions, judgments and appeals. If a case involved property claims, the file may contain information on land titles and family history of plaintiffs and defendants. Appeals from the district or police court contain the lower court records relating to the case.

Contains cases 1 through 1475.

In order to adjudicate property claims and to seek monetary compensation in disputes, a plaintiff filed a civil case in circuit court. Case files generally contain petitions, proceedings, receipts, plaintiff statements, summons, defendant briefs, evidence, bills of court and attorney costs, decisions, judgments and appeals. If a case involved property claims, the file may contain information on land titles and family history of plaintiffs and defendants. Appeals from the district or police court contain the lower court records relating to the case.

Cases for the districts of Hamakua, Hilo and Puna on the island of Hawaii from 1894 to 1914 are filed with the Fourth Circuit Court records.

Contains cases 1 through 1700. Files for cases 17, 91, 142, 191, 285, 299, 338, 383, 416, 420, 553-584, 588, 612, 622, 633, 1056 through 1074, 1146, and 1648 were not transferred to the Archives.

A crime or public offense is an act committed or omitted in violation of a law forbidding or commanding it. Criminal proceedings were taken in the courts against persons charged with some violation of criminal law. Criminal offenses include the following: murder, manslaughter, treason, dueling, assault and battery, kidnapping, unlawful imprisonment, child stealing, rape, abortion, polygamy, adultery, fornication, incest, sodomy, burglary, embezzlement, extortion, receiving stolen goods, arson, forgery, counterfeiting of coins, libel, obstructing justice, drunkenness, affray, violating Sabbath, vagrancy, riot, unlawful assembly, gaming, sale of intoxicating drinks, prostitution, and cruelty to animals.

Case files generally contain arrest warrants, criminal complaints, specifications of the charges against the defendant, writs, indictments, subpoenas, depositions, coroner reports, physician reports, bills of costs, arraignment documents, jury selection proceedings, defendant's pleadings, clerk's minutes, trial proceedings, instructions for the defendant, instructions to the jury, judgments, and mittimus. Appeals from the district or police court contain the lower court records relating to the case. Case files contain information about the crimes committed, defendant's pleadings, verdict of the jury, and sentencing by the judge. May contain personal information about the defendant such as age, marital status, occupation, and place of residence.