In Hawaii, individuals may qualify to clear their criminal records through two separate but related processes: expungement (handled by the state’s Criminal Justice Data Center—CJDC) and court-ordered sealing.
Expungement is a process that wipes out an individual’s arrest or conviction information from state-level law enforcement databases. If you have a criminal record, you can work with a skilled legal team to petition the Attorney General to have your record expunged if your situation falls into one of the eligible categories:
- Arrest without conviction
- First-time drug or property offense
- DUI convictions for under-21 drivers
- Specific deferred admission convictions
After submitting the application and a $35 fee (or $50 if not a first-time application), the CJDC reviews it and completes the process within about 120 days. Once issued, the expungement certificate allows you to say, under oath, that you’ve never been arrested or convicted for the concern at issue.
Sealing post-expungement
Sealing means your case is hidden from the public, though not from law enforcement or government agencies. Sealing court records prevents the public from accessing your case documents via eCourt Kōkua. To petition for sealing, you or your attorney would need to send your expungement certificate along with a written request to the court where the case originated. With that said, beginning July 1, 2025, sealing should become automatic once expungement clears an arrest record.
Additionally, it is worth noting that recent legislation (HB 1595 and HB 132) aims to expand eligibility and speed up expungement for dismissed, juvenile and low-level convictions.
Nevertheless, each case is different. Working with a criminal defense attorney can help to ensure that proper forms are filed, deadlines are met and your rights are fully protected. If your conviction qualifies for expungement, and you follow through, Hawaii law gives you a real opportunity for a fresh start.