Reviewed August 2026
Court Hearings in Hawaii
Hawaii runs a unified Family Court inside each circuit court. Divorce, custody, and support all go through one court, not separate divisions. A spouse who needs custody, support, or property decided before the divorce is final can ask Family Court for pre-decree relief while the case is still open. Hawaii's Family Court uses both regularly appointed judges and per diem judges. Per diem judges hear cases on an as-needed basis. This happens most often in circuits with a smaller caseload or a judicial vacancy. Hawaii's Judiciary also runs an established remote hearing program using Zoom. Dedicated video access numbers are published for the circuit, district, and family courts in each judicial circuit, including the outer islands. Many family law hearings can be attended without traveling to the courthouse in person. Hawaii is organized into four judicial circuits statewide. That reflects island geography, not the county lines used on the mainland.
Virdix's document-preparation product currently prepares divorce paperwork for California and Florida cases. This page explains how court hearings works under Hawaii law for people researching before they file. It is not legal advice, and Virdix does not prepare or file Hawaii paperwork. See how Virdix works for California divorces.
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Requesting relief before the divorce is final
In a Hawaii divorce case, a spouse can ask Family Court to decide issues before the case reaches a final decree. That includes temporary custody, temporary support, or use of property. This interim relief is sometimes called pre-decree relief. It gives the family a working arrangement while the rest of the case is still being litigated. The spouse requests it by filing a motion with the Family Court handling the case. The court's ruling applies only while the case stays open. A motion for pre-decree relief usually must be served on the other spouse before the court will act on it.
Family Court structure and per diem judges
Hawaii organizes Family Court as a division of each circuit court, not as a separate court system. Divorce, custody, and support matters are heard within the same unified structure statewide. Beyond regularly assigned judges, Hawaii's Family Court also uses per diem judges. They are appointed to hear cases on an as-needed basis. This helps circuits manage caseload, especially in the smaller judicial circuits covering the outer islands. There, a single regularly assigned judge may not be available for every hearing. The First Circuit, covering Oahu, handles the largest volume of Family Court cases in the state.
How hearings get scheduled
After a motion for interim relief is filed and served, Family Court sets the matter according to that circuit's calendar. Each of Hawaii's judicial circuits manages scheduling for its own Family Court docket. That includes the First Circuit on Oahu, the Second Circuit covering Maui, Molokai, and Lanai, the Third Circuit covering Hawaii Island, and the Fifth Circuit covering Kauai. How quickly a hearing gets set can depend on the circuit and its caseload. Scheduling tends to move somewhat faster in busier circuits with more assigned judicial officers, though this varies by case.
Statewide Zoom remote hearings
The Hawaii Judiciary publishes dedicated Zoom meeting numbers for circuit, district, and Family Court hearings in multiple judicial circuits. Parties can appear remotely by video instead of traveling to the courthouse. For people without a personal computer or device, the Judiciary also provides a laptop access station at the Supreme Court Law Library on Oahu. Whether a specific Family Court hearing will be remote, in person, or hybrid depends on the circuit and the assigned judge. Check the circuit's court information page or the hearing notice to confirm. This system helps most when a party lives on a different island than the courthouse handling their case.
What happens at a hearing on interim relief
A hearing on pre-decree relief is narrower than a trial. The judge decides what should happen while the case is pending, not the divorce itself. Depending on the circuit and whether the request is contested, the hearing may be fairly brief. It can involve more testimony and documentation if the parties disagree. Common subjects include temporary custody and visitation, temporary child or spousal support, and use of property while the case is pending. The resulting order applies only until the court changes it or the case reaches a final decree. Either party can ask the court to revisit the order if real changes happen before the case ends.
Sources: Hawaii State Judiciary, Self-Help Center, Hawaii State Judiciary, Remote Court Hearings via Zoom or WebEx (statewide, by circuit), Hawaii State Judiciary, Divorce Law in Hawaii self-help resource
Not independently confirmed
- The specific Hawaii Family Court Rules provision governing motions for pre-decree relief, and the relevant HRS Chapter 580 citations, were not confirmed against a directly fetched copy of the rules or statute for this page.
- Whether Family Court hearings default to remote, in person, or hybrid format was not confirmed for every circuit; the Zoom remote hearing program was confirmed for the Second and Third Circuits specifically, with statewide extension inferred but not individually verified for every circuit.
- The exact scope of matters a per diem judge is authorized to hear, versus a regularly assigned Family Court judge, was not independently confirmed for this page.
Court Hearings in Hawaii: frequently asked questions
How do I get temporary custody or support decided before my Hawaii divorce is final?+
You file a motion with the Family Court asking for pre-decree relief on the specific issue, such as temporary custody or support, while the case is pending. The court's ruling applies only until the case reaches a final decree or the order changes.
What is a per diem judge in Hawaii Family Court?+
A per diem judge is appointed to hear cases on an as-needed basis, alongside the court's regularly assigned judges. This helps Family Court manage its caseload, especially in smaller judicial circuits on the outer islands.
Can I attend a Hawaii Family Court hearing by video?+
Often, yes. The Hawaii Judiciary publishes dedicated Zoom numbers for circuit, district, and Family Court hearings across multiple judicial circuits, including the outer islands. Whether a specific hearing is remote, in person, or hybrid depends on the circuit and assigned judge.
Which court handles divorce in Hawaii?+
Family Court, organized as a division of the circuit court in each of Hawaii's four judicial circuits. It is a unified court that handles divorce, custody, and support together, instead of splitting them across separate courts.
How long does pre-decree relief last in a Hawaii divorce?+
It applies only while the divorce case is pending, unless the court modifies it earlier. Once Family Court enters the final decree, the pre-decree order is replaced by whatever the decree sets for custody, support, and property.
What if I don't have a computer for a remote Hawaii Family Court hearing?+
The Hawaii Judiciary provides a laptop access station at the Supreme Court Law Library on Oahu for people who need a device to join a remote hearing. Parties should also check with the circuit handling their case for local options.
This page is general information about court hearings in Hawaii, not legal advice for your situation. Laws, fees, and procedures change over time; confirm current details with Hawaii's own courts before relying on anything here. Virdix is not a law firm and is not licensed to practice law in Hawaii. Virdix does not prepare or file Hawaii divorce paperwork. It is not a substitute for an attorney licensed in Hawaii.
More Hawaii divorce guides
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