How to Get a Crash Report in Hawaii

Oahu (Honolulu): Honolulu Police Department (HPD) officers record major collisions on State of Hawaii Department of Transportation crash report forms, starting with form SOH DOT-1-174A. When HPD investigates a Category C (minor) collision, it completes a Minor Motor Vehicle Collision Report electronically in its Case Report System. HPD's Records and Identification Division keeps closed collision reports.²

Oahu (Honolulu): The first HPD officer at a collision gives the people involved an HPD-197 form. It lists each party's name, address, vehicle description, insurance carrier and other details. If an unattended vehicle is involved, the officer leaves a completed HPD-197 form on the vehicle.²

Big Island (Hawaii County): The Hawaii Police Department handles report requests through its district stations and its Records and Identification Section in Hilo.⁷

Maui County: The Maui Police Department (MPD) Records Section keeps a physical and electronic records system of all police reports.³

Kauai: The Kauai Police Department (KPD) takes report requests through online forms.⁵

Statewide: The Hawaii Department of Transportation's SHACA crash reporting and analysis system connects to each of the four county police departments and accepts their electronic crash data.¹

Oahu, by email: Before you request a collision report, HPD asks you to call its Records Division to check whether the report can be released. Then email your request to HPD's address for public report requests. The phone number and email address are on HPD's Police Reports page.⁶

Oahu, by mail or in person: Call the Records Division first to check whether the report can be released. Then mail or bring your request to the HPD Records Division, 801 South Beretania Street, Honolulu, HI 96813. The HPD Records Unit is open Monday to Friday, 7:45 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., and is closed on weekends and State holidays.⁶

Big Island, in person or by phone: Request the report at any Hawaii Police Department district station, in person or by phone. The department calls you when the report is ready, and you can pick it up at any of the listed district stations. The Hilo station (Records Section) is open 7:45 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. The Kona station is open 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The Honokaʻa, Laupāhoehoe, Pāhoa, Kaʻū, Waimea and Kapaʻau stations are open 7:45 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Station phone numbers are on the department's Get a Copy of a Police Report page.⁷

Big Island, by mail: Mail a written request to the Records and Identification Section, Hawaiʻi Police Department, 349 Kapiʻolani Street, Hilo, HI 96720.⁷

Maui County, online: Sign up for a free account on the county's public records request portal to request a copy of the report.⁴

Maui County, by fax or mail: Fax your request, or mail it to MPD Records Section, 55 Mahalani Street, Wailuku, HI 96793. The fax number is on MPD's Police Reports page.⁴

Kauai, online: Request the report through the online Records Request for Non-Businesses form. Staff schedule a pickup appointment once the report is ready. Businesses use the online Records Request for Businesses form or the Records Insurance Request form.⁵

Oahu: Give the police report number, or the date, time and location of the crash. State the type of report, such as MVC (motor vehicle collision). List the names of the people involved, and include your name, phone number and email address.⁶

Oahu: Attach a color copy of a government-issued ID that shows your involvement. HPD's list of required items also includes a self-addressed stamped envelope large enough for the report, with enough postage to mail it.⁶

Oahu: If you request on behalf of someone else, HPD may require a copy of the requester's ID and a notarized, signed request letter. A next-of-kin requester may need to provide a birth certificate, death certificate or other proof of the relationship.⁶

Big Island: To pick up a report for another person, you need a letter of authorization from the requesting party.⁷

Maui County: Have the police report number, or the date, time and location of the accident. Include a legible photocopy of a government-issued photo ID with every request. Fax and mail requests must also include your email address and phone number.⁴

Maui County: A representative needs a signed authorization from a qualified requester, along with a photocopy of that requester's photo ID.⁴

Kauai: Give your full name, mailing address and phone number. Also give the police report number, report type and date of the incident. Include a copy of your driver's license or state ID.⁵

Kauai: Business requests must be on business letterhead and include authorization from the person involved.⁵

Oahu: A report copy costs $0.50 for the first page and $0.25 for each additional page. Colored copies cost $0.65 per page. HPD tells you if a deposit is needed before work starts.⁶

Oahu: You must pay in full before HPD releases the report. HPD accepts cash, check or cashier's check. Make checks payable to the City and County of Honolulu. HPD does not accept online, credit card or debit card payments.⁶

Oahu: If you get a verification letter instead of a report, it costs $1.00 for the first page and $0.25 for each additional page.⁶

Big Island: The fee is $1 for the first page and 10 cents for each additional page of each report. Only cash is accepted.⁷

Maui County: There is no fee for report copies under 25 pages. For multiple requests or very large records, MPD may charge $0.25 per page or $5.00 per CD-R, at its discretion. Search and segregation fees may be charged for any public records request, under HAR §2-71-31 and HAR §2-71-19.⁴

Maui County: MPD accepts cash, money orders, personal checks or cashier's checks. It does not accept credit or debit cards.⁴

Oahu: A report can be released only when the investigation is complete and the case is closed. Some reports may not be releasable when you request them. Reports longer than 10 pages may not be available the same day.⁶

Big Island: You will get either a response or the report within 10 business days of your request.⁷

Maui County: In most cases, you should receive the report within 10 business days. Reports are returned electronically when possible.⁴

Kauai: Requests are reviewed, so allow 48 hours for a response. Most police reports can generally be released once all investigation is complete and the case is closed.⁵

Oahu: Copies released to individuals have personal information blacked out, such as names, home addresses, Social Security numbers, dates of birth and phone numbers. All information about juveniles is also redacted.⁶

Oahu: If a criminal report is not yet releasable, a complainant, witness, victim or authorized representative can get a verification letter instead.⁶

Big Island: Approved motor vehicle accident reports are available to parties of interest as defined in HRS Chapter 291C-20. A redacted copy may have personal identifiers blacked out, but your own information is left in.⁷

Maui County: A qualified requester is a person involved in the incident or accident, such as a victim, offender, driver, vehicle owner, involved pedestrian, or owner of damaged or stolen property. Anonymous callers and uninvolved third parties may receive reports only in redacted form.⁴

Maui County: Qualified requesters or their authorized representatives may get a preliminary or a complete report. Which one depends on how serious the related criminal matter is and where it stands in prosecution. MPD releases or withholds report information under Hawaii's Uniform Information Practices Act (HRS §92F).⁴

Kauai: Copies released to individuals have personal information blacked out, such as names, home addresses, Social Security numbers, dates of birth and phone numbers.⁵

Oahu: HPD's online citizen report system covers incidents on Oahu only. For an incident elsewhere, HPD tells you to contact the police department where it happened.⁶

Big Island: For questions, call the Records and Identification Section in Hilo. The number is on the department's Get a Copy of a Police Report page.⁷

Maui County: The MPD Records Section is at 55 Mahalani Street, Wailuku, HI 96793. It is open Monday to Thursday only, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., excluding holidays. It is closed for all services on Fridays until further notice.³

Kauai: Until further notice, because of a staffing shortage, the KPD Records window is open Monday and Wednesday 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., Tuesday and Thursday 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., and Friday 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.⁵

Kauai: To check on a pending request, use the phone number or email address on KPD's Records Section page. The page shows one email address, but its email link opens a different one.⁵

Oahu: You cannot report a motor vehicle collision through HPD's online citizen report system. HPD says to call 911 instead.⁶

Oahu: No police report is required for a Category C collision when everyone involved makes a mutual agreement at the scene. Under HPD policy, a Category C collision has less than $3,000 in combined property damage and no bodily injury.²

Oahu: Under HPD policy, a mutual-agreement collision is one where everyone involved agrees to settle it without a police report. It must involve no injury or death, and total property damage must not exceed $3,000.²

Oahu: HPD does not respond to a Category C collision that is reported away from the collision scene. It refers people who report one that way to their insurance companies.²

Oahu: HPD does not accept statements from people in Category B or C collisions who only want to add their version of events. It refers them to their insurance companies.²