Honolulu County is named for the word meaning “sheltered harbor”.
Surrounding County Courthouses:
N – Pacific Ocean
E – Maui County and Pacific Ocean
S – Pacific Ocean
W – Kauai County and Pacific Ocean
Created: July 1, 1905
County Seat:
Honolulu ( Oahu County ) 1905 – 1907
Honolulu 1907 – present
County Courthouse – Honolulu
Location: 777 Punchbowl Street / Pohukaina Street
Built: 1928
Style: Modern
Architect: Anbe, Aruga & Ishizu Architects of Honolulu
Contractor: Unknown
Description: The modern building faces southeast and is a five story concrete and glass structure. The roof line is flat. The building houses the County Circuit Court of the First Judicial Circuit. The building was renovated in 2013. The architect was Anbe, Aruga & Ishizu, Architects, and Integrus Architects.
County District Courthouse – Honolulu
Location: 1111 Alakea Street / South Hotel Street
Built: Unknown
Style: Modern
Architect: Unknown
Contractor: Unknown
Description: The modern building faces northwest and is five story glass and concrete structure. The building is named as the Kauikeaouli Hale. The building houses the County District Court of the First Judicial Circuit. The building was closed in 2023 due to damage.
County Family Courthouse – Kapolei
Location: 4675 Kapolei Parkway
Built: Unknown
Style: Modern
Architect: Unknown
Contractor: Unknown
Description: The modern building faces *** and is located at the Kapolei Judiciary Complex. The building houses the County Family Court of the First Judicial Circuit.
History: The first courthouse was a two story structure built in the center of Honolulu in 1852 during the Haiwaiian Kingdom. The building served as a meeting place for the Legislature and Supreme Court from 1852 to 1874. The courthouse was sold to H Hackfeld and Company and demolished in 1968. In 1874, the second courthouse was the Aliiolani Hale (Hawaii Supreme Court). The county was created in 1905 as Oahu County and Honolulu was selected as the county seat. In 1907 the name was changed to Honolulu County. The third courthouse Kauikeaouli Hale was constructed in ****.