Sex Offenders in Kalawao County
Kalawao County is the smallest county in Hawaii and one of the smallest in the United States by population. Sex offender registration and registry searches for this unique county follow the same statewide system used in all other Hawaii counties, managed by the Hawaii Criminal Justice Data Center. This page explains how to search for sex offenders in Kalawao County using zip code 96742, how registration works in this area, which law enforcement and court offices have jurisdiction, and what public records access looks like for the county.
Kalawao County Overview
About Kalawao County and Sex Offender Registration
Kalawao County sits on the Kalaupapa Peninsula on the north coast of Molokai. It is the smallest county in the United States by land area and has a population of roughly 89 people. The area was established as a leprosy settlement in the 19th century and is now part of the Kalaupapa National Historical Park managed by the National Park Service. The peninsula can only be reached by mule trail, a steep hiking trail, or small aircraft. It is not a standard residential community open to unrestricted public access.
Despite its unusual situation, Kalawao County is still a legal jurisdiction under Hawaii state law. Any covered offender living or staying in Kalawao County is subject to the same registration requirements that apply throughout the state under Chapter 846E of the Hawaii Revised Statutes. The county has no police department of its own. Law enforcement services for Kalawao County are provided by the Maui County Police Department through its Molokai Police Station. This station at 110 Aiona Street, Kaunakakai, HI 96748 is the designated registration location for any covered offender in Kalawao County.
The Molokai Police Station phone number is (808) 553-5355. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM. A public access terminal for searching the state sex offender registry is available at this location during those same hours. Because Kalawao County has only about 89 residents and is a restricted-access national park settlement, the number of registered sex offenders in the county is minimal or zero at any given time. However, the registry still covers this zip code, and any offender present in the area is required to register.
The Hawaii state agency databases guide provides a comprehensive list of official government data resources that cover Kalawao County alongside the rest of the state, including sex offender registry data.
How to Search Sex Offenders in Kalawao County
To search for sex offenders in Kalawao County, go to the state registry at sexoffenders.ehawaii.gov and enter zip code 96742 in the zip code field. This is the only zip code assigned to the Kalaupapa area. Results will show any registered offenders with a listed address in that zip code. Because the population is so small, results may be limited or none at all. This does not mean the zip code is excluded from the registry. It means registered offenders in the area are subject to the same public listing rules as offenders anywhere else in Hawaii.
The radius search function on the registry is another option. You can enter a location near the Kalaupapa area and set a radius to capture nearby results. The system searches by geographic distance and will include offenders from adjacent Molokai zip codes as well. The registry is updated nightly, so results reflect the most recent data available. For broader searches that include neighboring areas of Molokai, try zip code 96748 which covers Kaunakakai, the main community on the island.
The National Sex Offender Public Website also covers Kalawao County as part of its Hawaii data feed. If you want to check whether a person with connections to Kalawao County was registered in another state before arriving in Hawaii, the national site allows multi-state searches. The NSOPW pulls directly from each state's own database and reflects the same nightly update schedule as the Hawaii registry.
Registration Process for Kalawao County Residents
Any covered offender in Kalawao County must register at the Molokai Police Station, 110 Aiona Street, Kaunakakai, HI 96748, phone (808) 553-5355. Registration must happen within three working days of arriving in the county, changing any registered information, or returning from incarceration. The same three-day window applies to changes in address, employment, vehicle, or online identifiers.
The HCJDC sex offender information page lists the Molokai Police Station as the registration location for Kalawao County residents and explains what documents and information are required at the time of registration.
Registration at the Molokai station collects the full set of data required under Section 846E-2 of the Hawaii Revised Statutes. This includes the offender's current address, all phone numbers and email addresses, all internet identifiers and instant message names, names and addresses of employers and volunteer locations, names and addresses of any schools attended, and complete vehicle information for all vehicles owned or operated. Fingerprints, palm prints, a DNA sample, a current photo, a physical description with any scars or tattoos, and a copy of the conviction judgment are also required.
Quarterly verification forms are mailed to registered offenders in Kalawao County the same as everywhere else in Hawaii, during the first week of January, April, July, and October. These forms must be signed and returned within ten days of receipt. Annual in-person verification is required within 30 days of the offender's birthday each year. Offenders with no fixed address must report in person monthly. Non-compliance with any of these requirements is a Class C felony under Section 846E-9, carrying up to five years in prison and a $10,000 fine.
Note: Access to the Kalaupapa area is restricted and requires a permit from the National Park Service, which means any covered offender living there would already be known to local authorities.
Court Jurisdiction and Legal Framework
Kalawao County has no circuit court of its own. All criminal cases originating in Kalawao County, including any sex offense prosecutions or violations of Chapter 846E registration requirements, are handled by the Second Circuit Court in Wailuku, Maui County. The Second Circuit courthouse is at 2145 Main Street, Wailuku, HI 96793, phone (808) 244-2929. This court covers Maui, Lanai, Molokai, and Kalawao County. It is the same court that handles all criminal matters for the neighboring Maui County communities.
Court records from the Second Circuit, including any cases originating from Kalawao County, are available through the Hawaii State Judiciary eCourt Kokua portal. Searching by name or case ID returns records from all Second Circuit cases regardless of which island the underlying offense occurred on. The portal requires no account for basic searches and is available most hours of the day. Document copies cost $3.00 per item or ten cents per page.
All sex offenders in Hawaii, including those registered in Kalawao County, are subject to the full requirements of Chapter 846E HRS. The law makes no exception based on county size or population. An offender in Kalawao faces the same verification schedules, the same data disclosure requirements, and the same penalties for non-compliance as an offender in Honolulu County. The Hawaii Criminal Justice Data Center maintains records for any registered offenders in Kalawao County just as it does for all other jurisdictions.
Public Records and Registry Access
Public records access in Kalawao County follows the same state framework as all other Hawaii counties. Under Hawaii Revised Statutes Section 92F-11, government agencies must make records available for inspection during regular business hours. Because Kalawao County has no independent agencies of its own, public records requests related to the area are processed through either the Maui County Police Department (for law enforcement records) or the Second Circuit Court (for court records).
The Hawaii Criminal Justice Data Center is the central statewide resource for sex offender registration data, criminal history records, and related public information that covers Kalawao County along with all other jurisdictions.
For criminal history record checks, go through the HCJDC eCrim system. A name search costs $5.00 and requires user registration at the HCJDC portal. The HCJDC main office is at 465 S. King Street, Room 102, Honolulu, HI 96813. The phone number for the sex offender registration unit is (808) 587-3350. The general line is (808) 587-3100. Both are available Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM, closed noon to 1:00 PM. Criminal history records from eCrim cover all five counties statewide including Kalawao.
The Hawaii Office of Information Practices handles disputes about public records requests anywhere in the state. If you request records related to Kalawao County from any agency and the request is denied, OIP provides guidance and a formal appeals process. They also advise agencies on their obligations under the Uniform Information Practices Act. For a broader look at Hawaii government databases covering Kalawao County, the Hawaii state agency databases guide catalogs official data sources across all state and county agencies.
National Registry and State Resources
The National Sex Offender Public Website is a federal resource maintained by the Department of Justice. It links all 50 state sex offender registries into a single searchable system. Kalawao County is included in the Hawaii data feed. A national search is the right tool when you want to know whether a person moved to Kalawao County or anywhere in Hawaii from another state where they were previously registered. Results pull in real time from each state's live registry data.
The HCJDC sex offender information page is the most complete state-level resource for understanding how the Hawaii registry works, what the public can view, and what the registration process involves. This page is updated when laws or procedures change, such as the August 2025 update that moved some registration functions for Oahu residents to the AG's Investigations Division. For Kalawao County specifically, the relevant registration location continues to be the Molokai Police Station.
The Sex Abuse Treatment Center provides public education about the registry and support services for survivors statewide. SATC's resources apply to Kalawao County residents the same as to residents anywhere in Hawaii. Their website includes guidance on how to read registry data, what to do if you suspect a person is not complying with registration, and how the state's verification process works. SATC is a state-funded program through Hawaii Pacific Health.
The Hawaii Department of Public Safety coordinates with HCJDC to ensure covered offenders leaving state correctional facilities complete registration before release. This process applies statewide including for any person with a Kalawao County address. Before release, correctional staff collect registration data, take fingerprints and a photo, and forward the information to the Attorney General within three working days. This keeps the registry current even for offenders transitioning back into small communities like Kalaupapa.
Nearby Counties
Kalawao County shares the island of Molokai with Maui County, which provides law enforcement and court services for the area. All five Hawaii counties share a single statewide sex offender registry. Select a county below for local registration details and search tools.