Moderate — ~20 monthsHawaii

First Circuit (Honolulu) Venue Guide

777 Punchbowl Street, Honolulu, HI 96813

20mo

Avg. to Trial

~3,000

Court PI Filings

Circuit

Court Type

E-Filing

Jury Pool Characteristics

Diverse Oahu jury pool — Asian, Pacific Islander, mixed heritage

Generally moderate-to-plaintiff-friendly

Tourism and military community well-represented

Unique cultural dynamics

Filing Procedures

  1. 1

    E-filing through Hawaii courts

  2. 2

    Filing fee approximately $265

  3. 3

    Hawaii uses modified comparative fault (51% bar) — HRS § 663-31

  4. 4

    2-year SOL for PI (HRS § 657-7)

Local Rules & Requirements

  • Hawaii 51% bar applies

  • Mandatory arbitration for cases under $150,000

  • First Circuit local rules

  • Expert disclosure deadlines

Mandatory ADR

Mandatory arbitration for cases under $150,000

Strategic Tips

  1. 1

    H-1 freeway accidents are the most common case type

  2. 2

    Tourism traffic creates year-round congestion

  3. 3

    Military (Pearl Harbor, Schofield Barracks) traffic significant

  4. 4

    Island geography means all cases are in First Circuit

Frequently Asked Questions — First Circuit (Honolulu)

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Sources & Methodology

Disposition times: Based on state court annual reports and the National Center for State Courts (NCSC) State Court Caseload Digest (2023). Estimated averages for personal injury civil cases; actual timelines vary by case complexity.

Caseload figures: Derived from state court annual reports and NCSC Court Statistics Project data where available.

Filing procedures & fees: From court websites and published local rules of court, current as of early 2026. Fees and procedures are subject to change.

Jury pool characteristics: Based on county demographic data (U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2022), county-level jury verdict reporters, and published local bar association litigation guides.

Disclaimer: Court venue profiles are for educational purposes only and do not constitute legal advice. Procedures, fees, and timelines change frequently. Verify all information with the court clerk's office before filing.

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