13 Resources
Hawaii's Family Court operates inside the Circuit Court across four judicial circuits — Oahu, Maui, Hawaii Island, and Kauai — and this statewide self-help portal hosts the petition, parenting plan, and motion forms a mother needs to file without an attorney. The site walks women through which forms apply to divorce, custody, paternity, and protective orders. Reach the access-to-justice line at 808-539-4300 for guidance on form selection. Open to any resident regardless of income.
808-539-4300 · Statewide Online Resource · Online 24/7 · Visit Website
Legal Aid Society of Hawaii is the state's primary civil legal aid provider, and its Bethel Street office in downtown Honolulu handles custody, divorce, TRO, and visitation cases for low-income women across all four judicial circuits. Call 808-536-4302 to start a phone intake — staff screen for income eligibility and ask about safety concerns first. Bring photo ID, recent pay stubs or benefit letters, and any existing court orders to your appointment. Open Mon-Fri 8:30am to 4pm.
808-536-4302 · 924 Bethel St, Honolulu, HI 96813 · Mon-Fri 8:30am-4pm · Visit Website
If a mother does not qualify for legal aid but cannot afford full attorney rates, the Hawaii State Bar's referral service at 1100 Alakea Street pairs her with a prescreened family law attorney for an initial paid consultation. Call 808-537-1868 weekdays 8am to 4pm and describe the case briefly — divorce, custody modification, paternity, or property. A nominal fee applies for the first meeting; ongoing representation is negotiated directly with the attorney.
808-537-1868 · 1100 Alakea St Suite 1000, Honolulu, HI 96813 · Mon-Fri 8am-4pm · Visit Website
Before a contested custody hearing in Hawaii Family Court, judges routinely order mothers and the other parent to attempt mediation through the judiciary's neutral mediator panel. Sessions cover parenting time, holidays, transportation between islands, and decision-making — and any agreement is submitted to the judge for inclusion in the court's order. Call 808-954-8300 Mon-Fri 7:45am to 4:30pm to schedule. No filing fee for court-referred mediation.
808-954-8300 · Statewide Service · Mon-Fri 7:45am-4:30pm · Visit Website
Dialing 211 from any Hawaii phone connects a mother to Aloha United Way's information specialists who maintain a live database of legal aid intake hours, free clinic schedules, and self-help center walk-in times across all islands. The line is staffed 24/7 — useful when a woman needs to know tonight where to file a TRO tomorrow morning. Specialists also cross-refer to shelter, food, and rental help if the legal issue is tied to a crisis.
211 · Statewide Service · 24/7 · Visit Website
WomensLaw.org publishes Hawaii-specific custody statutes in plain English, including how HRS Chapter 571 frames the best-interest-of-the-child standard that Family Court judges apply. The site explains how to modify an order, what happens when the other parent violates visitation, and how military deployment affects custody — all written by attorneys for women navigating court without representation. Free, no login, available in English and Spanish.
Nationwide · Online · Visit Website
The American Bar Association's Family Law Section maintains a national directory of licensed family attorneys filterable by Hawaii ZIP code, with practice areas including custody, divorce, and military family law. The section's free public guides explain the legal standards courts use, what questions to ask in a consultation, and how to evaluate whether a parenting plan favors a mother's needs. A useful supplement before calling the Hawaii State Bar referral line.
Nationwide · Online · Visit Website
The federal OCSS coordinates with Hawaii's Child Support Enforcement Agency — the state office under the Attorney General — to handle interstate enforcement when a noncustodial parent has moved to or from the mainland. The federal portal explains how Hawaii cooperates with the Federal Parent Locator Service, how arrears are collected via tax intercept, and how mothers can file an interstate UIFSA action. Custodial-parent services are free.
Nationwide · Online · Visit Website
USA.gov's family-law landing page is a useful neutral starting point for a Hawaii mother who wants to understand the legal framework before contacting CSEA or an attorney. The site explains the difference between legal custody, physical custody, and visitation, how each state defines best-interest factors, and what to do when a parent moves between Hawaii and another state. Government-maintained and ad-free.
Nationwide · Online · Visit Website
ChildWelfare.gov, run by the federal Children's Bureau, is especially useful for Hawaii grandmothers, aunties, and hānai relatives seeking kinship guardianship — a route the Family Court recognizes alongside CPS placements. The site's state-by-state policy summaries cover Hawaii's standards for relative caregivers, foster licensing, and adoption from foster care. Free downloadable parenting plan templates are also included.
Nationwide · Online · Visit Website
NCJFCJ publishes the bench books and best-practice toolkits that many Hawaii Family Court judges reference, including the Safe & Together model for handling domestic-violence-informed custody cases. Their public materials help a mother understand how a judge is likely to weigh evidence of coercive control, drug use, or parental alienation — and what advocates look for in a parenting plan. Free at ncjfcj.org.
Nationwide · Online · Visit Website
Cornell's LII gives a mother free access to the full text of the Hawaii Revised Statutes — including HRS Chapter 571 (Family Court) and Chapter 580 (divorce) — alongside plain-language explainers written by law students and faculty. Useful when an opposing attorney cites a statute and a self-represented mother wants to verify the language before her next hearing. No login or paywall.
Nationwide · Online · Visit Website
FindLaw's custody section breaks down the difference between sole legal custody and joint legal custody — a distinction that matters in Hawaii because Family Court judges default toward joint legal custody absent specific safety findings. Articles cover how to request a modification when circumstances change, what counts as a substantial change, and how to document violations. Bundled with a free attorney directory searchable by Honolulu, Hilo, Kahului, or Lihue.
Nationwide · Online · Visit Website