Hawaii Small Claims Court Forms: Statement of Claim by Circuit

Hawaii doesn't use one statewide small claims form. Each judicial circuit publishes its own version with a circuit-specific prefix, and using the wrong one — or filling it out incorrectly — can delay your case before it starts.

Which Form Do You Need?

The main document is the Statement of Claim and Notice. It comes in two varieties depending on your dispute type: a general money claim form and a security deposit form.

First Circuit (Oahu):

• Form 1DC06 — General Statement of Claim and Notice (money claims up to $5,000)
• Form 1DC05 — Statement of Claim for security deposit disputes (no dollar limit)

Fifth Circuit (Kauai):

• Form 5DC06 — General Statement of Claim
• Form 5DC05 — Security deposit Statement of Claim

The Second Circuit (Maui County) and Third Circuit (Hawaii Island) use their own circuit-prefixed versions following the same pattern. All forms are available as free PDF downloads from the Hawaii State Judiciary website at courts.state.hi.us.

Other forms you may need:

• 1DC14 / 5DC14 — Counterclaim form (if you're the defendant filing a counter-suit, up to $40,000)
• 1DC35 / 5DC13 — Fee waiver application (if you can't afford the $35 filing fee)
• 1DC44 — Motion for Examination of Judgment Debtor (post-judgment asset discovery, Oahu)

Anatomy of the Statement of Claim

The form has two main sections:

Part I — Statement of Claim: This is what you fill out. It captures your name and address, the defendant's legal name and address, the amount you're claiming, a factual description of the dispute, and a sworn declaration under penalty of perjury.

The factual description is where most people struggle. The court doesn't want a narrative essay — it wants the key facts: what was the agreement, when was it made, what went wrong, and how much money is owed. Three to five clear sentences usually do it.

Part II — Notice of Hearing: The court clerk fills this out after you file. It sets the hearing date, time, and location, which must fall between 5 and 30 days from filing.

Redaction Requirements

Under Hawaii Court Records Rule 9, you must redact sensitive personal information before filing. This includes Social Security numbers, bank account numbers, driver's license numbers, and birth dates. If any of these appear in your supporting documents, black them out or submit a separate confidential information sheet.

Filing unredacted documents puts your personal information into the public court docket. The clerk's office won't do this for you — it's your responsibility before you hand over the paperwork.

Filing Your Completed Form

Since TurboCourt ended its Hawaii services on June 30, 2025, all self-represented filers submit paper documents. Three options:

1. In person at the District Court clerk's window or Legal Documents Branch in your circuit
2. Courthouse drop box — available at most court locations
3. By mail — send the completed form, the $35 filing fee using a payment method accepted by your circuit, and a self-addressed stamped envelope for your file-stamped copy

Whichever method you choose, bring or send the original form plus one copy for each defendant and one for your own records. The clerk stamps and returns your copy as proof of filing.

The JEFS electronic filing system exists but is restricted to licensed attorneys for new case filings. Self-represented parties can use eCourt Kokua to track their case after filing, but not to initiate one.

Common Mistakes That Delay Cases

Wrong defendant name. Search the DCCA BREG portal at hbe.dcca.hawaii.gov to verify the registered legal name of any business you're suing. "Bob's Plumbing" on a business card is not the same as "Robert K. Tanaka, doing business as Bob's Plumbing Services" in the state registry.

Claiming the wrong amount. The $5,000 cap is on principal only. Don't add interest or court costs into the claim amount on the form — those are calculated separately.

Missing the circuit. File in the circuit where the defendant lives, works, or where the dispute arose. Filing in the wrong circuit can get your case dismissed or transferred, adding weeks to the timeline.

Our Hawaii Small Claims Filing Guide includes a form-by-form walkthrough for each circuit's Statement of Claim, showing exactly what goes in each field and how to describe your claim in language the court expects.

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