Hawaii Small Claims Court Remote Hearing and Zoom Guide

Your Hawaii small claims hearing notice may say "Zoom" instead of listing only a courtroom address. Check Part II to see whether your hearing is remote. The process is similar to an in-person hearing — calendar call, mediation attempt, presentation of evidence, judge's decision — but the technology adds a few extra preparation steps.

Before the Hearing

The Zoom link and meeting ID will be listed on the Notice of Hearing (Part II of your Statement of Claim and Notice). Follow any separate Zoom instructions the court sends with the notice.

Test your setup a day before the hearing. You need a working camera and microphone — the judge will expect to see you. A laptop or desktop computer is more reliable than a phone. If you're using a phone, prop it up at eye level so the camera shows your face, not your ceiling.

Find a quiet location with a stable internet connection. Background noise, barking dogs, and other people walking through the frame don't make a great impression. Treat this the same way you'd treat walking into a courtroom — the judge applies the same authority whether you're on a screen or in a chair.

Log in 10 to 15 minutes early. You'll likely sit in a waiting room until the clerk admits you. Have your case number ready — the clerk will call cases in order.

Presenting Evidence on Zoom

This is where remote hearings create friction. Courts still expect physical paper evidence — contracts, receipts, photos, text messages. For a Zoom hearing, you need both digital and physical versions:

Physical copies: Print everything just as you would for an in-person hearing — two sets beyond your own (one for the judge, one for the opposing party). Some courts require you to mail or drop off evidence packets before the hearing date. Check with the court clerk for your circuit's specific procedure.

Screen sharing: The judge may ask you to share your screen to display documents. Have your evidence files organized in a single folder on your computer, clearly labeled. PDF format works best. Practice screen sharing before the hearing so you're not fumbling with it in front of the judge.

If evidence wasn't pre-submitted, ask the court clerk for your circuit's procedure. Don't assume that showing something on camera replaces the required paper copies.

During the Hearing

The hearing follows the same order as in-person proceedings. The clerk calls the case, both parties check in, mediation may be offered depending on the circuit and case, and then each side presents their case.

Mute yourself when you're not speaking. Don't interrupt the other party — the judge will give you time to respond. When it's your turn, speak clearly and address the judge directly.

If your internet drops during the hearing, rejoin immediately using the same link. If you can't reconnect, call the Zoom dial-in number from your phone. If neither works, contact the court clerk promptly to explain the disconnection; don't assume the hearing has been rescheduled.

ADA and Language Accommodations

If you need an interpreter or ADA accommodation for the Zoom hearing, submit the request to the court clerk at least 10 working days before the hearing date. This applies whether the hearing is remote or in-person — the accommodation rules are the same.

The Responding to a Small Claims Case in Hawaii guide covers hearing preparation for both remote and in-person proceedings, including evidence organization and the courtroom sequence.

See more Hawaii guides →