Hilo courthouse adds centralized paid parking system Friday, $1 hourly rate

A trip to Hale Kaulike in Hilo now comes with a parking bill that starts at $1 and climbs by the hour. The new centralized system began Friday at the Hilo Judiciary Complex, shifting courthouse parking from individual meters to a single pay station inside the lobby at 777 Kīlauea Avenue.

The lot is operated by the Hawaiʻi Department of Accounting and General Services, which is covering all existing parking meters and taking them out of service. Drivers now pay $1.00 per hour, with a minimum payment of $1.00, and the pay station accepts dollar bills, quarters and credit cards. No change will be given, so anyone feeding the machine will need exact cash or a card.

For jurors, attorneys, families and anyone trying to handle more than one government errand in a single trip, the change is most immediate in time and money. A short court stop now costs at least $1, while a two-hour visit runs $2 and a four-hour stay reaches $4. The added step of going inside the courthouse lobby to pay also means drivers may need a few extra minutes before heading to Third Circuit Court - Hilo.

That warning came from the Judiciary, which advised court users to allow additional time while they get used to the new system. The change also replaces the parking guidance that had pointed users of the Circuit and District Court to the metered spaces next to the building.

The switch matters most to people who rely on the courthouse lot for regular business, including those appearing for hearings, meeting with counsel or accompanying relatives through court-related appointments. With the meters now covered and out of service, the lobby pay station is the only payment point identified for the lot.

The new setup at 777 Kīlauea Avenue is a small administrative change on paper, but for people moving through Hilo’s courthouse complex it adds a new routine: park, go inside, pay, and budget a little more time before the day’s business begins.