Kauai County Property Records Search
Kauai County property records are maintained by the Real Property Assessment Division in Lihue, covering every parcel on the island. You can search ownership history, assessed values, tax maps, and sales data through the county's online portals, or contact the office directly to find the records you need.
Search Kauai County Property Records Online
The county uses qPublic to host its real property tax and assessment database. The search portal at qpublic.net/hi/kauai gives you access to current ownership, parcel maps, sales history, and assessed values for every property on the island. You can search by street address, parcel number (TMK), ownership history, sales records, or condo and CPR project name.
The official Kauai County Public Record Search page also directs users to the assessment database at www.kauaipropertytax.com. Both paths lead to the same records. The search portal includes a disclaimer worth noting: improvement records may not always match actual permitted construction, tax classification is assigned based on actual use under Ordinance 920, and mapped parcel boundaries are for visual reference only and do not represent survey-level accuracy.
The qPublic portal is free to use. No login is needed for basic searches.
The qPublic portal screenshot below shows the main Kauai County real property search interface, which lets you look up parcels by TMK number, address, or owner name.
The portal displays current ownership data, assessed value history, and sales records for each parcel on the island.
Note: Parcel boundary maps in the qPublic portal are for general reference only and should not be used as a substitute for a licensed survey.
Kauai Real Property Assessment Division
The Real Property Assessment Division handles all valuation and classification work for Kauai County parcels. They set assessed values, assign tax classifications, process exemption applications, and maintain ownership records. The office is located at 4444 Rice Street in Lihue.
| Office | Real Property Assessment Division |
|---|---|
| Address | 4444 Rice Street, Suite 454, Lihue, HI 96766 |
| Phone | (808) 241-4224 |
| rpassessment@kauai.gov | |
| Website | kauai.gov Real Property Assessment |
For tax bill payments and collection matters, a separate office handles those functions. The Real Property Collection Office is also at 4444 Rice Street but in Suite 463. Reach them at (808) 241-4272 or rpc@kauai.gov. Checks should be made payable to the Director of Finance.
The image below shows the Kauai County Real Property Assessment Division's official county page with contact details and links to key services.
From this page you can find links to exemption forms, the public record search portal, and information on tax dedications.
Note: The online public record search portal is the fastest way to look up current assessments and ownership data without contacting the office directly.
Kauai County Tax Bills and Online Payment
Property tax bills for Kauai County are available online through the eHawaii Real Property Tax portal. Updated bills are posted during the first week of every month. If a bill doesn't appear, contact the collections office at (808) 241-4272.
The portal lets you add multiple properties to a cart and pay in one transaction. Payment methods include credit card and eCheck. There is a service fee of $2.50 per tax bill, plus a payment processing fee. For technical help with the portal, contact eHawaii.gov Customer Support at (808) 695-4620 or help@ehawaii.gov.
Single-family homes may also see a Residential Refuse Collection Assessment (RRCA) listed as a separate line item on the tax bill. This is a county trash service fee collected alongside property taxes. More information is at kauai.gov/rrca or by calling (808) 241-4091.
Note: The minimum real property tax in Kauai County is $150, regardless of assessed value or exemptions applied.
Kauai County Home Exemption Details
Kauai County offers a home exemption for owner-occupants. The base exemption is $220,000, which is deducted from the assessed value of your home before taxes are calculated. This can cut your tax bill significantly if you qualify.
Age-based increases apply automatically once you qualify. Owners between ages 60 and 69 get a $240,000 exemption. Those 70 and older receive $260,000. You don't need to file again when you reach the next age bracket; the increase happens on its own.
To qualify, you must meet at least one of the following: live in the home in Kauai County for more than 271 calendar days per year; be registered to vote in the county; file Hawaii Residential Income Taxes (Form N-11) using a Kauai County address; or hold a Hawaii driver's license or state ID with a valid Kauai County address. Ownership must be recorded at the Bureau of Conveyances by September 30 preceding the tax year. The exemption claim form (Form P-3) must also be filed by that same September 30 deadline. Have your Tax Map Key (TMK) number ready when you apply, as it speeds up the process. A husband and wife cannot each claim exemptions on separate homes unless they are living apart under a court order.
The image below shows the Kauai County home exemption information page with eligibility requirements and application details.
The page outlines the standard exemption, age-based tiers, and what documents you need to support your claim.
The online application is available at the link below.
You can also access the application through kauai.gov/HomeExemption-Application or via the county's connect portal at connect.kauai.gov.
Note: The deadline for 2026 assessments was September 30, 2025; contact the Assessment Division for the current year's deadline before applying.
Additional Exemptions and Tax Relief in Kauai County
Beyond the standard home exemption, Kauai County offers several other forms of tax relief. Some are based on income. Others apply to specific groups, such as veterans or people with disabilities.
An additional home exemption of $120,000 is available for homeowners who already qualify for the regular exemption and whose combined gross household income from all occupants does not exceed 80% of the Kauai Median Household Income. Income is based on federal and state gross income from the prior year. This extra exemption also comes with a 50% reduction in the Refuse Collection Fee. You must apply for it every year; it does not renew automatically.
The Circuit Breaker Tax Credit applies to homeowners with household incomes at or below 50% of the Kauai Median Household Income. The credit equals the difference between your calculated market taxes and 3% of the combined gross income of all titleholders. You must have a current home exemption, your taxes must be current, and the credit cannot reduce your bill below the minimum tax. Like the income-based exemption, this also requires an annual application.
The screenshot below is from the Kauai County press release outlining the additional exemptions and Circuit Breaker credit available to qualifying homeowners.
The press release explains income limits, deadlines, and how to apply for each type of relief.
Note: Both the income-based additional exemption and the Circuit Breaker credit must be applied for each year; approval in a prior year does not carry over automatically.
Veteran and Disability Exemptions
Kauai County provides property tax relief for certain veterans and individuals with qualifying disabilities. Totally disabled veterans whose injuries were received while on active duty may have their home exempt from all property taxes, except for the minimum tax of $100. This exemption is filed using RP Form P-6 and must be submitted by September 30. The exemption remains in effect as long as the veteran stays totally disabled, or, if the veteran has passed, as long as the widow or widower remains unmarried and lives in the property as their principal residence.
Individuals affected by Hansen's Disease are exempt from property taxes on real property up to $50,000 of taxable value, in addition to any regular exemption they qualify for.
People who are blind, deaf, or totally disabled can claim a $50,000 exemption on property they own. This is also filed on Form P-6. A licensed physician must certify the qualifying condition. This exemption is separate from, and in addition to, the regular home exemption.
Note: Veteran and disability exemption forms must be filed with the Real Property Assessment Division at 4444 Rice Street, Suite 454, Lihue.
Agricultural and Land Use Dedications in Kauai County
Kauai County offers reduced assessments for land under active agricultural use through 10-year or 20-year dedication agreements. Owners who commit to a 20-year agricultural dedication see their land assessed at 50% of fair market value. Applications must specify what agricultural uses are planned, including crops planted, pasture rotation, the crop cycle, and a harvesting and marketing schedule.
Other dedications are also available. Kuleana lands, which are traditional Hawaiian family land parcels, are subject only to the minimum tax of $150. Non-profit organizations may qualify for exemptions on property used for their charitable purposes. Tree farms and open space or public recreation areas in urban zones may be exempt for the duration of their dedication period. If you own land that might qualify under any of these programs, contact the Assessment Division to get the right forms and deadlines.
Note: Agricultural dedications are binding commitments; breaking the agreement before the term ends can result in back taxes and penalties.
Deed Recording and the Bureau of Conveyances
Property deeds and other real property instruments in Hawaii are recorded at the state-level Bureau of Conveyances, not at the county. This applies to all Kauai County parcels. The Bureau of Conveyances is part of the Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources. Their main site is at dlnr.hawaii.gov/boc.
Recorded documents can be searched through RecordEASE, the bureau's online document retrieval system, at bocdataext.hi.wcicloud.com. This tool covers deeds, mortgages, liens, and other instruments recorded with the state. It is separate from the county's qPublic assessment portal.
Hawaii law requires that ownership be recorded at the Bureau of Conveyances before the September 30 deadline for home exemption eligibility. If you've recently purchased property on Kauai, confirm your deed has been recorded before applying for any exemptions.
Note: Hawaii has two land title systems, the Regular System and the Land Court system; which system applies to your parcel affects how documents are recorded and searched.
Court Records for the Fifth Circuit
Kauai County is served by the Fifth Circuit Court. Civil cases involving real property, such as quiet title actions, boundary disputes, and foreclosures, are filed in this court. You can search Fifth Circuit court records through the Hawaii State Judiciary's eCourt Kokua portal. eCourt Kokua is free and open to the public for case lookups by party name, case number, or other identifiers.
Court records from eCourt Kokua can help you find judgment liens, foreclosure proceedings, or other legal actions tied to a Kauai County parcel. These records are separate from assessment and tax records maintained by the county.
Note: eCourt Kokua does not display all case details; some records may require an in-person visit to the Fifth Circuit courthouse in Lihue.
Key Kauai County Property Record Links
The links below cover the main portals and offices you will use when searching Kauai County property records.
This page links to the assessment database and explains what types of records are available to the public.
Other Hawaii Counties
Kauai County's seat is Lihue, the largest town on the island, but it does not have its own dedicated page on this site. For property records in other Hawaii counties, use the links below.