Hawaii Court & Family Education Guide
Information for anyone navigating a court order, custody case, or probation requirement in Hawaii that involves anger management, parenting, co-parenting, or substance-abuse education.
What does Clearway offer?
People are sometimes ordered or referred to an educational program as part of a family-law, custody, probation, or other Hawaii court-related matter. The type of program required can depend on the circumstances of the case and the exact wording of the court order.
Clearway Institute offers four self-paced online courses: anger management, parenting, co-parenting, and substance-abuse education. Not every course is appropriate for every court order, and completing an online course does not automatically mean a particular Hawaii court, probation department, or agency will accept it — always read your order carefully and confirm the required program with the court, probation officer, attorney, or other referring agency when you're not sure.
Which type of class do you need?
Start with whichever matches your order or situation — each course page has the full curriculum before you enroll.
What if a Hawaii court ordered it?
Hawaii steers people convicted of abusing a family or household member toward domestic violence intervention. In the 2025 text of HRS § 709-906 that was reviewed, the court must require an assessment at a domestic violence intervention program followed by an intervention or anger management course, and may order parenting classes if a minor was involved. Parts of the section carry a scheduled sunset and reenactment, so the exact current wording may differ.
On the civil side, HRS chapter 586 governs domestic abuse protective orders. In the 2017 text reviewed, § 586-5.5 lets the court, after a hearing, issue a protective order for a fixed period that can include temporary custody, visitation, and domestic violence intervention services. In custody cases, § 571-46 addresses family violence. Orders differ, so confirm exactly what your own order requires before enrolling in any course.
What's the difference between classes?
Parenting vs. co-parenting. Parenting covers general child-development, discipline, and communication skills, and comes up in a wide range of family cases. Co-parenting is built specifically for separated or divorcing parents — coordinating two households, handling custody transitions, and keeping kids out of the middle — and is the more common requirement in a custody or divorce order.
Anger management vs. a certified intervention program. Many states, Hawaii included, treat general educational anger-management coursework as legally distinct from a state-certified batterer intervention, family-violence intervention, or abuser-treatment program ordered specifically in a domestic-violence case — see “What if a Hawaii court ordered it?” above for how that distinction works here. If your order names a specific certified program by name, an educational anger-management course usually isn't an automatic substitute — check with your court.
Where can I verify requirements?
The most reliable answer always comes from whoever issued your order — the court clerk, your probation or parole officer, your attorney, or the agency that referred you. Below are free, Hawaii-specific places to start if you need legal help, counseling, or crisis support along the way.
Legal reference material
For anyone who wants to read the underlying statutes for themselves, here is the reference material this guide is based on — Hawaii civil and family-law sections first, then criminal law.
Civil & family law
Custody and family violenceHRS § 571-46
If a court finds a parent committed family violence, there is a rebuttable presumption that sole or joint custody with that parent is detrimental to the child. The court may condition visitation on safety measures, including completing a program of intervention for perpetrators or other designated counseling.
Domestic abuse protective ordersHRS ch. 586, §§ 586-4, 586-5.5
Chapter 586 provides temporary restraining orders and, after a hearing, protective orders for a fixed period. In the 2017 text reviewed, a protective order may include temporary custody and visitation terms and require domestic violence intervention services, and it can be extended after a hearing.
Criminal law
Abuse of family or household membersHRS § 709-906
Physically abusing a family or household member, or refusing an officer's lawful order to separate, is a misdemeanor carrying mandatory minimum jail time, longer for a repeat offense within a year. Sentencing also requires domestic violence intervention programming.
Felony-level abuseHRS § 709-906
In the 2025 text reviewed, a third or later offense within two years of a prior conviction, strangulation (impeding breathing or circulation), and abuse in the presence of a minor under fourteen are each class C felonies.
Violation of a protective orderHRS § 586-11
In the 2017 text reviewed, knowingly or intentionally violating a protective order is a misdemeanor with mandatory minimum jail time in some cases, and the person must complete court-ordered domestic violence intervention. Penalties vary by whether the violation was domestic abuse and by prior offenses.