Hawaii Genealogy Records

To begin, add a genealogy record or view a list of locations and resources for Hawaii genealogy records.

Hawaii was initially settled by Polynesians and then later by the British. It became a an independent territory in 1900 and then a state in 1959 as the 50th State in the Union. With such an intriguing past with intertwining of cultures, searching for a family's past is a wonderful way to connect.

The Department of Health in Hawaii oversees the Office of Health Status Monitoring. Vital records, defined as birth, death, marriage, and divorce certificates, are maintained for events that occurred in Hawaii. This is the office to see to obtain Hawaii genealogy records. Access to vital records is restricted by statute (HRS 338-18), as Hawaii takes the privacy and security of its citizens very seriously.

Individuals looking for their family history, or those working on genealogy projects can apply for copies of vital records. Hawaii requires that people seeking documents for events that occurred within the last seventy-five years have to show they have a ?direct and tangible"interest in the records they seek. Events that occurred more than seventy-five years before the request for the record does not have as complicated a process. They are more readily available for viewing. Applications must be done in writing as requesting documents via phone or the internet are not available options.

Some vital records can be viewed at the Hawaii State Library. Birth records from 1896-1909, for example, can be seen at the Hawaii State Library and the University of Hawaii Library, Hawaiian Collection. It's important to note that these collections, however, just house an index, not the actual record. Those can only be obtained by the Department of Health. This makes the initial search for Hawaiian genealogy records a bit easier.