How to Find Hawaii Marriage Records
How To Find U.S. Marriage Records 
How To Find Hawaii Marriage Records
This page is under construction pnh 22:51, 1 July 2013 (UTC)
Hawaii has a very long history. Many of the records are from oral stories. The islands became combined kingdom between 1782 and 1810. During the reign of the kings and queens some marriage records were recorded. The kingdom was abolished and the Republic of Hawaii was formed in 1894. In 1898, Hawaii became a territory of the United States, then was admitted as a state in 1960.
Finding Hawaii Marriage Records
- 1826–1850 The Islands started keeping records, they are few in number
- 1851–1895 There are sparse records from all islands
- 1896–1929 There are two types of marriage records, some in Hawaiian and some in English
- 1930 to the present the marriage records are more complete
- Marriages occurring within 75 years are restricted to individuals who have a direct and tangible interest in the records[1]
| Tip: More marriage information is usually found on the marriage license application or the marriage register. Less information is found on the marriage certificate. |
Next Step: When did the marriage occur? |
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Learn more about U.S. Marriage Records
Marriages Before 1826
- Before 1826, it will be difficult to locate marriage records.
- Many family records will be passed down by oral history.
| 1. Look first in | 2. Then search |
| History Church Records |
Cemetery Records Death Records |
Marriages 1826 to 1929
STEP ONE: Find Marriage Information
| Hawaii Marriage Database - Index Only | ||||
| Try 1st: | ||||
| Hawaii, Marriages, 1826–1922 |
Free; name index online at FamilySearch. It is incomplete because records are sparse. | |||
| Try 2nd: | ||||
| Ulukau, Marriage Indexes 1826–1929 |
Free; marriage index pages at uluku.org Hawaiian Electronic Library | |||
| Can't find your ancestor in the online index? | Tips for searching online indexes | |||
STEP TWO: Find Marriage Information
With the exact date of death from one of the indexes you may look at films from the Family History Library, order the certificates from Hawaii's Department of Health, or contact Hawaii State Archives.
| Family History Microfilms for Hawaii Marriages | ||||
| 1909–1925 - Marriage records at FamilySearch.org |
$; minimal cost at FamilySearch Centers for rental fee. | |||
| Try 2nd: | ||||
| Ulukau, Marriage Indexes 1826–1929 |
Free; marriage index pages at uluku.org Hawaiian Electronic Library | |||
| Can't find your ancestor in the online index? | Tips for searching online indexes | |||
Marriages 1930 to 1949
| Hawaii Marriage Database - Includes Index and Digital Images | ||||
| Try 1st: | ||||
| Hawaii Marriages, 18-- -19-- |
Free; most counties 18-- -19--: Free name index with images online at FamilySearch. Records include such information as names of bride and groom, date of license, ages, race, residences, birthplaces, occupations and names of the fathers of the bride and groom. | |||
| Try 2nd: | ||||
| Hawaii, County Marriages, 18-- - 19-- |
Free; name index with images online at FamilySearch.
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| Can't find your ancestor in the online index? | Tips for searching online indexes | |||
| No marriage record for your ancestor? |
Search for Gretna Greens-- locations away from the home county where marriage laws were less restrictive. |
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Marriage Records on Microfilm
Some county marriage records may be available on microfilm at your local Family Search Center. If you know the approximate date and county where the marriage took place, use theFamily History Library Catalog (FHLC) to see what is available.
- Search the FHLC by county.
- Select the topic Vital Records. Look for records authored by the county clerk.
- For a small fee, order the microfilm to view at a local Family Search Center.
Marriages 1950 to Present
Marriage licenses may be found in the county records where the marriage occurred.
STEP ONE: Find Marriage Information
- Copies may be ordered from the county clerk.
- Copies may be ordered from the Hawaii Department of Public Health.
| To Order Marriage Certificates | |||
| From County where Marriage occurred | From MO Dept. of Health State office | ||
| Pros | Cons | Pros | Cons |
| May be less expensive and faster than ordering from the state | County websites can be more difficult to use | Offers a search of the state index for an additional fee | May be more expensive than ordering from the county |
| Tip: When ordering Hawaii marriage records: |
Ask for the marriage license or the marriage register, not the marriage certificate. The license or register usually contains more information.
Wiki Articles
Records#Tips_about_Searching_Learn more about U.S. marriage records
Sources
- ↑ State of Hawaii, Department of Health, Vital Records; "Who is Eligible to Apply for a Genealogy Request?"; http://health.hawaii.gov/vitalrecords/geneaology/