Step-by-Step Hawaii Research, 1880-Present
Research 1880--to the present |
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Some online records have restrictions, due to contractual agreements, allowing them to be used only at FamilySearch Centers or FamilySearch Affiliate Library. This pop-up warning has links to lists of addresses of the many affiliate libraries that are available throughout the world. Subscription websites such as Ancestry.com, FindMyPast, and MyHeritage and many others offer complimentary service at these affiliate libraries and at most local libraries. |
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Step 1. Find out everything possible from living relatives and their family records.
Every good genealogy project starts with finding all the clues that can be gathered from living relatives — both from their memories and from documents or memorabilia in their homes.
What are the best questions to ask?
In order to extend research, ask for names, dates, and places. Everything about who a relative was and when and where they lived is a clue to a new record search. For ideas, see :
- 50 Questions to Ask Relatives About Family History at ThoughtCo.com
- Creating Oral Histories at FamilySearch Wiki
What documents should be collected or copied?
Because these records cover names, dates, places, and relationships, they are a valuable source of clues. Look for them in your home, your parents' home, and ask living grandparents to check for them.
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Step 2. Find ancestors in every possible census record, 1900-1950, online.
A census is a count and description of the population of a country, state, county, or city for a given date. A census took a "snapshot" of a family on a certain day. For each person living in a household you might find (depending on the year) their name, age, birthplace, relationship to head of household, place of birth for father and mother, citizenship status, year of immigration, mother of how many children and number of children living, native language, and whether they were a veteran of the military.
Using the clues to lead to census record searches.
This elegant birth certificate gives clues that lead to census records.
- This little boy, Tsugio Kuwano, was born in Hawaii in 1906.
- His father was Tokokichi Kuwano, but this delayed birth certificate, does not name his mother.
- The first search will br ooking for this family in the 1910 census, the census closest to the birth. Then the family can be followed through 1920, 1930, 1940, and 1950.
Studying these census records, completes the framework of the family:
- The father is Toyokichi Kuwano, born about 1881 in Japan, who came to the U.S, in 1899.
- The mother is Tama (maiden name so far unknown), born about 1886 in Japan, who came to the U.S. in 1902.
- A daughter, Yoshiyo Kuwano, born about 1904 in Hawaii.
- A son, Tsugio Kuwano, born about 1907 (according to the birth record, 11 October 1906, in Hawaii.)
- A daughter, Melinya Kuwano, born about 1910 in Hawaii.
- The family lived in Wailuku and Puunene, Maui.
Look for ancestors in as many censuses as possible. Use the clues from each census for hints where to find families in both earlier and later census records.
- 1900 census: FamilySearch Ancestry.com
- 1910 census: FamilySearch Ancestry.com
- 1920 census: FamilySearch Ancestry.com
- 1930 census: FamilySearch Ancestry.com
- 1940 census: FamilySearch Ancestry.com
- 1950 census: NARA Index FamilySearch Images
Other Census Images
| Year | Type of Census | Links |
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| 1896 | Republic (Honolulu), all household members | at FamilySearch |
| 1890 | Kingdom, all household members | at FamilySearch |
| 1878 | Kingdom (Oahu, Maui and Hawaii), all household members | at FamilySearch |
| 1866 | Kingdom (images only) | at FamilySearch |
Step 3: Find birth, marriage, and death certificates for ancestors and their children.
States, counties, or (even towns in some states) recorded births, marriages, and deaths.
- In addition to the child's name, birth date, and place of birth, a birth certificate may give the birthplaces of the parents, their ages, and occupations.
- A marriage certificate might list the parents of the bride and groom.
- A death certificate may give the person's birth date and place, parents' names and birthplaces, and spouse's name.
Using census clues to lead to a birth certificate.
Census information gives approximate birth years and probable birth places, and that information leads to finding important birth records. In addition to basic birth date and place, a birth certificate can give age, birthplace, occupation, etc. about the parents.
Using census clues to lead to a marriage certificate.
Finding marriage records can:
- Establish the full identity of the wife, with her maiden name and possible birth details.
- Find the names of the parents of the bride and groom.
- 1826-1922 Hawaii Marriages, 1826-1922 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index
Using the census clues to lead to a death certificate.
Moving forward in time, older generations stop showing up in the census. That is a clue that they probably died in the last 10 years. The death certificate is important because of all the possible secondary data beyond just the date and place of death:
- Birth date and place of the deceased
- Maiden name of the wife
- Names of the deceased's parents
- Birth places of the deceased's parents.
- 1862-1919 Hawaii Deaths and Burials, 1862-1919 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index
Some of the examples shown above are index entries. That means for each of them an actual, original, full certificate exists. It is highly advisable to order the original certificate. It will contain many details not given in the index. Instructions are given below on obtaining the original certificate.
Gather as many birth, marriage, and death records as possible.
How to Find the Records
There are basically three ways to find these indexes or full original certificates:
- Online databases
- Writing to a county courthouse (prior to the beginning of state civil registration)
- Purchasing them through the mail at Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, CDC.gov
Online databases, usually indexes, with some images
Records at the County Courthouse.
These records were originally created by county clerks, and then copies were sent to the state. County clerks can be willing to help find all the birth records for one family or perform other searches that the state would not do. To contact county clerks by e-mail or telephone, go to the Wiki article for each county. Links to the county Wiki articles are found at the end of this page or by clicking here: Hawaii Counties.
Order Certificates from Hawaii Vital Records Department.
Almost always the full original certificate will contain information not contained in the index. Although it costs money, consider sending for the full original certificates, particularly for direct line ancestors (grandparents, great-grandparents, etc).
- Where to Write for Hawaii Birth, Marriage, Death and Divorce Records at Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, CDC.gov
For more information on birth, marriage, and death records in Hawaii, see How to Find Hawaii Birth Records, How to Find Hawaii Marriage Records, and How to Find Hawaii Death Records.
Step 4: Try to find additional details about ancestors in obituaries, cemetery records, and Social Security records online.
There are additional record collections available, based upon a person's death: obituaries, cemetery records, and Social Security records. These are a great source for more details about a person. Here are some examples; notice the level of details.
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Obituary Collections
- 1899-2012 United States, Obituaries, American Historical Society of Germans from Russia, 1899-2012 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
- 1900-2010 Hawaii, Hawaiian Islands Newspaper Obituaries, 1900-ca.2010 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index
- 1980-2014 United States, GenealogyBank Obituaries, Births, and Marriages 1980-2014 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
- 1980-Current Hawaii, Obituaries Index, ca. 1980-Present at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
- 1982-2010 Hawaii, Kauai County, Obituaries, 1982-2010 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index
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Cemetery Record Collections
- 1941-2011 Honolulu, Hawaii, U.S., National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific (Punchbowl), 1941-2011 at Ancestry — index & images ($)
- 1949-1969 United States, Cemetery Abstracts, 1949-1969 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index
- BillionGraves — index & images
- BillionGraves Index at FamilySearch — How to Use This Collection; index; Also at: Findmypast ($)
- FindaGrave — index & images
- Find a Grave Index at FamilySearch — How to Use This Collection; index; Also at: Ancestry ($)
- Hawaii Cemeteries, Tombstone Transcription Project at USGenWeb Tombstones — index
- Hawaii Cemetery Records at AccessGenealogy — index
- Hawaii Cemetery Records at Hawaii Genealogy — index
- Hawaii Death Records and Hawaii Cemetery Records at Interment.net — index & images
- Hawaii Cemetery Records at LDS Genealogy
U.S. Social Security Death Index and Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007
- The U.S. Social Security program began in 1935 but most deaths recorded in the index happened after 1962.
- The Social Security Death index includes those who had a Social Security number and/or applied for benefits.
- You can search these records online at
- If you find an ancestor in the SSDI index, you can order a copy of their original Social Security application (SS-5). If you can prove the individual has died (by sending an obituary or copy of their cemetery headstone), the application will also give the deceased's parents' names, if listed.
For more information, see Hawaii Obituaries and Hawaii Cemeteries.
Step 5: Search military records: World War I and II draft cards.
There are many different types of military records: draft records, enlistment records, service records, pension records, etc. Information in military records can vary from a simple lists of name, age, and residence, to more detailed records including name, residence, age, occupation, marital status, birthplace, physical description, number of dependents, pensions received, disabled veterans, needy veterans, widows or orphans of veterans, and other information.
Example of a World War I draft card.
Example of a World War II draft card.
Search the World War I and World War II Draft Collections for male relatives.
- 1917-1918 United States World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
- 1942 United States World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1942 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
For more information and additional collections, see Hawaii Military Records.
Step 6: Look for church records online.
Church records function as vital records.
- An infant christening or baptism record documents a birth.
- Many, if not most, people are married in a church, and then a record is created by the minister.
- Likewise, ministers presided over funerals, then creating a burial record, which documents a death.
Church records are particularly helpful prior to the advent of civil registration.
Search for church records that can provide additional birth, marriage, and death information.
FamilySearch
- 1826-1922 Hawaii Marriages, 1826-1922 — How to Use this Collection; index
- 1826-1929 Hawaiian Genealogy Indexes at Ulukau, Hawaiian Electronic Library — index & images
- 1843-1909 Hawaii, Births and Baptisms, 1843-1909 — How to Use this Collection; index
- 1852-1933 Hawaii Births and Christenings, 1852-1933 — How to Use this Collection; index
- 1862-1919 Hawaii Deaths and Burials, 1862-1919 — How to Use this Collection; index
- 1930, 1935, 1955 Census of Church Members, 1930, 1935, 1955(*) Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Hawaiian Mission at FamilySearch Catalog — images
- 1940 Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Hawaii ca. 1940: Address Unknown(*) Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Hawaiian Mission at FamilySearch Catalog — images
- Chinese in Hawaii(*) at FamilySearch Catalog — images
For help with church records kept in Hawaii, see Hawaii Church Records.
To search records by denomination, if you know your ancestors religion, go to Searching for Church Records by Denomination.
Step 7: Search for online wills and probate packets.
- County probate records include probate proceedings, petitions, affidavits, orders for sales, reports of sales, administrators' and executors' bonds, guardianship papers, wills, and letters of administration.
- In a will book, usually just a transcription of the will is recorded. But all of these other records are kept in a probate packet.
- Administrations are probate proceedings that handled an estate if no known will existed.
Search these indexes and images for probate records.
- 1822-1962 Hawaii, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1822-1962 at Ancestry — index & images ($)
- 1826-1929 Hawaiian Genealogy Indexes at Ulukau, Hawaiian Electronic Library; Probate Indexes and Wills — index & images
- Judiciary Records (Probate Case Files) at Hawaii State Archives Digital Collections — index
Probate Information in County Wiki Articles
Each Hawaii county Research Wiki page lists additional probate sources, including where to write for records: Hawaii Counties
For more information, see Hawaii Probate Records and United States Probate Records.
Step 8: If any ancestor was an immigrant, search immigration and naturalization records online.
The census records may show that an ancestor was born in another country. It will be necessary to try to find the town or city they were born in to continue research in the country of origin. Searches of immigration records (usually passenger lists) and naturalization (citizenship) records would be the next step.
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Look for immigrant ancestors in shipping lists and citizenship sources.
Hawaii Immigration Records
- 1500-1999 All U.S. and Canada, Passenger and Immigration Lists Index, 1500s-1900s at Ancestry — index ($); Also at: MyHeritage ($); includes those with Destination of Hawaii
- 1843-1900 Hawaii, Collector of Customs, Ships' Passenger Manifests, 1843-1900 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index
- 1895-1956 United States, Border Crossings from Canada, 1895-1956 at MyHeritage — index & images ($); includes those with Destination of Hawaii
- 1895-1964 All U.S., Border Crossings from Mexico to U.S., 1895-1964 at Ancestry — index & images ($); includes those with Destination of Hawaii
- 1900-1952 Hawaii, Honolulu Index to Passengers, Not Including Filipinos, 1900-1952 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
- 1900-1952 Honolulu, Hawaii, U.S., Index to Passengers Arriving, 1900-1952 at Ancestry — index & images ($)
- 1900-1953 Hawaii, Honolulu Passenger Lists, 1900-1953 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images; Also at: Findmypast ($); MyHeritage ($)
- 1900-1959 Honolulu, Hawaii, U.S., Arriving and Departing Passenger and Crew Lists, 1900-1959 at Ancestry — index & images ($)
- 1912-1946 United States, California, Certificates Surrendered at San Francisco from Aliens Previously at Honolulu, Hawaii, 1912-1946 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
- 1941-1948 Hawaii, U.S., Arriving and Departing Passenger Lists, 1941-1948 at Ancestry — index & images ($)
- 1942-1948 Hawaii, Passenger Lists of Airplanes Departing Honolulu, 1942-1948 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
- 1947-1948 California, Airplane Passenger Lists from Honolulu, Hawaii, 1947-1948 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
- Immigrant Ships Transcribers Guild at MyHeritage — index ($)
Cultural Groups
- 1843-1900 Index to Chinese Passenger Manifests at Hawaii State Archives Digital Collections — index & images
- 1843-1900 Index to Japanese Passenger Manifests at Hawaii State Archives Digital Collections — index & images
- 1852-1900 Departures of Chinese from Hawaii, 1852-1900(*) Hawaii, Chinese Bureau at FamilySearch Catalog — images
- 1888-1898 Chinese Entry Permits, 1888-1898(*) Hawaii, Chinese Bureau at FamilySearch Catalog — images
- 1891-1898 Index to Entry Permits for Chinese Minors, 1891-1898(*) Hawaii, Chinese Bureau at FamilySearch Catalog — images
- 1893-1898 Hawaii State Archives, Chinese Immigration Labor Permit Records, 1893-1898 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index
- 1900-1952 Hawaii, Index to Filipino Passengers Arriving at Honolulu, 1900-1952 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
- 1903-1944 Hawaii, U.S., Index to Chinese Exclusion Case Files, 1903-1944 at Ancestry — index ($)
- 1906-1949 Filipino Laborers Collection at BYU Library — index & images ($)
- 1909-1910 Hawaii, Harbin File - Russian Immigrant Laborers Index A-Z, 1909-1910 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index
- 1920-1939 Germany, Bremen Emigration Lists, 1920-1939 at MyHeritage — index ($); includes those with Destination of Hawaii
- 1946 Hawaii, Index to Filipino Arrivals to Honolulu, 1946 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
- Germans Immigrating to the United States at MyHeritage — index ($); includes those with Destination of Hawaii
- Italians Immigrating to the United States at MyHeritage — index ($); includes those with Destination of Hawaii
Passport Records Online
- 1795-1925 United States Passport Applications, 1795-1925 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images; Also at: Ancestry ($)
- 1874-1898 Hawaii, Passport Records, 1874-1898 at FamilySearch — How to Use This Collection; index & images
Hawaii Naturalization and Citizenship Online Records
- 1791-1992 U.S., Naturalization Record Indexes, 1791-1992 (Indexed in World Archives Project) at Ancestry — index & images ($)
- 1838-1991 Hawaii, Naturalization Records, 1838-1991 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
- 1846-1849, 1883-1898 Hawaii, U.S., Denization Records, 1846-1849, 1883-1898 at Ancestry — index & images ($)
- 1849-1900 Hawaii, U.S., Passport Records, 1849-1900 at Ancestry — index & images ($)
- 1874-1898 Hawaii, Passport Records, 1874-1898, at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index
- 1895-1898 Hawaii, U.S., Certificates of Identification for Chinese Arrivals, 1895-1898 at Ancestry — index & images ($)
- 1944-2003 U.S., Index to Alien Case Files, 1944-2003 at Ancestry — index & images ($)
- Hawaiian Genealogy Indexes, Citizenship - Naturalization, Denization and Passports at Ulukau Hawaiian Electronic Library — index
For more information, see Hawaii Emigration and Immigration and Hawaii Naturalization and Citizenship.
Step 9: Search for printed local histories or biography collections online.
- Published histories of towns, counties, and states sometimes contain biographies and accounts of early or prominent families.
- Here are several websites that feature online copies of printed county histories: Hawaii; that will bring up too many hits. Just use the name of the county and "county": for example, "Hyde County"
FamilySearch Collected Local Histories
- Local histories are extensively collected by the FamilySearch Library, public and university libraries, and state and local historical societies.
- If you have access to the FamilySearch Library or a FamilySearch center, you can find local histories by:
Biography Collections
- Mahele Book. Honolulu: n.p., 1848. Online at: Digital Collections, Hawaii State Archives
- Men of Hawaii, by John William Siddall. Hawaii: Honolulu Star-Bulletin, Limited, 1917. Online at: Vol. 1 - HathiTrust; Vol. 2 - HathiTrust
- Men and Women of Hawaii, 1954, by Henry P. Judd. Hawaii: Honolulu Business Consultants, n.d. Online at: HathiTrust
- Nā lani Kamehameha : The Kamehameha Dynasty, The Founding Chiefs of the Kingdom of Hawaiʻi, by Leonard Keʻala Kwan and Francis K. W. Ching. Hawaii: Kamehameha Schools, Hawaiian Studies Institute, 1989. At various: University of Hawaii Libraries
Step 10: Contact a local historical or genealogical society.
- Historical societies have collections that are frequently little known and often overlooked.
- Find the society on the internet, and they may list their holdings. Or call them on the phone, find out what they have, and find out what arrangements can be made to search their collection. Frequently, one of their members can be hired to search the collection for you.
Step 11: Use other FamilySearch tools.
Historical Images
Records collected and digitized by FamilySearch can all be found through their Historical Images feature.
- Hawaii, United States Historical Images, New Version
- Hawaii, United States Historical Images, Old Version
Hawaii Online Genealogy Records
Search any other online records listed in Hawaii Online Genealogy Records. The steps given here are intended to list record sources which can most efficiently identify descendants. Many other online records which might or might not mention descendants are listed in the Hawaii Online Genealogy Records page, including immigration records, land records, military records, newspapers, and probate records, and others. These can be records that cover a smaller group within the population, such as men who served in the military, etc.
Step 12: Study the Research Wiki pages for any county in Hawaii.
This article focused more on Hawaii state or state-wide records. There is a separate Wiki article for each county in Hawaii. These articles give information, office addresses, and links to county records.