Guide to Hawaii Marriage Records

Marriage records in Hawaii are government documents that track and prove a legal union between two people. These official documents usually list the spouses' names, the date of the ceremony, the location, the officiant, and the witnesses. Hawaii marriage records are maintained by the Vital Records division of the state Department of Health (DOH).

Note that the term “marriage record” is broad, as it is often used to refer to several documents related to a marriage. Two of the most common documents are the marriage license and the marriage certificate. While these two documents are similar, they serve different purposes.

A marriage license is a permit you obtain before the wedding that allows you to legally marry, while a marriage certificate is the document filled out after the ceremony by your marriage officiant, proving that the wedding actually happened. The marriage record is the overall term for the file that the state maintains in its permanent records.

Legal tasks, such as applying for insurance, managing a divorce, or wrapping up an estate, typically require proof of marriage and are some of the most common reasons for obtaining marriage records. These official government records are also essential for genealogy research, when building a family tree, or proving a name change with government agencies.

Types of Marriage Records in Hawaii

Marriage records in Hawaii are commonly issued in the following forms:

Marriage Certificates

The marriage certificate proves that a couple has legally married in Hawaii and provides details such as the couple's full names, birthdates, wedding date, the city or island where the ceremony took place, and the marriage officiant's information.

A certified copy of this document is required for administrative or legal actions, such as joining your spouse's health plan, changing your name, and dealing with immigration.

In Hawaii, a marriage certificate is issued at the state level by the Department of Health (DOH).

Marriage Licenses

A marriage license is a preliminary authorization that permits two people to be legally married. It differs from a marriage certificate in that it does not prove that you are married, but rather that you are authorized to marry.

A Hawaii marriage license can be obtained from the health department agents across the islands and is valid for 30 days.

Marriage Record Verifications

A marriage verification is a letter issued by the DOH confirming the existence of a marriage record in its database. It contains some essential confirmation information but does not have the formal, certified legal significance of an actual certificate copy.

It is usually used for background checks or internal agency verification purposes. The DOH has provided verification letters since July 1909 for a $5 fee.

Are Marriage Records Public in Hawaii?

Hawaii's marriage records are not completely open to the public. Under Hawaii Revised Statutes § 338-18, the DOH does not permit the inspection of marriage records or the issuance of certified copies to individuals who cannot prove a direct and tangible interest in the records.

The state considers several groups to have an acceptable interest in the records. These include the spouses named on the record, their parents, descendants, and common ancestors. Guardians, authorized representatives, and estate representatives may also qualify. In addition, a person may qualify if a court order has established their right to access the record.

Note that not all information contained in a marriage record is considered confidential. Under Hawaiian law, certain general information can be made available to the public, including the spouses' names, genders, and any additional details provided by the Director of Health.

State law also allows the Department of Health to provide access to older marriage records via microfilm to individuals working on genealogy projects. Hence, genealogical researchers can access marriage records dating back 115 years.

What Information Is Included in a Marriage Record?

A typical Hawaii marriage record includes the following:

• Full legal names of both parties (including pre-marriage surnames)
• Dates and places of birth
• Residential addresses at the time of application
• Parents' full names and birthplaces
• Date and island/location of the wedding ceremony
• The officiant's name and signature
• Witness names

Note that information such as Social Security numbers is strictly prohibited from the public. Furthermore, if an individual updates their marriage record to reflect a legal name or gender identity change under Hawaii law, the original record is sealed from public access. Such a record can only be opened by a court order or an explicit request from the person named in the file.

How to Find Marriage Records in Hawaii

Step 1: Identify the Marriage Details

Before you can start a search for a Hawaii marriage record, you must collect critical details about the event. Examples of information needed to start the search include the full names of both spouses, the approximate date of marriage, and the island or area where the marriage took place.

Step 2: Find the Record Custodian

Unlike in other states, where you can visit a local county courthouse to search, the sole custodian of modern Hawaii marriage records from July 1909 to the present is the State Department of Health Vital Records Office in Honolulu. However, if you want records predating this period, you must contact the Hawaii State Archives.

Step 3: Choose How to Search

Requests for modern Hawaii marriage records can be made through the state's online systems. Alternative application submission options include by mail or in-person orders made at the Oahu health department building. Online access to historical records is also available via digitized archives and third-party genealogical platforms.

Step 4: Submit a Record Request

Submitting a valid application includes providing a government-issued photo ID to prove your identity. The application form must also be filled out with details of your relationship to the spouses named on the record. Note that a standard search and copy costs $10, and processing time may take up to 6 weeks, depending on the service option chosen and the type of record needed.

How to Get a Certified Marriage Certificate in Hawaii

An applicant generally must be able to prove a direct and tangible interest in a marriage record to qualify to obtain the record in Hawaii. That means eligible applicants typically include the spouses named on the record, a parent, a descendant, a relative sharing a common ancestor, a legal guardian, an authorized representative, an estate representative, and a person with a qualifying court order.

For online requests, Hawaii makes available a vital records ordering portal that allows applicants to upload acceptable proof of identification and payment. Payment may be made by debit or credit card, and acceptable proof of identification includes a driver's license, state-issued ID, or passport.

For mail requests, the applicant must complete a Request for Certified Copy of the Civil Union or Marriage Record form and send it together with a copy of acceptable ID and payment to:

Note that mail orders must be paid using a cashier's check, certified check, or money order. In-person requests may be paid using the payment methods accepted by the Vital Records office.

Hawaii charges $10 for the first copy of a certified marriage certificate, $4 for each additional copy ordered at the same time, and the applicable administration fee. Processing typically takes 4-6 weeks.

How to Get a Marriage License in Hawaii

Applications for Hawaii marriage licenses are initiated online by completing an application on the Hawaii Electronic Marriage Registration System. Afterward, the applicants must appear before an authorized marriage-license agent to finalize the application. During the visit to the agent, applicants must provide valid government-issued photo identification, such as a passport, driver's license, or state identification card.

As established by the Hawaii Department of Health, the legal age for marriage in the state is 18 years. Both partners must be at least 18 to apply without restrictions. Minors aged 16 or 17 may apply with written consent from a parent or guardian, while 15-year-olds require both parental consent and approval from a family court judge. No blood test is required in Hawaii, and there is no waiting period. Hence, a couple can legally marry the same day their license is issued.

The cost of a marriage license in Hawaii is $65. This fee consists of a $60 application fee and a $5 online portal administrative fee. The license is valid for 30 days and may be used only for a ceremony performed within Hawaii.

A Hawaii marriage ceremony must be performed by an individual authorized in the state. Hawaii law allows licensed religious officiants, certain judges and magistrates, qualifying religious societies, and people holding a Hawaii civil license to solemnize marriages. The marriage officiant must report the ceremony to the Department of Health's agent within three business days.

Who Can Request Marriage Records?

You may request a marriage record if you have a direct and tangible interest in the record as defined under Hawaii law. Per state law, the following people may qualify to request Hawaii marriage records:

• A spouse named on the record
• A parent of a person named on the record
• A child, grandchild, or other descendant
• A relative who shares a common ancestor, such as a sibling, grandparent, aunt, uncle, or cousin
• A legal guardian
• A person or agency authorized to act for the registrant
• A personal representative or trustee of an estate or trust
• A person authorized by a court order
• Certain government agencies and other parties specifically recognized by law

Note that attorneys do not automatically receive unrestricted access because they are attorneys. The state requires a legal basis for the request. Still, Hawaii law allows certain attorneys to request verification of information obtained for legal proceedings.

Moreover, genealogists can access copies of marriage records occurring more than 115 years before the current year.

Free and Online Marriage Record Searches

Anyone can run a basic lookup online using the state's public Marriage License Search to confirm the status of a marriage license application. However, the state does not provide an unrestricted public online search allowing users to view complete recent marriage certificates.

However, older marriage records may be searched via:

• The Hawaii State Archives: This repository has digitized indexes of Hawaii marriages occurring from 1826 through 1929.
• FamilySearch: This genealogical platform holds a 1826-1954 Hawaii marriage database containing over 100,000 indexed marriage records. However, the collection is selective and may not be used as a substitute for official records.

Also, FamilySearch has a collection containing the Hawaii Board of Health marriage record indexes from 1909 to 1989.

These indexes are valuable resources for when genealogical researchers do not know the exact date of a marriage. If the county or date is unknown, you can begin the search with the spouses' names.

In addition, search alternate spellings, maiden names, and nicknames. Then narrow the results by approximate year, island, or location. Upon the potential record being identified, an eligible person may request the official certificate from the Department of Health.

Common Law Marriage in Hawaii

Couples who have lived together, even for several years, filed joint taxes, or held themselves out to the public as spouses, are not recognized as legally married in Hawaii. The Aloha State does not recognize common-law marriages, as it requires couples to obtain a marriage license.

However, a separate issue arises when a common-law marriage is legally established in another jurisdiction. State law provides that common-law marriages between two people that are valid where contracted are recognized in Hawaii. Note that proof that the relationship satisfied the other jurisdiction's requirements may be required.

Since no common-law marriages are recognized in Hawaii, marriage records cannot be searched or obtained for such unions. For individuals in common-law marriages established in other states who moved to Hawaii, documents from those jurisdictions will be needed to establish the existence and validity of their unions.

How to Correct an Error on a Marriage Record

A marriage record may have errors such as misspelled names, incorrect dates, missing information, or a factual mistake. Per DOH rules, the spouses named on the record may amend an original marriage certificate by private request or by order of a court with proper jurisdiction. Unauthorized third parties are not permitted to amend a marriage record.

The individual requesting a marriage record amendment must submit an affidavit and provide documentary evidence supporting the requested change. However, the specific evidence to be submitted as supporting documentation depends on the type of error in the document and whether the change could affect the validity or integrity of the record. Examples of required supporting documentation include a birth certificate or another official ID that shows the correct information.

Note that once a marriage record has been amended, the DOH will generally not amend the same record again without a court order. Amendment requests must be submitted to:

Typically, the state charges $3 for an amendment request that covers an item or a group of items on a single certificate. While there are no standard processing times for amendment requests, simple errors generally take a few weeks to correct, while complex corrections involving legal documentation can take longer.

Marriage Records and Name Changes

It is common practice for a spouse to take the other's last name after a wedding in Hawaii. A certified copy of a marriage certificate serves as the primary legal document to prove that one spouse has taken the other's last name. Note that when you get married, the state allows you to declare your new name on your marriage license application.

Government agencies such as the Social Security Administration, the Hawaii Department of Transportation, and the U.S. Department of State will require a certified copy of your marriage certificate to make the required changes in their records.

However, it is important to know that changing your name with these agencies does not amend the marriage record itself. If there is an error on your marriage certificate, you must follow a separate process that requires submitting an affidavit and other supporting documentation to the Corrections Section of the DOH to fix any errors on the document.

Marriage Records for Genealogy and Family History

Although married records are useful for varying purposes, they are commonly used by genealogists to trace family histories. Hawaii allows access to marriage records more than 115 years old for genealogical purposes, regardless of whether researchers have a direct family connection to the individuals named in the records.

Available options for searching older marriage records include the Hawaii State Archives Vital Statistics Collection and FamilySearch.

The Vital Statistics Collection includes marriage records, marriage books, license stubs, and reports of licenses granted. However, its collection covers different years depending on the island. For instance, Oahu materials extend from 1832 to 1929, while Kauai records date back to 1826.

Two major sets of indexes are covered by the Hawaii State Archives Vital Statistics Collection: 1832-1910 and 1911-1929. These are arranged by island and then alphabetically by name. Some indexes can also be accessed online.

For FamilySearch, its collection ranges from 1826 to 1954. It allows searches by names, spouse, place, and other information. Another of its collections covers marriages in Hawaii from 1826 to 1922.

For historical records not available online, researchers may contact the Hawaii State Archives or the Department of Health.

When searching historical archives, consider searching by variations of spouses' names, as spelling conventions for Hawaiian and immigrant names were not always standardized in older records. Also, search by island and an approximate date range if you do not know the exact wedding date.

Older Hawaii marriage records may be incomplete or unclear, as records from the earliest periods are sometimes handwritten or spelled phonetically. Furthermore, marriage records before 1896 do not typically include the bride's and groom's parents.

Frequently Asked Questions