Hawaii Vital Records
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Hawaii vital records are official documents that contain details about important life events that took place within the state. These events include births, deaths, marriages or civil unions, and divorces. The Hawaii Department of Health's Office of Health Status Monitoring (OHSM) serves as the central repository for vital records generated in the state. Hawaii's Uniform Information Practices Act (UIPA) does not cover vital records. Thus, these records are not considered public.
Public Access to Hawaii Vital Records
Per the Hawaii Revised Statutes (HRS) § 338-18, vital records are only released to individuals and agencies that have a direct and tangible interest in the record. As a result, these records are considered confidential, and public access is restricted. Nonetheless, HRS § 338-18(e) allows individuals working on genealogical projects access to vital records of events that are older than 115 years.
Types of Vital Records Available in Hawaii
Divorce, birth, death, and marriage records are the main types of vital records in Hawaii. Generally, these records are available in two formats: Letters of verification or certified copies.
A letter of verification is a document that confirms the existence of a vital record held by the OHSM and verifies specific information about the record provided by the applicant. It is the informational equivalent of vital records and can not be used for official or legal purposes. Conversely, certified copies of vital records are official documents that may be used for legal purposes and processes.
Hawaii Birth Records
A Hawaii birth certificate is a legal document that contains details about the birth of a child. It is one of the first legal documents that an individual receives. It typically includes the child's name, gender, parents' names, date of birth, place of birth, and other relevant information. Generally, these records are exempt from public access and are released only to applicants with a direct and tangible interest in the record. These include:
- The registrant (the person named on the records)
- The registrant's spouse, parents(s), legal guardian, descendant (i.e., child or grandchild)
- Individuals who share a common ancestor with the registrant, such as a sibling, grandparent, cousin, or aunt/uncle.
- An agency or person acting on the registrant's behalf
- A personal representative of the registrant's estate
- A person who possesses a court order for the certificate
Generally, birth certificates are issued and maintained by the Hawaii Department of Health's Office of Health Status Monitoring (OHSM). Thus, eligible individuals may get a birth certificate in Hawaii by applying through the OHSM.
Hawaii Death Records
Hawaii death certificates are official records of deaths that occurred within the state of Hawaii. The typical contents of these records include the decedent's full name, date of death, location, and cause of death. Per HRS § 338-9, a death certificate is recorded within three (3) days after the death of an individual in the state.
Like other vital records, death records are issued and maintained by the OHSM. Therefore, record seekers may find death records in Hawaii by querying the OHSM. It is important to note that Hawaii death certificates are not public records and are available only to applicants with a direct and tangible interest in the record. These eligible applicants include but are not limited to the decedent's spouse, parent(s), child, grandchild, legal guardian, and personal representative of the decedent's estate.
Hawaii Marriage Records
There are two types of Hawaii Marriage records: a marriage license and a marriage certificate. A marriage license is a permit that is required before a marriage can take place. Meanwhile, a marriage certificate is an official document issued after the solemnization of a marriage. Per HRS § 572-1, a marriage certificate serves as proof of a legally valid marriage contract between two individuals. A marriage certificate in Hawaii typically contains:
- Both spouses' full names
- The marriage ceremony date and location
- The name, signature, and official capacity of the individual who solemnized the marriage
- The names of at least two witnesses to the marriage ceremony.
The OHSM is responsible for maintaining and issuing marriage records in Hawaii. Specifically, marriage certificates are confidential and are only issued to applicants who have a direct and tangible interest in the record. These include, but are not limited to, spouses named in the certificate and their immediate family members, such as their parents, children, grandchildren, grandparents, siblings, aunts, uncles, and cousins.
Hawaii Divorce Records
Hawaii divorce records are official documents that provide information about the legal termination of a marriage. There are primarily two types of divorce records in Hawaii: divorce decree and divorce certificate. Divorce decrees are issued and maintained by courts, and they contain the court's final judgment regarding the divorce terms. Generally, a divorce decree in Hawaii may be obtained through the court that handled the divorce proceeding.
On the other hand, a divorce certificate is an official document that proves the divorce has been finalized. Divorce certificates recorded between 1951 and 2002 are available through OHSM, while those recorded outside this timeframe are available through the court that handled the case. Like other vital records, Hawaii divorce records are not public and are released only to applicants with a direct and tangible interest in the record.
How to Order Vital Records in Hawaii
In Hawaii, most vital records may be ordered from the Hawaii Department of Health's Office of Health Status Monitoring (OHSM). These include birth certificates, death certificates, marriage certificates, and divorce certificates (recorded between 1951 and 2002). Note that these records are not public and are only released to applicants who have a direct and tangible interest in the record. The Department offers several ways for record seekers to order Hawaii vital records: online, by mail, or in person.
Online
Only birth, marriage/civil union, and death certificates from July 1909 to the present may be ordered online through the Hawaii State Department of Health Vital Records website. Eligible requesters are required to upload their government-issued Identification (ID), such as a state driver's license, state identification, passport, etc, when making online requests. Additionally, online requests are subject to fees payable via debit or credit card on the website.
By mail or in person
Eligible requesters may complete the appropriate request form:
- Marriage or civil union record request form
- Birth record request form
- Death record request form
- Divorce record request form
Once completed, submit the request form, a "copy" of the applicant's government-issued ID, and the appropriate fee payment (via money order or cashier's check payable to: Hawaii State Department of Health) to:
By Mail;
State Department of Health
Office of Health Status Monitoring
Vital Records Issuance Section
PO Box 3378
Honolulu, Hawaii 96801
Or in person at
Room 103, 1250 Punchbowl Street, Honolulu, between 7:45 AM and 2:30 PM, Mondays through Fridays only (except holidays). Note that cash is also accepted for in-person requests.
It is also worth noting that Hawaii divorce records from before 1951 and after 2002 may be obtained from the local court that granted the divorce.
Who Can Request Hawaii Vital Records?
Applicants who can access vital records in Hawaii are outlined in HRS § 338-18. Under the statutes, only applicants with a direct and tangible interest in a vital record may access or request it.
|
Record Type |
Eligible Requestors |
Required Documents |
Official Source Link |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Birth Certificate |
- The registrant(s) (the person named on the records) - The registrant's spouse, parents(s), legal guardian, and descendant (i.e., child or grandchild) - Individuals who share a common ancestor with the registrant, such as a sibling, grandparent, cousin, or aunt/uncle. - An agency or individual acting on the registrant's behalf - A personal representative of the registrant's estate - An individual who possesses a court order for the certificate - The registrant's adoptive parents - An individual who co-owns a property with the decedent under a joint tenancy agreement (death certificate only) - An individual who needs to determine their former spouse's marital status to determine alimony payments (marriage certificate only) - An individual who requires a death certificate to determine payments under a credit insurance policy (death certificate only) |
Applicants must provide government-issued photo identification. They may also be required to provide documents that show that they are entitled to the certificate. |
Hawaii Department of Health's Office of Health Status Monitoring (OHSM) State Department of Health Office of Health Status Monitoring 1250 Punchbowl Street Honolulu, Hawaii 96813 |
|
Death Certificate | |||
|
Marriage Record | |||
|
Divorce Record |
Processing Times for Hawaii Vital Records Requests
The average processing time for Hawaii vital records requests is currently six (6) to eight (8) weeks. However, several factors affect the processing time for Hawaii vital records requests. It is worth noting that requesters who submit requests by mail may use the Hawaii State Department of Health's Vital Records Tracking portal to track their request. They would need to enter their order number and last name on the portal to view their order details.
|
Record Type |
Factors That Influence Processing Time |
Considerations |
|---|---|---|
|
Birth Certificate |
- Requests containing partial, inaccurate, or missing information - High volume or backlog of requests - Staffing shortages - Method of submission - Request method |
- Online requests may be faster - An in-person request does not guarantee the requester will receive records on the same day - Mail-in request may take longer to process |
|
Death Certificate | ||
|
Marriage Record | ||
|
Divorce Record |
Fees for Obtaining Vital Records in Hawaii
In Hawaii, the standard fees for obtaining certified copies of vital records, including birth, death, marriage, and divorce records, from the State Department of Health's Office of Health Status Monitoring (OHSM) are as follows:
- $10.00 each for the first copy and $4.00 each for additional copies of a certificate order at the same time
- A $2.50 additional fee applies to all orders of up to five (5) certificates. For instance, an order for six (6) to 10 copies of vital records incurs an additional $5.00 fee, while an order for 11 to 15 copies is subject to an additional $7.50 fee.
- Online requests for vital records made through the Hawaii State Department of Health Vital Records website are subject to a $2.50 portal administration fee.
How to Search Vital Records Online in Hawaii
Eligible individuals may search vital records online in Hawaii through the Hawaii State Department of Health Vital Records website. However, only birth, death, and marriage/civil union records from July 1909 to the present are available on the website. Interested persons may also order relevant vital records online through the website.