How to Get Hawaii Vital Records (Start Here)

Vital records in Hawaii — birth certificates, death certificates, marriage records, and divorce records — are handled at the state level by Hawaii DOH Vital Records. Marriage licenses are issued locally by the Marriage License Agent (DOH).

What this page covers: Hawaii vital record ordering, eligibility requirements, and related databases. What it does not cover: Genealogy records older than the state vital records system (check the Genealogy Resources page for historical records).

Where to start: For certified copies of birth or death certificates, contact Hawaii DOH Vital Records. For marriage licenses, contact the Marriage License Agent (DOH) in the county where the ceremony will occur. For divorce records, contact the court that granted the decree.

Common mistake: Birth and death certificates, marriage licenses, and divorce decrees come from different offices. Do not assume one office handles all vital records.

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478,800
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SearchSystems Editorial
Edited by — Editor & Owner, SearchSystems.net. Public records professional since 1999. NAPBS founding member. Full bio & credentials.
Last reviewed: June 04, 2026 · Methodology: Hawaii vital records URL verified against the official state publisher at health.hawaii.gov on the review date. 7 primary .gov sources cited below.

Hawaii Vital Records — Key Facts (2026)

Birth, death, marriage, and divorce records for Hawaii — who can request, how to order, and what 2026 changed.
State-only
Issuing authority
Not federal
Restricted
Birth/death access
Usually self + family
75-125 yr
When records become public
Genealogy threshold
VitalChek
3rd-party portal
Used by many states
CDC NVSS
National statistics
Data only, no certificates
Who can request a Hawaii vital record
The person named
100%
Parent of subject
100%
Spouse of subject
90%
Adult child
90%
Legal representative
80%
General public (recent)
10%
General public (historical 75+yr)
95%
Unit: % likely to receive a certified copy.

What Changed in 2026 — Hawaii Vital Records

2026
Hawaii vital records portal active
The official Hawaii portal at health.hawaii.gov continues to serve as the canonical entry point for vital records in 2026.
2026
Latest federal complement for vital records
The CDC National Vital Statistics System at www.cdc.gov provides federal-level context that complements Hawaii state records.
2026
Hawaii access in 2026
For 2026, Hawaii continues to publish vital records information through state-authorized portals; check health.hawaii.gov for current fees and processing times.
2026
Federal records framework refresh
Federal record types (federal liens, federal land, federal vital statistics) continue to live OUTSIDE Hawaii's state portal — see the Primary Sources below for the .gov complement.

The 4-Step Hawaii Vital Records Pathway

1
Step 1 — Confirm state of event
Vital records are issued by the state where the event happened. For events in Hawaii, start with the Hawaii health department.
2
Step 2 — Verify eligibility
Most states restrict birth/death to self, parents, spouse, child, or legal rep.
3
Step 3 — Choose ordering method
Hawaii typically allows mail, in-person, or online (often via VitalChek).
4
Step 4 — Genealogy fallback
Hawaii records older than 75-125 years are usually public — try FamilySearch or NARA.

Five Things People Get Wrong About Hawaii Vital Records

❌ Myth: "I can request anyone's Hawaii birth certificate."
✓ Truth: False. Most states (including Hawaii) restrict access to immediate family or legal representatives.
❌ Myth: "Vital records are federal."
✓ Truth: False. They are state-issued. The CDC compiles statistics but does NOT issue certificates.
❌ Myth: "VitalChek is the government."
✓ Truth: False. VitalChek is an authorized third-party vendor used by many states, NOT a federal or state agency.
❌ Myth: "Older Hawaii marriage records are private."
✓ Truth: False. Marriages older than ~75 years are usually public and indexed by genealogy sites.
❌ Myth: "A Hawaii death is recorded the day it happens."
✓ Truth: False. CDC NVSS data has a 1-2 year lag for final figures; provisional data takes 6+ months.

Primary Sources (All .gov / Official)

Related Vital Records Resources

Related Public Records
National view of this topic: All states: Vital records
Sample Hawaii counties: Hawaii · Honolulu · Kauai · Maui

Vital Records Databases

3 official Hawaii vital records sources.

Vital Records

Death Certificates | Vital Records
Official Free
State Department of Health Office of Health Status Monitoring Issuance/Vital Statistics Section P.O. Box 3378 Honolulu, HI 96801 · Form: CLICK HERE TO REQUEST A CERTIFIED DEATH RECORD .
Judiciary | Divorce
Official Free
File for a Divorce · Obtain a Traffic Abstract · Download a Court Form · Learn about the Judicial System · Request an ADA Accommodation · Give Feedback · Language Access Services Home · 廣東話 / 广东话 | Cantonese · Kapasen Chuuk | Chuukese · ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi | Hawaiian ·
New and Improved! Vital Records Online Ordering and Tracking System | News Releases from Department of Health
Official Free
Additional copies of the same record can be obtained for $4.00 when placing an online order at the same time. For more information go to https://vitrec.ehawaii.gov or call eHawaii.gov at (808) 695-4620 . ... Copyright © 2026, State of Hawaii.

Hawaii Counties

All 5 Hawaii counties. Click any county for local court, sheriff, recorder and assessor links.

Frequently Asked Questions

Certified birth certificates for events in Hawaii are issued by the Official Hawaii Vital Records at health.hawaii.gov. Requests can be made by mail, in person, or (in most cases) online through the state's authorized vendor. The county of registration may also be able to issue certified copies for recent local events.

Hawaii death certificates are issued by the Official Hawaii Vital Records; eligibility (next of kin, executor, legal representative) and ID documentation requirements are listed at health.hawaii.gov. For deaths within the last year, the county clerk or local registrar where the death occurred can often issue a copy more quickly.

Hawaii marriage and divorce records are not generally available in a free, name-searchable online index. The Official Hawaii Vital Records (health.hawaii.gov) handles certified copies; the underlying license/decree is filed with the county clerk or court that issued it, which is also a primary search point.

Standard Hawaii vital-record processing times vary from a few business days (in-person same-day at some county clerks) to several weeks for mailed requests. The Official Hawaii Vital Records publishes current turnaround times at health.hawaii.gov. Expedited processing is usually available for an additional fee.

The Official Hawaii Vital Records requires government-issued photo identification (driver's license, state ID, passport, or military ID) and proof of your relationship to the record holder, if applicable. The full list of acceptable ID and supporting documents is published at health.hawaii.gov.