Hawaii State Archives, Chinese Immigration Labor Permit Records - FamilySearch Historical Records

What is in This Collection?
Conditional permit records from the Minister of Foreign Affairs in the Kingdom of Hawaii for Chinese laborers and domestics for years 1893-1898. The permits are in both English and Chinese. The permit applications and registers are in English. The microfilm of the originals was made at the Archive of Hawaii in Honolulu.

What Can These Records Tell Me?
The following information may be found in these records:

Register of Application
 * Date of application
 * Applicant name
 * Locality
 * Agent

Register of Chinese Women
 * Date
 * Name
 * Residence
 * Husband
 * Husband residence
 * Guarantor

Conditional Permits for Chinese Labour and Domestics
 * Name
 * Age
 * Resident of

How Do I Analyze the Results?
Compare each result from your search with what you know to determine if there is a match. This may require viewing multiple records or images. Keep track of your research in a research log.

I Found the Person I Was Looking For, What Now?

 * Use the name, birth date and birth place to obtain a birth record
 * Use the name and application place or residence to search federal census records

I Can't Find the Person I'm Looking For, What Now?

 * Look for variant spellings of the names. You should also look for nicknames and abbreviated names
 * The names may be secondary names given at marriage or other events
 * The first name may indicate the surname. Chinese custom list the last name first
 * Women's names ending with Shee: the name preceding Shee is the maiden surname, Shee meaning "Miss"
 * Look for another index. Local genealogical and historical societies often have indexes to local records
 * Search the indexes and records of nearby counties
 * Try alternative search methods such as only filling in the surname search box (or the given name search box) on the landing page leaving the other box empty and then click on search. This should return a list of everyone with that particular name. You could then browse the list for individuals that may be your ancestor

Research Helps
The following articles will help you in your research for your family in the state of Hawaii.


 * Beginning Research in United States Immigration and Emigration Records
 * Hawaii Guided Research
 * Research Tips and Strategies
 * Step-by-Step Research

Citing This Collection
Citations help you keep track of places you have searched and sources you have found. Identifying your sources helps others find the records you used.