Hawaii Church Records

Introduction
Between 1820 and 1850, missionaries of many churches visited Hawaii. By 1900 the largest religious groups in the islands were The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS), Congregational (United Church of Christ), Presbyterian, and Roman Catholic. Later, the Buddhists became a major group.

For an excellent introduction, see:


 * Mulholland, John F. Hawaii's Religions. Rutland, Vt.: Charles E. Tuttle Co., 1970. ;

The Family History Library has extensive collections of mission and temple records for the LDS Church, including an index of memberships, 1850 to 1961, on 9 microfilms.

The State of Hawaii has compiled many of the Vital Records from Churches and holds these records in the state archives. For more information see Hawaii Vital Records- Civil Registration under the section on State Records.

Buddhist records are kept at the individual Buddhist temples.

Addresses of major denominations include:

Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons)
Early church records, for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, for Hawaii Wards and Branches can be found on film and are located at the LDS Family History Library in Salt Lake City. The film numbers, for each ward, can be located through the FamilySearch Catalog. Or by referring to Jaussi, Laureen R., and Gloria D. Chaston. Register of Genealogical Society Call Numbers. 2 vols. Provo, Utah: Genealogy Tree, 1982. (FHL book 979.2258 A3j; fiche 6031507). These volumes contain the film numbers for many (but not all) membership and temple record films.

Congregational
Congregational Library 14 Beacon Street Boston, MA 02108 Phone: (617) 523-0470 Fax: (617) 523-0470

Presbyterian
Presbyterian Historical Society 425 Lombard Street Philadelphia, PA 19147-1516 Phone: (215) 627-1852 Fax: (215) 627-0509

Roman Catholic
Diocese of Honolulu, Chancery Office 1184 Bishop Street Honolulu, HI 96813 Phone: (808) 533-1791 Fax: (808) 521-8428

The diocese includes the counties of: Hawaii, Honolulu, Kalawao, Kauai and Maui.