Kalawao County, Hawaii Genealogy

Guide to Kalawao County, Hawaii ancestry, genealogy and family history, birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, family history, and military records.

Description
Kalawao County was created on 22 Apr 1903 and the placename means "mountain-side wild woods" in Hawaiian. Its county seat is Kalaupapa. It is located in the Makanalua Peninsula, the north coast of the island of Molokaʻi.

County Courthouse
Kalawao County Courthouse 74-5044 Ane Keohokalole Highway Kailua, Hawaii, 96740 Phone: 808-323-4881 Kalawao County Clerk Website County Courthouse (Judicial District of Maui) 200 S. High St Kalana O Maui Bldg Wailuku, HI 96793 Phone: 808-3234881

Populated Places
For a complete list of populated places, including small neighborhoods and suburbs, visit Hometown Locator. The following are the most historically and genealogically relevant populated places in this county:

History Timeline
Kalawao does not have a county government. The only law enforcement is a local resident selected by the State Department of Health, which administers the county. The county is on the Kalaupapa Peninsula, on the north coast of the island of Moloka'i. The small peninsula of Kalaupapa is isolated from the rest of Moloka'i by sea cliffs over a quarter-mile high — the only land access is a mule trail.

Kalawao County is a separate county from the rest of Moloka'i, which is part of Maui County. Maui County does not claim jurisdiction over the three villages of Kalaupapa, Kalawao, and Waikolu. Some maps, however, do not show Kalawao as a separate county.

The county is coextensive with the Kalaupapa National Historical Park, and encompasses the Kalaupapa Settlement where the Kingdom of Hawaii, the territory, and the state once exiled persons suffering from leprosy (Hansen's disease) beginning in the 1860s. The quarantine policy was lifted in 1969, after the disease became treatable on an outpatient basis and could be rendered non-contagious. However, many of the resident patients chose to remain, and the state has promised they can stay there for the rest of their lives. No new patients or other permanent residents are admitted.

Census Records

 * 1890
 * 1900
 * 1910
 * 1920
 * 1930
 * See also Using the Census to find other records about ancestors
 * 1839-1970 at FamilySearch — index and images - How to Use this Collection

Church Records
 List of Churches and Church Parishes
 * FamilySearch Places: Map of cities and towns in this county - How to Use FS Places

Emigration and Immigration

 * 1849-1900 Hawaii, U.S., Passport Records, 1849-1900 at Ancestry - index & images ($)
 * 1847-1898 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images

Genealogies
''' Community Trees - Hawaii. Kalawao. Kalaupapa. Date range: 1800s-1900s.''' The purpose of the Kalaupapa project was to preserve, gather, source, and share information from the records of the patients, employees, volunteers, and kokua (helper) who resided in the Kalaupapa Leper Settlement on the Island of Molokai, Hawaii, beginning in 1865. A variety of records were used to glean information about these people. These records included arrival, birth, marriage, death, and burial records, and census population schedules. To view records click here.

Land and Property Records
Online Land Indexes and Records
 * 1845-1909 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images

Maps and Gazetteers

 * FamilySearch Places: Map of cities and towns in this county - How to Use FS Places

Military Records
World War I
 * 1917-1919 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images

World War II
 * 1940-1945 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images

Naturalization and Citizenship
Online Naturalization Indexes and Records
 * 1838-1991 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images

Newspapers

 * 1800s-1999 U.S., Newspapers.com Marriage Index, 1800s-1999 at Ancestry - index ($)

Obituaries

 * Ca. 1980-Present at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images

Voting Records

 * 1864-1910 Hawaii, U.S., Voter Records, 1864-1910 at Ancestry - index & images ($)

Probate Records
Online Probate Indexes and Records
 * 1814-1917 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images
 * 1822-1962 Hawaii Wills and Probate Records 1822-1962 at Ancestry.com — index and images $

Social Security Records

 * 1935-2014 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index. Also at Ancestry, findmypast, Fold3, GenealogyBank, MyHeritage, and Steve Morse. Click here for more information.
 * 1936-2007 U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007 at Ancestry ($) — index, click here for more information.
 * 1936-2007 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index

Tax Records
Online Tax Indexes and Records
 * 1847-1903 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images

Birth

 * 1841-1944 Hawaii, U.S., Birth Certificates and Indexes, 1841-1944 at Ancestry - index & images ($)
 * 1843-1909 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images
 * 1850-1950 Hawaii, U.S., Births, Marriages, and Death Cards, 1850-1950 at Ancestry - index & images ($)

Marriage

 * 1803-1940 Hawaii, United States Marriages at Findmypast ($) — index $
 * 1841-1944 Hawaii, U.S., Marriage Certificates and Indexes, 1841-1944 at Ancestry - index & images ($)
 * 1850-1950 Hawaii, U.S., Births, Marriages, and Death Cards, 1850-1950 at Ancestry - index & images ($)
 * 1909-1989 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images

Death

 * 1841-1925 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images
 * 1841-1942 Hawaii, U.S., Death Certificates and Indexes, 1841-1942 at Ancestry - index & images ($)
 * 1850-1950 Hawaii, U.S., Births, Marriages, and Death Cards, 1850-1950 at Ancestry - index & images ($)

Divorce

 * 1848-1892 Hawaii, U.S., Divorce Records, 1848-1892 at Ancestry - index & images ($)

FamilySearch Centers

 * Molokai Hawaii FamilySearch Center

Websites

 * Kalawao HIGenWeb
 * Kalawao County, Hawaii Linkpendium
 * – The FamilySearch catalog contains descriptions and access information for all genealogical materials (including books, online materials, microfilm, microfiche, and publications) in their collection.  Use Historical Records to search for specific individuals in genealogical records.