Hawaii County, Hawaii Genealogy

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

Description
Hawaii County was created on 13 Apr 1905 and was named after Hawaiʻiloa, a legendary Polynesian navigator who is said to have discovered the island. Other accounts attribute the name to the legendary realm of Hawaiki, a place from which some Polynesian people are said to have originated, the place where they transition to in the afterlife, or the realm of the gods and goddesses. Its county seat is Hilo. It is the southeasternmost of the Hawaiian Islands.

County Courthouse
Hawaii County Courthouse 777 Kilauea Ave Hilo, HI 96720 Phone: 808-961-7440 Hawaii County Website

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:

Census Records

 * See also Using the Census to find other records about ancestors

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
 * 1900-1952 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images

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

Public Records
State Health Dept has marriage, death, wills, wills, probate and land records.

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

 * Hilo Hawaii FamilySearch Center
 * Honokaa Hawaii FamilySearch Center
 * Ka'u Hawaii FamilySearch Center
 * Keei Hawaii FamilySearch Center
 * Kohala Hawaii FamilySearch Center
 * Kona Hawaii FamilySearch Center
 * Waimea Hawaii FamilySearch Center

Museums
Lyman Museum &amp; Mission House 276 Haili Street Hilo, Hawai’i 96720 808-935-5021 Fax 808-969-7685 E-Mail: [mailto:info@lymanmuseum.org info@lymanmuseum.org] Website

Societies
Kona Historical Society PO Box 398 Captain Cook, HI. 96704 808-323-3222 FAX: 808-323-2398 E-mail: [mailto:khs@konahistorical.org khs@konahistorical.org] Website Honolulu County Genealogical Society Blog Website University of Hawaii at Manoa - Genealogy Starter Page Website Hawaii Genealogy Website Hawaiian Historical Society Website

Websites

 * Hawaii HIGenWeb
 * Hawaii County, HI 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.