Step-by-Step Hawaii Research, 1880-Present

Step 1. Find out everything possible from living relatives and their family records.
Every good genealogy project starts with finding all the clues that can be gathered from living relatives — both from their memories and from documents or memorabilia in their homes.

What are the best questions to ask?
In order to extend research, ask for names, dates, and places. Everything about who a relative was and when and where they lived is a clue to a new record search. For ideas, see :
 * 50 Questions to Ask Relatives About Family History


 * Creating Oral Histories

What documents should be collected or copied?
Because these records cover names, dates, places, and relationships, they are a valuable source of clues. Look for them in your home, your parents' home, and ask living grandparents to check for them.

Step 2. Find ancestors in every possible census record, 1850-1950, online.
'''A census is a count and description of the population of a country, state, county, or city for a given date. A census took a "snapshot" of a family on a certain day. For each person living in a household you might find (depending on the year) their name, age, birthplace, relationship to head of household, place of birth for father and mother, citizenship status, year of immigration, mother of how many children and number of children living, native language, and whether they were a veteran of the military.

Using the clues to lead to census record searches.


Let's assume that you found this elegant birth certificate in your parents' home. What records can the clues here lead us to? We will start with census records. This little boy, Tsugio Kuwano, was born in Hawaii in 1906. His father was Tokokichi Kuwano, but this delayed birth certificate, does not name his mother. We will start by looking for this family in the 1910 census, the census closest to the birth, then follow the family through 1920, 1930, and 1940. By studying these census records, we get a framework of the family:


 * The father is Toyokichi Kuwano, born about 1881 in Japan, who came to the U.S, in 1899.
 * The mother is Tama (maiden name so far unknown), born about 1886 in Japan, who came to the U.S. in 1902.
 * A daughter, Yoshiyo Kuwano, born about 1904 in Hawaii.
 * A son, Tsugio Kuwano, born about 1907 (according to the birth record, 11 October 1906, in Hawaii.)
 * A daughter, Melinya Kuwano, born about 1910 in Hawaii.
 * The family lived in Wailuku and Puunene, Maui.

Step 3: Find birth, marriage, and death certificates for ancestors and their children.
States, counties, or even towns in some states recorded births, marriages, and deaths. In addition to the child's name, birth date, and place of birth, a birth certificate may give the birthplaces of the parents, their ages, and occupations. A death certificate may give the person's birth date and place, parents' names and birthplaces, and spouse's name.

Using the census clues to lead to a birth certificate.
Now, we want to try to find important birth records for the various people represented in these census records. From at Family Search Historical Records}} we find these entries. Notice that we now have Tama Toyokichi's maiden name--Yonehara.

Using the census clues to lead to a marriage certificate.
One main purpose for locating records for is to establish the identity of the wives--their maiden names. Toyokichi amd Tama Kuwano were probably married in Japan. This marriage record for an unrelated couple is for demonstration purposes. Notice also that the names of the parents of the bride and groom are given: From at FamilySearch Historical Records:

Using the census clues to lead to a death certificate.
By studying the census records, and assuming that most people lived to be 65-70 years old, you can decide the time frame where you would expect to see a death certificate. '''It is very important to send for death certificates. Even though you might feel that knowing a death date is not high priority, the death certificate is important because of all the secondary data: birth date and place of the deceased, maiden name of the wife, names of the deceased's parents, birth places of the deceased's parents.''' From at FamilySearch Historical Records: This record has no known relationship--for demonstration only.

Some of the examples shown above are index entries. That means for each of them an actual, original, full certificate exists. It is highly advisable to order the original certificate. It will contain many details not given in the index. In some cases, the image of the original is found online. Instructions are given below on obtaining the original certificate in other cases.

Step 4: Try to find additional details about ancestors in obituaries, cemetery records, and Social Security records online.

 * , images/index
 * — index and images


 * Hawaii Cemetery Records at Findagrave.com
 * Hawaii Cemetery Records at Interment.net
 * BillionGraves Hawaii Cemeteries
 * USGenWeb Tombstone Transcription Project
 * Honolulu, Hawaii, National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific (Punchbowl), 1941-2011 Index and images ($)
 * Hawaii Cemetery Records
 * Hawaii Cemetery Records at LDS Genealogy
 * Hawaii Cemetery Records at LDS Genealogy

Step 5: Search military records: World War I and World War II draft cards.
There are many different types of military records: draft records, enlistment records, service records, pension records, etc. Information in military records can vary from a simple lists of name, age, and residence, to more detailed records including name, residence, age, occupation, marital status, birthplace, physical description, number of dependents, pensions received, disabled veterans, needy veterans, widows or orphans of veterans, and other information. - Example of a World War I draft card. - Example of a World War II draft card.



'''Search the World War I and World War II Draft Collections for male relatives.
- For more information and additional collections, see Hawaii Military Records.
 * , index and images.
 * , index and images.

Step 6: Look for church records online.
Church records function as vital records. Church records are particularly helpful prior to the advent of civil registration.
 * An infant christening or baptism record documents a birth.
 * Many, if not most, people are married in a church, and then a record is created by the minister.
 * Likewise, ministers presided over funerals, then creating a burial record, which documents a death.



FamilySearch

 * Hawaiian Genealogy Indexes, Ulukau, Hawaiian Electronic Library.Browse the indexes.
 * 1843-1909, index, incomplete — How to Use this Collection
 * 1852-1933, index, incomplete — How to Use this Collection
 * 1826-1922, index, incomplete — How to Use this Collection
 * 1862-1919, index, incomplete — How to Use this Collection
 * 1930, 1935, 1955 Census of church members, 1930, 1935, 1955, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Hawaiian Mission; Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Hawaii Mission, images
 * ca. 1940 Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Hawaii ca. 1940, images
 * Chinese in Hawaii, images

- For help with church records kept in Hawaii, see Hawaii Church Records. To search records by denomination, if you know your ancestors religion, go to Searching for Church Records by Denomination.

Step 7: Search for online wills and probate packets.

 * County probate records include '''probate proceedings, petitions, affidavits, orders for sales, reports of sales, administrators' and executors' bonds, guardianship papers, wills, and letters of administration.
 * In a will book, usually just a transcription of the will is recorded. But all of these other records are kept in a probate packet.
 * Administrations are probate proceedings that handled an estate if no known will existed.

Search these indexes and images for probate records.

 * United States Wills and Deeds Experimental Search: Hawaii
 * Hawaii, Wills and Probate Records, 1822-1962, ($), index and images, incomplete.
 * Ulukau Hawaiian Electronic Library Deaths - Probate Index and Wills
 * Hawaii State Archives Judiciary Records (Royalty Probates)

Step 8: If any ancestor was an immigrant, search immigration and naturalization records online.
The census records may show that an ancestor was born in another country. It will be necessary to try to find the town or city they were born in to continue research in the country of origin. Searches of immigration records (usually passenger lists) and naturalization (citizenship) records would be the next step.



Hawaii Immigration Records

 * United States Immigration Online Genealogy Records


 * 1500s-1900s All U.S. and Canada, Passenger and Immigration Lists Index, 1500s-1900s at Ancestry; index only ($); includes those with Destination of Hawaii; Also at MyHeritage; index only ($)
 * 1843-1900 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index & images
 * 1895-1956 United States, Border Crossings from Canada, 1895-1956 at MyHeritage; index & images ($); includes those with Destination of Hawaii
 * 1895-1964 All U.S., Border Crossings from Mexico to U.S., 1895-1964 at Ancestry; index & images ($); includes those with Destination of Hawaii
 * 1900-1952 Index to Passengers Arriving at Honolulu, Hawaii, 1900-1952 at Ancestry; index & images ($)
 * 1900-1952 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index & images
 * 1900-1953 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index & images; Also at Findmypast — index & images ($); MyHeritage — index & images ($)
 * 1900-1959 Honolulu, Hawaii, Passenger and Crew Lists, 1900-1959 at Ancestry; index & images ($)
 * 1912-1946 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index & images


 * 1941-1948 Hawaii, Passenger Lists, 1941-1948 at Ancestry; index & images ($)
 * 1942-1948 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index & images
 * 1947-1948 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index & images
 * Immigrant Ships Transcribers Guild at MyHeritage; index only ($)

Cultural Groups

 * 1852-1900 Departures of Chinese from Hawaii, 1852-1900, images
 * 1888-1898 Chinese entry permits, 1888-1898, images
 * 1891-1898 Index to entry permits for Chinese minors, 1891-1898, images
 * 1893-1898 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index & images
 * 1900-1952 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index & images
 * 1903-1944 Hawaii, U.S., Index to Chinese Exclusion Case Files, 1903-1944 at FamilySearch; index only ($)
 * 1906-1977 Filipino Laborers Collection, 1906 to about 1977; index & images
 * 1909-1910 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index & images
 * 1920-1939 Germany, Bremen Emigration Lists, 1920-1939 at MyHeritage; index only ($); includes those with Destination of Hawaii
 * 1946 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index & images
 * Hawaii State Archives Index to Chinese Passenger Manifests
 * Hawaii State Archives Japanese Passenger Manifests Index
 * Germans Immigrating to the United States at MyHeritage; index only ($); includes those with Destination of Hawaii
 * Italians Immigrating to the United States at MyHeritage; index only ($); includes those with Destination of Hawaii

Passport Records Online

 * 1874-1898 at FamilySearch — How to Use This Collection - index and images
 * 1795-1925 at FamilySearch; index and images — How to Use this Collection
 * 1795-1925 U.S. Passport Applications, 1795-1925 Index and images, at Ancestry ($)

Hawaii Naturalization and Citizenship Online Records

 * United States Naturalization and Citizenship Online Genealogy Records
 * 1791-1992 U.S. Naturalization Record Indexes for Hawaii, 1791-1992 at Ancestry Index ($)
 * 1838-1991 at FamilySearch; index — How to Use this Collection
 * 1846-1849, 1883-1898 Hawaii, Denization Records, 1846-1849, 1883-1898 at Ancestry ($), index.
 * 1849-1900 Hawaii, Passport Records at Ancestry - index & images ($)
 * 1874-1898, at FamilySearch; index — How to Use this Collection
 * 1882-1955 Case Files for Early Immigrants to San Francisco and Hawaii, 1882-1955. Index.
 * 1895-1898 Hawaii, Certificates of Identification for Chinese Arrivals, 1895-1898 at Ancestry ($), index and images.
 * 1944-2003 U.S., Index to Alien Case Files, 1944-2003 at Ancestry — index ($)
 * Citizenship - Naturalization, Denization and Passports at Ulukau Hawaiian Electronic Library

For more information, see Hawaii Emigration and Immigration and Hawaii Naturalization and Citizenship.

Step 9: Search for printed local histories or biography collections online.

 * Published histories of towns, counties, and states sometimes contain biographies and accounts of early or prominent families.
 * Here are several websites that feature online copies of printed county histories: Hawaii; that will bring up too many hits. Just use the name of the county and "county": for example, "Hyde County"
 * Google Books. Use keywords "Hawaii" and the county name. Hits will list online readable books, lists of libraries that carry the book, and purchasing opportunities.
 * Family History Books
 * Internet Archive.Use keywords "Hawaii" and the county name.
 * Ancestry.com, ($). In the Card Catalog search box, use Hawaii and the name of the county.

FamilySearch Collected Local Histories

 * Local histories are extensively collected by the FamilySearch Library, public and university libraries, and state and local historical societies.
 * If you have access to the FamilySearch Library or a FamilySearch center, you can find local histories by:
 * Go to the FamilySearch Catalog.
 * In the "Place" field, type the name of your county and click "Search".
 * A list of subheadings for the county will appear. Local histories containing genealogies and biographies will be found under Biography, Genealogy, History, or History - Indexes.

Biography Collections

 * Hawaiian Roots - Genealogy of the Chiefs of Na Lani kamehameha and other Chiefs
 * Hawaii State Archives Mahele Book
 * Men and women of Hawaii, 1954, e-book
 * Men and women of Hawaii. v.9., e-book
 * Men of Hawaii, Vol. 1, e-book, Vol. 2, e-book

Step 10: Contact a local historical or genealogical society.
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 * Historical societies have collections that are frequently little known and often overlooked.
 * Many have a surname file, where they have collected genealogies, newspaper clippings, old photographs, etc.
 * Many have a sort of "pioneer ancestor" program, where people can submit pedigrees to prove they are the descendants of an early resident of the area.
 * Most keep track of queries about families that once lived in the area from other distant relatives who may actually have more family memorabilia.
 * Most keep track of queries about families that once lived in the area from other distant relatives who may actually have more family memorabilia.


 * Find the society on the internet, and they may list their holdings. Or call them on the phone, find out what they have, and find out what arrangements can be made to search their collection. Frequently, one of their members can be hired to search the collection for you.

This online directory by GenealogyInc. lists historical and genealogical societies by county: Click on the map to select a county, then scroll down to the historical or genealogical society listings. Here is an example of an internet website for a local genealogical society.

Historical Images
Records collected and digitized by FamilySearch can all be found through their Historical Images feature.
 * Hawaii, United States Historical Images, New Version
 * Hawaii, United States Historical Images, Old Version

Hawaii Online Genealogy Records
Search any other online records listed in Hawaii Online Genealogy Records. The steps given here are intended to list record sources which can most efficiently identify descendants. Many other online records which might or might not mention descendants are listed in the Hawaii Online Genealogy Records page, including immigration records, land records, military records, newspapers, and probate records, and others. These can be records that cover a smaller group within the population, such as men who served in the military, etc.
 * Hawaii Online Genealogy Records

Step 12: Study the Research Wiki pages for any county in Hawaii.
This article focused more on Hawaii state or state-wide records. There is a separate Wiki article for each county in Hawaii. These articles give information, office addresses, and links to county records.