Hawaii Marriage Records

In Hawaii, a marriage is a legally recognized union between two individuals, regardless of gender, establishing certain rights, benefits, protections, and responsibilities between the involved parties. Couples who wish to get married in Hawaii must meet certain criteria and fulfill specific requirements outlined in Chapter 572 of the Hawaii Revised Statutes. Firstly, they must be at least 15 years old. Individuals who are 18 years and older can marry without parental consent; minors aged 16 or 17 require the consent of their parents or legal guardians, while ones aged 15 also need judicial approval. Either party cannot already be in a marriage or civil union; marriages between close relatives, such as siblings or parent-child relationships, are also prohibited.

Intended couples in Hawaii must obtain a valid marriage license from the state’s Department of Health before their marriage ceremony. These licenses are available to both residents and non-residents (including international couples) and can be used anywhere within the state. Hawaii does not require blood tests, nor does it impose a waiting period between applying for the license and when it can be used; however, once issued, the marriage license is only valid for 30 days and must be used within this time. The marriage ceremony must also be conducted by a licensed officiant, who may be a minister, judge, or other authorized individual; the officiant is also responsible for filing a record of the marriage with the Hawaii Department of Health after the ceremony.

Hawaii sees thousands of weddings yearly, with over 20,000 marriages recorded annually, partly due to the state's status as a premier wedding destination. Data published by the Department of Health’s Office of Health Status Monitoring indicate that over 62% of the marriages recorded in the state in 2023 involved non-residents. The Hawaii Department of Health is also responsible for maintaining records of all marriages in the state and making them available to interested parties upon request. Be aware that Hawaii marriage records are considered confidential and restricted to individuals with a direct and tangible interest in the record, such as the couple named on the record and their immediate family.

What are Marriage Records?

Hawaii marriage records are official documents that provide detailed information about marriages in the state. These records include marriage licenses and marriage certificates, and they are used for a variety of important administrative and legal purposes, including:

Providing official proof of marriage for name changes, immigration procedures, child custody cases, accessing spousal benefits, inheritance rights, and other similar matters
Facilitating genealogical research to trace family histories and establish lineage
Supporting historical research and data collation for social, cultural, and demographic patterns within the state

Be aware that although marriage licenses and certificates are both marriage records, there is a distinct difference between them. Marriage licenses permit a marriage to take place and are issued before the wedding ceremony, while marriage certificates indicate that a valid marriage has been performed and are issued after the ceremony.

Hawaii marriage records from all islands are centralized and maintained at the state level by the Hawaii Department of Health. These records contain information like the couple’s full names, dates of birth, the date and location of their marriage, the name of the marriage officiant, and the marriage license number. Be aware that marriage records are typically restricted to the couple (named on the record), their immediate family, and authorized legal representatives; however, records older than 75 years are usually public and can be accessed by anyone.

Marriages in Hawaii

In 2022, Hawaii’s marriage rate was approximately 14.4 marriages per 1,000 residents, significantly above the national average of 6.2 and the second highest in the country (behind Nevada), reflecting the state’s appeal as a popular destination for weddings, especially for non-residents. Data from the U.S. Census Bureau indicates that approximately 33.9% of adult Hawaiians (aged 15 and older) have never been married, lower than the national average of 34.4%. A breakdown of marital patterns in the state shows that slightly more men (50.4%) are married and not separated compared to women (48.4%). However, more men have also never married (38.1%) compared to women (30.2%). At the same time, female Hawaiians experience higher rates of divorce and separation than men.

Marital status in Hawaii is also relatively balanced across racial and ethnic lines. The Asian and White populations have marriage rates of over 60%, closely followed by the Hispanic and Black populations, with marriage rates of 55% and 52%, respectively. About 43% of the state’s mixed-race population has been married at least once. In comparison, the Native Hawaiians and other Pacific Islander residents have a marriage rate of 50%.

Even though Hawaii offers a relatively simple process for getting married, intended couples still have to comply with certain requirements for their marriage to be legally recognized and considered valid. Both parties cannot be related closer than first cousins and must not be currently married to or in a civil union with anyone else. They must also freely consent to the marriage (without any force, coercion, or fraud), and neither can conceal a serious disease from the other. While the legal marriage age in Hawaii is 18, 16 and 17-year-olds can only get married with the written consent of both parents, a legal guardian, or a family court. 15-year-olds may also be allowed to marry with the written approval of a family court judge, in addition to parental consent - marriages involving minors under 15 years old are prohibited in Hawaii. It's worth noting that the parents (or guardians) do not have to reside in the state to provide their consent.

Couples who meet these eligibility criteria can apply for a marriage license from the Hawaii Department of Health - this license must be obtained before the marriage can occur. There are no state residence, U.S. citizenship, or blood test requirements for obtaining this license. Applications can be submitted online via the department’s Marriage and Civil Union Registration System, but both applicants must appear in person before a license agent to pick up their license, where they must provide valid IDs and any additional documentation the agent may deem necessary. This typically includes a certified copy of their birth certificate for applicants under 19 and a certified divorce decree or death certificate for ones who were previously married. Hawaii does not impose a mandatory waiting period, meaning couples can receive their marriage license the same day as applying, provided they meet the eligibility criteria, provide all required documentation, and pay the $65 application fee. Once issued, the marriage license is valid for 30 days and can be used anywhere within the state during this period.

Witnesses are not required to be present during marriage ceremonies in Hawaii; however, the ceremony must be solemnized by a state-licensed officiant/performer to be considered valid. This typically includes ministers, priests, or religious leaders authorized by their denomination or society to solemnize marriages, religious societies without clergy following their own customs and rules, and active or retired judges or magistrates from state or federal courts in Hawaii. A civil license to perform marriages may also be issued to anyone who is 18 or older and has obtained prior written consent from the couple to solemnize their marriage.

Officiants are mandated to keep a record of each marriage they solemnize, including the names of the couple, their residence, and the date of the marriage. Failure to do so can result in a $50 fine. They must also report each marriage to the Department of Health within three business days, detailing all required information in a standard marriage certificate. If the officiant fails to report the marriage, the married couple can submit a notarized affidavit to the Department of Health confirming the marriage's details. The marriage will be considered valid from the date stated in the affidavit as long as legal requirements are met.

Hawaii Marriage Certificate

Hawaii marriage certificates are official documents generated by the state’s Department of Health that record key details of marriages performed (in Hawaii). These details include the names of the couple, the date of the marriage, the location of the ceremony, and the officiant’s name. After a wedding, the officiant must report the marriage to the Department of Health office in the district where the marriage took place within three business days. The report should include all the information required on a standard marriage certificate, as specified by the department; this information is then used to create the marriage certificate, which becomes the official record of the union.

Couples are typically issued one certified copy of the marriage certificate. Additional copies may also be obtained from the Department of Health upon request for a fee. Be aware that access to these records is typically restricted to the couple, their immediate family members, or their legal representatives.

How To Find and Access Hawaii Marriage Records

The Hawaii Department of Health is the custodian of marriage records in the state and is responsible for making them available to interested parties upon request. Under state law, these records are deemed confidential, and only individuals with a direct and tangible interest in the record may be allowed to inspect them or obtain certified copies. These eligible individuals include:

The couple named on the record and their immediate family (including any relative with a common ancestor)
Legal guardians or representatives of the couple named on the record
Former spouses of the couple named on the record (usually to verify their marital status for alimony purposes)
Anyone with a court order granting them access to the record
Individuals or agencies that need the record for public health purposes, approved by the Department of Health

Notwithstanding this, marriage records that are older than 75 years are usually considered public and accessible by anyone.

Accessing Hawaii Marriage Records Online

The Hawaii Department of Health maintains a Vital Records Ordering and Tracking platform that can be used to request certified copies of marriage records from July 1909 to date. However, only the individuals named on the record and their immediate family can utilize this option to obtain certified copies of Hawaii marriage records. Requesters can either create an account on the platform or order records as a guest – creating an account comes with benefits like easier form completions and simplified order tracking and re-ordering processes. Note that the requested records will not be issued online. The platform is only used for placing orders, and the records are either delivered by mail or may be picked up by the requester at a preferred, pre-approved location.

There is a $10 fee for the first certified copy of the requested record, an additional $4 fee for each extra copy, and a $2.50 portal administration fee (an additional $2.50 is added for each increment of up to five extra copies). All payments are non-refundable (even in situations where the requested record is not found). Requesters must also ensure that the name on the order form matches the name on the debit or credit card used to pay these fees; otherwise, their order may be delayed.

In addition, the University of Hawaii at Manoa maintains a genealogical research webpage that lists several options for searching old and publicly accessible marriage records online. However, available catalogs and indexes of these records are limited and may vary by island.

Accessing Hawaii Marriage Records Offline

Eligible parties can also access copies of Hawaii marriage records offline by completing and mailing a Request for Certified Copy of Marriage/Civil Union Record form, along with a copy of a valid ID and stipulated fees, to the state’s Department of Health at:

State Department of Health

Office of Health Status Monitoring

Vital Records Issuance Section

P.O. Box 3378

Honolulu, HI 96801

The completed form can also be submitted in person at:

1250 Punchbowl Street

Room 103

Honolulu, HI 96813

Hours: 7:45 a.m. - 2:30 p.m., Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays

A non-refundable $10 fee is charged for the first copy of the records and an extra $4 for each additional copy; there is also a general administration fee of $2.50 for each set of five copies requested.

The Hawaii Department of Health also issues letters of verification in lieu of certified copies of marriage certificates. These letters confirm the existence of a record and verify details the requester provides, such as a person's name and birth date. However, they do not reveal any new information not already known to the requester.

Letters of verification cost $5 per copy issued. Be aware that the same eligibility requirements apply to certified copies and verification letters. The process for requesting verification letters is also similar to that for certified copies, and the same forms can be used.

References

Counties in Hawaii

List of Content

What are Marriage Records?
Marriages in Hawaii
1. Hawaii Marriage Certificate
How To Find and Access Hawaii Marriage Records