Hawaii map

Your Guide to Researching
Hawaiian Island Ancestors

 

* General Guides * Maps * Statewide Genealogy Web sites * Societies, Libraries and Archives *
* Finding and Using Records * Queries & Help * More Links *

General Guides to Hawaii Research

First, bookmark or print out these three very helpful overviews

Books you might purchase or use in a library include

All of the three reference books listed below have a small section covering each state that includes maps, historical information, vital records coverage and a bibliography of resources for that state. (note: some libraries may have earlier editions; those are usable)

Atlases, Maps & Gazetteers

For more information on finding and using maps, see Your Guide to Atlases, Maps and Gazetteers.

Statewide Genealogy Web sites

Next, see what is available for your counties of interest at at one of these statewide sites. For each, use the county selection list to find out what is available for the various counties. Content will vary, but in usually you will find the GenWeb site to be the most robust. All are volunteer driven sites; all data free.

Societies, Libraries and Archives

For general information see Your Guide to Libraries and Archives

Finding and Using Records:
FHL, cemetery, census, church, city directories, county histories, court & legal, ethnic groups, military, land and property, naturalizations, newspapers, probate, vital.

First, use the catalog at the FHL to find out what has been filmed covering the state Hawaii ; Click View Related Places in the upper right to find sources that have been filmed for the county you are researching and once there click View Related Places in the upper right to find sources that have been filmed for the township or city. You will want to check for resources in all three jurisdictions, although most people check the county holdings first, township next and state last.

Cemetery: For general information, see guide to cemetery records, this web site

Census: Hawaii residents are included in Territorial censuses 1900+, but there are also earlier non-federal census records. This sites guide to census records gives you information on how to find and obtain federal census records.

  • Hawaii Census Collection 1840-1896 at the Hawaii State Archives. This is a finding aid of what is available at the Archives, but if it has been microfilmed, it is probably available through the FHL and elsewhere.
  • Check the U.S. Genweb Census Project status list for Hawaii to see what transcriptions are available there.
  • Discover more online census records for Hawaii through these sites (for the most part they will duplicate each other):

Church: For general information, see guide to church records, this web site.

City and County Directories: For general information, see guide to city and county directories, this website.

County and Local Histories: For general informaton, see guide to county histories, this web site

Court & Legal; For general information, see guide to law libraries, this web site

Ethnic Groups in Hawaii

Immigration and Emigration

Land & Property: For general information, see guide to land records, this web site

Military; For general information, see guide to military records, this web site

Naturalizations; For general information, see guide to naturalizations, this web site

See the Archives of Hawaii overview of naturalization records (be sure to click the more button at bottom)

Newspapers: For general information, see guide to newspapers, this web site

Probate: For general information, see guide to probate records, this web site

See the Hawaii State Archives overview of Probate and Will records

Search the Genealogy Indexes

Vital: For general information, see guide to vital records, this web site.

Queries & Help

More Links

 

 

 

 
 

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This page last updated November 23, 2010