Introduction to Hawaii Death Certificates

This article is designed to help you get a Hawaii Death certificate.  Counter to common belief, not everything is on the Internet.  Personal Death certificates are one of the items that are not readily available online, and that is probably a good thing.  You do not want your Death certificate in the public domain, where it can be seen by anyone.  However, this does not mean that you can’t easily get your Death certificate.  

Hawaii Death certificates have been maintained by the Hawaii Office of Health Status Monitoring, a unit of the Department of Health for individuals that died in the state of Hawaii since 1862.

Hawaii Death Certificate Authorized Persons

By Hawaii state law, Hawaii Death certificates are confidential records and can only be obtained by the following authorized individuals:

• Mother/Father (or Legal Guardian) of Person Named on the Hawaii Death Certificate
• Husband/Wife of Person Named on the Hawaii Death Certificate 
• Adult Son/Daughter of Person Named on the Hawaii Death Certificate
• Sister/Brother of individual named on the Hawaii Death certificate
• Person having a common ancestor of individual named on the Hawaii Death certificate
• Personal representative of individual named on the Hawaii Death certificate
• Legal Representative of an Authorized Person of Person Named on the Hawaii Death Certificate

Hawaii Death Certificate for Genealogy Purpose

Anyone can obtain a Hawaii Death Certificate, 75 years or later from the date of the Death for genealogy or other reasons.  Also, because genealogy requests are not considered urgent, they are not processed as priority requests.

Hawaii Death Certificate Ordering

Options Option 1 – Order Hawaii Death Certificate Online

This option is the simplest and easiest way to get your Hawaii Death Certificate.  Order online and you will get your Hawaii Death Certificate usually in less than a week.  Many times you will have the option of receiving your vital record by next-day or second-day service.

Order Birth and Death Records Online!  

Option 2 – Order Hawaii Death Certificate through the Mail

Follow the instructions below, if you are not ordering your Hawaii Death certificate online.  It usually takes 2-3 weeks upon receipt of request to be sent to you:

Step 1: Download Mail-In Application

Step 2: Please provide as much of the following information as possible to locate the Hawaii Death certificate:

• Full name of person at Death on the Hawaii Death certificate
• Date of Death on the Hawaii Death certificate
• Sex on the Hawaii Death certificate
• County (or city) of Death on the Hawaii Death certificate
• Your name 
• Your signature 
• Your relationship to the person whose Hawaii Death certificate you are requesting 
• Address where the Hawaii Death certificate is to be mailed 
• Self addressed stamped envelope
• Your daytime phone number
• By Mail: Send the above information and the appropriate fee to:

 

State Department of Health

Office of Health Status Monitoring

Issuance/Vital Statistics Section

P.O. Box 3378

Honolulu, HI 96801

Option 3 – In Person

Walk-in service is available:

• Days - Monday through Friday (excluding holidays and furlough days)
• Hours - 7:45 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
• Location - Room 103 (1st floor) of the Health Department building, 1250 Punchbowl Street (corner of Beretania and Punchbowl Streets)

When applying in person, the applicant must show a valid government-issued photo ID, such as a State ID, driver's license, etc.

Certified copies are usually not issued on the day the application is made. Same-Day service may be provided upon presentation of written documentation establishing the need for urgency. Certified copies will normally be available for pick-up about 10 working days after the request is approved. The pick-up time may be extended for records that are very old, because the search to locate the record may take longer, or in the process of being filed, because the official record is still being created.

Hawaii Death Certificate Ordering Cost

The fee to search for a Hawaii Death certificate is $10.00, which includes one certified copy of the Hawaii Death certificate or a "Certificate of Failure to Find." For each additional copy of the Hawaii Death certificate ordered at the same time, the fee is $4.00.  Money order, certified check, or cashier’s check - make money order and checks payable to the State Department of Health.   Please do not send cash or personal checks. Fees are not refundable. Additional fees are required for expedited service.