Hawaii Marriage License Records
Hawaii marriage licenses are issued through the state Department of Health using a statewide online system. Anyone planning to marry in Hawaii must complete the application online before meeting with a licensed agent in person. Both people must appear together to pick up the license. Once issued, the license is valid for 30 days anywhere in the state. This guide covers how to apply for a Hawaii marriage license, what the requirements are, how to order certified copies of marriage certificates, and where to find historical marriage records going back to 1826.
Hawaii Marriage License Overview
How to Get a Hawaii Marriage License
The state processes all marriage license applications through the Electronic Marriage and Civil Union Registration System, known as EMRS. You start online and finish in person. Both steps are required, and you cannot skip either one.
Begin by completing the online application and paying the $65 fee. This breaks down as a $60 application fee and a $5 portal fee. All fees are non-refundable, even if the license is never used. After you pay, the system generates a Locator ID number. Print it or write it down. You will need it at your agent appointment. The online application stays active for up to one year. After that, it expires and no refund is issued.
Both people must appear together before a licensed agent no more than 30 days before the ceremony. The agent reviews your identification, checks your application, and issues the license at the appointment. Once the license is in hand, the ceremony must happen within 30 days. If that window passes, the license is void and you have to start over. There is no waiting period in Hawaii. You can get married the same day the agent issues the license.
Bring valid government-issued photo ID to the agent appointment. A state driver's license, state ID card, or passport all qualify. The agent may ask for additional documents depending on your specific situation. Appointments must be made in advance. Walk-in service is not guaranteed.
The Hawaii Department of Health Vital Records office in Honolulu handles marriage licenses for Oahu, and district health offices on each neighbor island serve their own communities. After you complete the EMRS application online, the system gives you a list of agents on the island where your ceremony will take place.
The DOH Vital Records office is at 1250 Punchbowl Street in Honolulu, open Monday through Friday with the Marriage License Office hours running from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Hawaii Marriage License Requirements
Hawaii has some of the most open marriage rules in the country. There are no state residency requirements and no U.S. citizenship requirements. Visitors planning a destination wedding apply the same way residents do. Blood tests are not required. The legal age to marry is 18. Those between 16 and 17 can marry with written consent from a parent or guardian. Minors under family court jurisdiction also need written approval from a family court judge before any license is issued.
If either person was previously married, proof may be needed. When a divorce or the death of a prior spouse happened less than 30 days before you pick up the new license, you must show the original divorce decree or the death certificate to the agent. This rule applies even when the prior marriage ended in another state.
Cousins may marry under Hawaii law. Closer blood relationships are prohibited. Half-siblings, full siblings, ancestors and descendants, and uncle-niece or aunt-nephew combinations are all barred. Under Hawaii Revised Statutes Chapter 572, a marriage will not be registered and no certificate will be issued if the couple fails to meet these legal requirements, even when a ceremony takes place.
The requirements of HRS §572-1 also state that neither person can have a living lawful spouse at the time of the new marriage. Consent must be free, and both parties must be physically present at the ceremony location at the same time as the licensed performer.
HRS §572-1 sets out every condition required for a valid Hawaii marriage contract, and agents use these rules when reviewing license applications.
Order a Hawaii Marriage Certificate Copy
A marriage license and a marriage certificate are two different things. The license gives permission to marry. The certificate is the official record that the marriage took place. Certified copies of marriage certificates come from the Hawaii Vital Records online ordering system. The system covers records from July 1909 to the present.
The cost is $10 for the first certified copy. Each additional copy of the same record costs $4. A $2.50 portal administration fee applies per order for up to five certificates. A single-copy order totals $12.50. Online orders are the fastest method. You need a government-issued photo ID ready to upload. The name on your credit or debit card must match the name on the order form. Mismatches can delay or deny an order. Average mail processing time is six to eight weeks. Creating a free eHawaii account lets you check order status and makes reordering easier.
Mail-in requests are also accepted for those who cannot order online. Download the application for a certified copy of a civil union or marriage record from the DOH website. Mail the completed form with a copy of your photo ID and the fee to: State Department of Health, Office of Health Status Monitoring, P.O. Box 3378, Honolulu, HI 96801. Pay by cashier's check, certified check, or money order. Personal checks and cash are not accepted for mail orders.
Apostille or authentication requests are mail-in only. The online system does not handle apostille processing.
Note: Only people with a direct and tangible interest in the record can receive a certified copy. Eligible persons include the couple themselves, their spouse, parents, children, grandchildren, siblings, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins, as well as legal guardians and court-authorized representatives.
The DOH birth and marriage certificates page details all ordering methods and eligibility rules for certified copies.
Historical Hawaii Marriage Records
Hawaii has kept marriage records since the 1820s. The oldest records are held at the Hawaii State Archives on the Iolani Palace Grounds at 364 South King Street in Honolulu. Hours are Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Archives holds marriage notices from Hawaiian newspapers from 1850 to 1950, marriage registers kept by individual ministers and government officials, and the full Vital Statistics Collection. Contact the Archives at (808) 586-0329 or archives@hawaii.gov.
The Ulukau Hawaiian Electronic Library provides free online access to Hawaiian Genealogy Indexes prepared by Archives staff. These include marriage records from 1826 to 1929, arranged by island and then alphabetically by surname. Reference numbers in the indexes point to specific volumes and pages in the Archives' physical collection. The indexes cover all four main island groups: Oahu, Hawaii (the Big Island), Maui, and Kauai. You can use the index to find a specific record, then contact the Archives for a copy or submit a certificate request to the Department of Health.
The Ulukau genealogy indexes are a key starting point for researching Hawaii marriage records from the 19th and early 20th centuries.
The Hawaii State Archives Digital Collections put many of these materials online at no cost. Scanned marriage registers include Island of Hawaii Marriage Certificates and Licenses from 1846 to 1900, and registers kept by ministers like Rev. Titus Coan (1837-1882) and Rev. L. Lyons (1833-1886). Oahu records go back to 1887. FamilySearch also holds major Hawaii marriage record collections. Key online databases include Hawaii Marriages 1826-1922 and Hawaii Marriages 1826-1954, which include indexes and in some cases scanned images of the original documents.
The Hawaii State Archives Digital Collections include scanned marriage registers and vital statistics records stretching back to the 1830s.
The State Archives genealogy research guide shows which collections are most useful for marriage research and how to request access.
Marriage License Agents and Ceremony Performers
Marriage license agents are approved by the state Department of Health and located on each island. Some are government employees at the district health offices. Others are private individuals authorized by the state. After completing the EMRS online application, the system gives you a list of agents on the island where you plan to hold your ceremony. Choose one, make an appointment, and show up with both applicants and valid IDs.
All marriage ceremony performers in Hawaii must also hold a license from the state Department of Health under HRS §572-12. Ordained ministers, priests, and officers of religious denominations may perform ceremonies. Judges and magistrates, both active and retired at the state and federal level, are also authorized. After the ceremony, the performer must file the completed marriage record with the Department of Health within three business days. This filing is what creates the official marriage certificate on record.
The EMRS system includes a list of registered performers. Couples can search by island to find available officiants for their ceremony date.
The Hawaii DOH marriage licenses page is the main starting point for couples applying and for anyone looking up agent and performer listings.
Hawaii Marriage Laws and Statutes
Marriage in Hawaii is governed by Title 31, Chapter 572 of the Hawaii Revised Statutes. The chapter covers everything from license application procedures to performer licensing to the legal requirements for a valid marriage contract. Section 572-1.5 defines marriage as "the union licensed under section 572-1." Section 572-3 addresses out-of-state marriages, stating that marriages valid where performed shall be held legal in Hawaii courts.
For minors, the rules are stricter. HRS §572-2 requires written consent from parents or guardians for anyone under 18. Minors who are under family court jurisdiction also need a written approval from a judge before any license can be issued. No license goes out to any minor without these approvals on file. The Legal Aid Society of Hawaii provides a helpful guide on how to request certified copies of marriage and other vital records, including eligibility rules for who can obtain them.
The full text of HRS Chapter 572 covers all parts of the Hawaii marriage license process, from application through performer licensing and certificate issuance.
Browse Hawaii Marriage Records by County
Each county in Hawaii has its own district health office that handles marriage license applications and certificate requests. Select a county below to find local office details, agent contacts, and resources specific to that island.
Marriage License Information for Hawaii Cities
The cities below have dedicated pages covering local license agents, office locations, and resources specific to each community. All Hawaii cities follow the same statewide application process through the EMRS system.