Find a Marriage License in Hawaii County
Hawaii County covers the entire Big Island, and all marriage license applications go through the state Department of Health offices based in Hilo and Waimea. Whether you plan to marry on the slopes of Mauna Kea, along the Kona coast, or anywhere else on the island, the process starts with an online application and an in-person appointment to pick up your license. This guide explains where to go, what to bring, how to order certified copies of a marriage certificate, and where to find older Hawaii County marriage records going back to the 1800s.
Hawaii County Overview
Where to Get a Marriage License in Hawaii County
The Hawaii County District Health Office in Hilo is the main office for marriage licenses on the Big Island. It sits at 75 Aupuni Street, Suite 201, Hilo, HI 96720. You can reach the Hilo office by calling (808) 974-6008 or emailing letisha.kuwahara@doh.hawaii.gov and asking for Letisha. There is also a second office in Waimea, located at 67-5189 Kamamalu Street, Kamuela, HI 96743, serving residents on the western and northern parts of the island. The Waimea office number is (808) 887-8114, and you can ask for Tiffany when you call.
Both offices operate under the Hawaii State Department of Health. Staff there issue marriage licenses, help with civil union applications, and handle certified copies of vital records. If you have trouble reaching these offices directly, the statewide DOH line can also point you in the right direction.
Private license agents are another option if the government offices don't fit your schedule. Rose in Hilo can be reached at (808) 640-6179. For the North Kona area, Puamelia is available at (808) 325-8072 and Kimberly at (808) 854-4246. These agents work with couples who have already started their application online.
The Hawaii County Health Office vital statistics page has additional details on services. The screenshot below is taken from the official state DOH site at health.hawaii.gov/big-island/home/vital-statistics/marriage-civil-union-license/.
This page lists current contact details, hours, and links to the online application portal.
How to Apply for a Marriage License in Hawaii County
All Hawaii marriage license applications start online. Go to marriage.ehawaii.gov to fill out the application form. If you and your partner are applying for a civil union instead, use civilunion.ehawaii.gov. Both sites walk you through each field step by step. You'll enter names, birth dates, Social Security numbers, and other identifying information.
Once you submit the online form, you will get a Locator ID. Write this down or save it. You must bring it to your in-person appointment. The Locator ID ties your online application to the physical license the office will print for you. Without it, the agent cannot pull up your record and issue the license.
At your appointment, both parties to the marriage must appear in person. Bring valid government-issued photo ID. The license costs $65. Pay at the office when you pick it up. If you use a private agent, fees may differ slightly, so check in advance.
Once issued, the license is good for 30 days. Your ceremony must take place within that window. If it does not, the license expires and you would need to apply again. After the ceremony, the person who performed it must file the completed license as a marriage record with the State DOH within three business days. The county of ceremony will be recorded as "Hawaii County" and the island as Hawaii. Make sure the officiant understands this filing deadline.
Officiants who want to register to perform ceremonies in Hawaii County can contact the State DOH at P.O. Box 916, Hilo, Hawaii 96720 or call (808) 974-6008. All performers must register before they can legally solemnize a marriage in the state.
Ordering a Marriage Certificate in Hawaii County
After the ceremony, certified copies of the marriage certificate are available through the state vital records portal at vitrec.ehawaii.gov. The first copy costs $10. Each additional copy of the same record ordered at the same time is $4. There is also a $2.50 portal processing fee per order. You can choose mail delivery or, depending on the office, pickup. Whether pickup is available at the Hilo or Waimea office on a given day can vary, so check current availability when you place your order online.
Certified copies are the official version used for legal purposes. They carry a raised seal and are accepted by the Social Security Administration, the Hawaii DMV, financial institutions, insurance companies, and passport agencies. You may want to order more than one copy at the time of purchase since the $4 additional-copy price is lower than ordering separately later.
For a broader look at what the Hawaii County District Health Office handles, the screenshot below is from the vital statistics section of the official DOH site at health.hawaii.gov/big-island/home/vital-statistics/.
The page covers all vital record types, including birth, death, divorce, and marriage certificates, along with current fees and ordering options.
Historical Marriage Records for Hawaii County
Hawaii County has a long record of marriages going back to the missionary period of the 1800s. Several free online databases give access to these older records. The Hawaii State Archives Digital Collections at digitalarchives.hawaii.gov holds Island of Hawaii Marriage Records from 1890 to 1896, as well as Marriage Certificates and Licenses covering 1846 to 1900. The same collection includes registers kept by individual ministers, among them Rev. Cowan (1837-1879), Rev. D. Baldwin (1832-1835), Rev. Titus Coan (1837-1882), Rev. L. Lyons (1833-1886), Rev. Elias Bond (1852-1887), Rev. O.H. Gulick (1862-1869), G.W.A. Hapai (1887-1896), and general registers of births, marriages, and deaths from 1841 to 1896. These registers were maintained by individual clergymen who were also authorized to perform and record marriages under the Kingdom of Hawaii.
Ulukau, the Hawaiian electronic library at ulukau.org, provides indexes of Hawaii marriages from 1826 through 1929 arranged by island. Searching the Hawaii island index there is a good starting point for anyone tracing ancestors who lived on the Big Island. FamilySearch also maintains a detailed wiki page for Hawaii County genealogy at familysearch.org/en/wiki/Hawaii_County,_Hawaii_Genealogy, which lists available record collections including marriage records from 1826 to 1929 and links to digitized indexes.
The screenshot below shows the Hawaii State Archives Digital Collections page for Big Island marriage records, found at digitalarchives.hawaii.gov.
These digitized collections are free to search. No account is needed to browse most of the records in the Digital Archives.
Hawaii Marriage Laws and Eligibility
Hawaii marriage law is governed by HRS Chapter 572. The statute sets out who may marry, what the license requirements are, and what officiant registration involves. Key eligibility rules under HRS ยง572-1 include that both parties must be at least 16 years old (with parental consent required under age 18), must not be closely related by blood or adoption, and must not already be married to someone else.
There is no waiting period between the date the license is issued and the date of the ceremony. The ceremony can happen the same day you pick up the license if you choose. The license is valid for 30 days from the date of issuance. Hawaii does not require a blood test or health certificate.
Note: The officiant who performs your ceremony must file the completed marriage record with the State Department of Health within three business days. Failure to file on time does not void the marriage but can delay issuance of your certificate.
For questions about whether a particular officiant is authorized to perform marriages in Hawaii County, contact the Hilo office directly at (808) 974-6008.
Cities in Hawaii County
The following city has its own marriage license page for Hawaii County.
Other Hawaii Counties
Marriage licenses in Hawaii are administered at the county level. Explore the other county pages below.