Hilo Marriage Records
Hilo marriage records are handled by the Hawaii District Health Office on the Big Island, and that office serves as the main point of contact for anyone looking to get a marriage license or request a certified copy of a marriage certificate. If you need to search for Hilo marriage records or get a copy for legal use, the office at 75 Aupuni Street is where you start. You can also order certified copies online through the state's ordering portal, and private licensed marriage agents are available in Hilo to help with the license process. This page covers how to get a license, how to order copies, and where to find older historical records.
Hilo Overview
Hilo Marriage License Process
Getting a marriage license in Hilo starts online. Before you contact the Hawaii District Health Office or any private agent, both parties must submit the application at emrs.ehawaii.gov. Once that is done, you schedule an in-person appointment. Both applicants must show up at the same time, together, and each must bring a valid government-issued photo ID. Licenses are issued on an appointment-only basis, Monday through Friday.
The license fee is $65 total. That breaks down to $60 for the license itself and a $5 portal fee paid when you submit the online application. The license is valid for 30 days from the date of issue, and it is valid anywhere in the state of Hawaii. If the ceremony does not take place within those 30 days, you have to apply again and pay the fee a second time. There is no refund and no extension available. Couples sometimes miss this window during busy seasons, so plan ahead when you pick your ceremony date.
The Hawaii District Health Office in Hilo is located at 75 Aupuni Street, Suite 201, Hilo, HI 96720. The main number is (808) 974-6008. Letisha Kuwahara handles marriage license appointments at this office. Call ahead or check the state site for current scheduling options.
| Office | Hawaii District Health Office, Vital Statistics |
|---|---|
| Address | 75 Aupuni Street, Suite 201 Hilo, HI 96720 |
| Phone | (808) 974-6008 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, by appointment only |
| Online Application | emrs.ehawaii.gov |
| Local Info | health.hawaii.gov/big-island |
Note: Both parties must appear together at the appointment. No exceptions are made to this rule under state law.
Hilo Marriage License Agents
Hawaii allows licensed private agents to issue marriage licenses on behalf of the state. These agents work by appointment and follow the same legal process as the DOH office. You still need to complete the online application at emrs.ehawaii.gov before you contact any agent. Once your application is in, you can reach out to an agent to schedule a meeting at a location that works for you. Some couples find this more convenient than going to a government office.
In Hilo, one private agent is Rose Delfin, who can be reached at (808) 640-6179. Like the DOH office, Rose works by appointment only on weekdays. The state maintains a current list of all licensed marriage license agents on the Hawaii Department of Health website. Agents come and go as licenses are issued or lapse, so always check the official list before trying to contact someone.
The Hawaii Department of Health publishes the full directory of licensed marriage agents on its vital records site. The page below shows where the state lists current agents for all islands, including the Big Island agents who serve Hilo.
You can view the current agent directory and find Big Island contacts by visiting the DOH marriage agent directory. This list is kept up to date by the state and is the most reliable source for finding an active agent near Hilo.
Hilo Marriage Records Certified Copies
If you need a certified copy of a marriage certificate from Hilo, the Hawaii Department of Health is where you get it. The DOH Vital Statistics office on the Big Island handles these requests for marriages that took place in Hawaii County. Certified copies are the legal documents used for name changes, insurance updates, immigration filings, and court proceedings. The Hilo office at 75 Aupuni Street provides local service for these requests.
The Hawaii DOH Big Island vital statistics page has full details on what is available locally and how to contact the office. The screenshot below shows the Big Island vital statistics section of the state DOH website, which covers both in-person and online options for getting records.
Online orders go through the state's ordering system at vitrec.ehawaii.gov. You will need to upload a copy of a valid government-issued photo ID when you place your order. The first certified copy is $10, additional copies of the same record cost $4 each, and there is a $2.50 portal fee added to online orders. All fees are non-refundable. Mail orders typically take 6 to 8 weeks to process from the date the DOH receives your request.
For mail orders, send your request with a photocopy of your ID and payment made out to the State of Hawaii Department of Health. Use a cashier's check, certified check, or money order. Personal checks are not accepted. Mail to: State DOH, Office of Health Status Monitoring, P.O. Box 3378, Honolulu, HI 96801. More information is available through the Hawaii DOH birth and marriage certificates page.
In-person pickup is available in Kamuela (Waimea) at the Kamuela District Health Office, 67-5189 Kamamalu Street, Kamuela, HI 96743, phone (808) 887-8114. Pickup hours there are Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM by appointment only. All orders must be placed and paid online before scheduling a pickup.
Note: Processing times can vary by season. Online ordering through the state portal tends to move faster than mail requests sent to Honolulu.
Hilo Marriage Records Access Law
Who can get a certified copy of a Hilo marriage record is controlled by Hawaii Revised Statutes Section 338-18. This law limits access to the person named on the record, their spouse, direct family members, legal guardians, and others who can show a direct and tangible interest in the record. Everyone else needs a court order to get a certified copy. The state takes this seriously, and the DOH will ask you to prove your identity and your connection to the record before it releases anything.
There is an important exception worth knowing. Marriage records that are 75 years old or more are open to the public. You do not need to show a direct and tangible interest for older records. This makes historical research much easier for genealogists and family historians looking into Hilo marriages from the early 1900s or before.
The Hawaii Department of Health main vital records page at health.hawaii.gov/vitalrecords explains access rules and the full ordering process. If you are unsure whether you qualify to receive a copy, the DOH can help you figure that out when you contact them.
Historical Hilo Marriage Records
Hilo has some of the richest historical marriage records in the state. As the county seat of Hawaii County, Hilo has been at the center of record-keeping on the Big Island since the county was formed in 1905. Hawaii County itself has records going back well into the 1800s under the old kingdom and territory systems. If you are doing genealogy research, Hilo is a good place to start for Big Island family history.
The Hawaii State Archives is the main place to look for older Hilo marriage records. The Archives holds marriage records from across the state spanning the period 1832 to 1929. For the Third Circuit Court, which covers the Big Island, marriage records from 1905 to 1950 are available on microfilm under the collection labeled MFL 71. These records are organized by district and can be searched by name with some preparation.
The Vital Statistics Collection held by the Archives has a detailed series covering South Hilo and North Hilo from 1896 to 1929. Within that collection, several specific record groups cover Hilo marriages directly. Records of Marriage and Marriage Licenses for South Hilo from 1914 to 1915 are held under series H-93. Records of Issue of License to Marry for South Hilo from 1901 to 1913 are in series H-96 and H-96a. Marriage Licenses for South Hilo from 1922 to 1928 are in series H-98. Additional records cover other Big Island districts including Honokaa, South Kona, and North Kohala, some of which include Hilo-area marriages from the same period.
The Hilo Public Library has birth record indexes covering 1896 to 1909, though these are indexes only and not full documents. The Hawaii State Archives Digital Archives at digitalarchives.hawaii.gov has digitized some older records and is a useful first stop before requesting documents in person.
The digital archive shown above covers a range of historical Hawaii records, including some marriage-related documents from the Big Island. For genealogical research, FamilySearch also has resources covering Hawaii County. The FamilySearch wiki for Hawaii County at familysearch.org lists available collections, microfilm holdings, and how to use them. Family History Centers connected to the FamilySearch network can help you access records that are not yet digitized.
Hawaii County Marriage Records
Hilo is the county seat of Hawaii County, and all marriage licenses and vital records for the Big Island go through the county's DOH office. Hilo is the main population center on the island, and most Big Island residents who need marriage records will deal with the Hilo office at some point. The Hawaii County page has more detail on how records are managed across the island and what other offices and resources are available at the county level.
Other Hawaii Cities
Hilo is the primary population center on Hawaii Island. The nearest major cities in the state are on other islands. Kahului is the main city on Maui, and Urban Honolulu is the largest city in the state on Oahu. Marriage records for those cities are handled by the same Hawaii Department of Health system, but through different district offices. For Big Island records, the Hawaii County page linked above covers all the resources available on this island.