Find Marriage Records in Kailua

Kailua marriage records are issued and maintained by the Hawaii Department of Health, which handles all vital records for Honolulu County including Windward Oahu communities like Kailua. This page covers how to get a marriage license, request a certified copy of a certificate, and access historical records going back to the early 1800s.

Marriage Licenses for Kailua Residents

Kailua does not have a local marriage license office. All marriage licenses for Windward Oahu, including Kailua, come from the Hawaii Department of Health through either a licensed private agent or the main DOH office in Honolulu. The main office is at 1250 Punchbowl Street, Room 103, Honolulu, HI 96813. The phone number is (808) 586-4544.

Before you can meet with an agent or visit the office, you must complete the online application at emrs.ehawaii.gov. Both people who plan to marry must fill out the form together. Once you submit it, you get a confirmation that you bring to your appointment. Both parties must appear in person at the same time with valid photo ID. You cannot send a representative or have just one person go.

Several private agents are licensed to serve Windward Oahu and the Kailua area. The DOH keeps an updated list on their website. Agents follow the same rules as the state office and charge the same license fee. If one agent is not available, you can contact others on the list or go directly to the main Honolulu office.

After the license is issued, you have 30 days to hold your ceremony. The officiant returns the license to the DOH after the wedding. Once it is registered, you can order a certified copy of the certificate through the DOH records system.

The Hawaii DOH marriage agents page lists all licensed agents by island. Kailua residents on Windward Oahu can check this page to find the closest available agent and contact them after completing the online application.

Always confirm agent availability before scheduling. The list is updated by the state when agents are added or removed.

Certified Copies of Marriage Certificates

If you need a certified copy of a marriage certificate for Kailua or any other location in Hawaii, you request it through the DOH Vital Records office. There are three ways to do this: online, by mail, or in person.

The online system is open around the clock. Go to vitrec.ehawaii.gov to submit your request and pay by credit card. The fee is $10 for the first certified copy, $4 for each extra copy of the same record in the same order, and a $2.50 portal fee per transaction. The DOH mails the copy to the address you provide.

Mail requests go to P.O. Box 3378, Honolulu, HI 96801. Your request should include the names of both spouses as they appear on the license, the date and county of the marriage, your relationship to the parties on the record, and a copy of your photo ID. Enclose a check or money order for the correct fee. Mail orders typically take 6 to 8 weeks to process, so plan ahead if you need the copy for a legal purpose.

You can also visit the DOH office in person at 1250 Punchbowl Street during regular hours. In-person requests are generally handled the same day. Bring valid photo ID and cash or a check for payment.

The Hawaii DOH birth and marriage certificates page explains the types of copies available, who qualifies to receive each type, and what documents you must submit with your request.

Read this page before submitting your request to make sure you send the right ID and the correct fee amount.

Historical Marriage Records in Kailua

Kailua has several resources for historical marriage research. The Kailua Family History Center is a key local option. It is affiliated with the FamilySearch network and can be reached at (808) 247-3134. The center has microfilm copies of vital records and gives access to the FamilySearch genealogy database at no charge. It serves the full Windward Oahu area.

The Hawaii State Library Kailua Branch also holds vital records indexes. These include indexes to birth records from 1896 to 1909 and marriage record indexes from 1832 to 1910 and from 1911 to 1929. The indexes tell you whether a record exists and give basic details. The actual records are held by the DOH. If you find a record in an index, you would then request the full document from the state office.

Online access to older records is available through the Hawaii Digital Archives at digitalarchives.hawaii.gov. The site has scanned vital records documents, indexes, and photographs from across the state. It is free to use and available any time.

For records from before the DOH system was established, including mission-era records, the University of Hawaii at Manoa Library maintains a genealogy guide with detailed notes on where to find early records.

The University of Hawaii at Manoa Library genealogy guide covers every major source for Hawaii marriage records research, from DOH records to mission registers and library indexes. It is especially useful for tracing records before statehood.

The guide notes which sources are available online and which require an in-person visit, saving you time before you travel.

Kailua Local Resources

For Kailua residents, the Kailua Family History Center at (808) 247-3134 is the best nearby option for genealogy research. It offers microfilm access and FamilySearch support. Staff can help you search older records and point you to the right sources for your specific research question.

The Kailua Public Library holds printed indexes and reference materials for vital records going back to the late 1800s. The indexes at the library are finding aids only. They do not contain the actual certificates, but they tell you if and where a record was filed. From there, you request the document through the DOH.

For all current marriages and certified copies, everything flows through the state DOH system. No local Kailua office can issue a marriage license or certified certificate. The DOH office in Honolulu handles those requests for all of Oahu including Windward communities like Kailua.

If you have questions about the application process or run into issues with your online submission, call the main DOH office at (808) 586-4544. Office staff can walk you through next steps and confirm your application is on file before you schedule an appointment with an agent.

Honolulu County Marriage Records

Kailua is in Honolulu County, which covers all of Oahu. The county's DOH office in Honolulu handles all marriage licenses and certified copies for Kailua residents. For more on county-wide resources, offices, and procedures, visit the Honolulu County marriage records page.

View Honolulu County Marriage Records

Nearby Cities

These Oahu communities are near Kailua and use the same state DOH system for marriage records.