Find Marriage Records in Kauai County
Kauai County marriage records are kept by the Hawaii Department of Health and date back to 1826. Whether you need a certified copy of a marriage certificate, want to search historical records, or are applying for a new marriage license, all official requests go through the state vital records system. The Kauai District Health Office in Lihue handles local pickup for orders placed online. Unlike some other county offices, Kauai does issue certificates locally, but you must place and pay for your order at vitrec.ehawaii.gov before scheduling any pickup. This guide explains where to search, how to get copies, what the license process involves, and where to find older Kauai marriage records.
Kauai County Overview
Kauai District Health Office
The Kauai District Health Office (KDHO) is the local point of contact for marriage records on the island of Kauai. The office is at 3040 Umi Street in Lihue. When you arrive at the building, head through the doors on the right-hand side, which are the farthest set from the street. Staff there handles pickup of birth and marriage certificates for orders that were placed online through the state portal. The office is open Monday through Friday, 7:45 AM to 4:30 PM.
There is an important step you must complete before going to the office. All orders must be placed and paid for online at vitrec.ehawaii.gov before you schedule a pickup. When you order, select the "pickup" option if you plan to come to the Kauai office. You will get an email notification when your order is ready. Processing takes about 14 business days. Do not show up without ordering first. The office cannot process walk-in requests or accept cash or money orders for record fees. Payment happens entirely through the online portal.
The screenshot below shows the Kauai County vital records page, which explains the local pickup process and links to the online ordering system.
The vital records page at health.hawaii.gov/kauai/vital-records outlines exactly what the Kauai office handles and provides a direct link to the state online ordering portal.
| Office | Kauai District Health Office - Vital Records |
|---|---|
| Address |
3040 Umi Street Lihue, HI 96766 |
| Phone | (808) 241-3498 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 7:45 AM to 4:30 PM |
| Online Orders | vitrec.ehawaii.gov/vitalrecords |
| Note | Order and pay online before visiting. Cash and money orders not accepted at the office. |
Kauai County Marriage Certificate Requests
Getting a certified copy of a Kauai County marriage certificate starts at the state portal. Go to vitrec.ehawaii.gov and create an account. You will need to provide both spouses' full names, the date and location of the marriage, and your reason for requesting the record. The system will ask you to verify your identity and pay before submitting. Once the order is confirmed, select whether you want it mailed or picked up at the Kauai office.
Hawaii Revised Statutes HRS section 338-18 restricts who can get a certified copy of a vital record. You must have a direct and tangible interest. That usually means you are one of the spouses, a parent or legal guardian, an attorney acting on your behalf, or someone with a court order authorizing access. Records that are 75 years old or older are public and can be requested by anyone without showing a specific interest.
The fee for a certified Kauai marriage certificate is $10 for the first copy and $4 for each additional copy ordered at the same time. Online orders also carry a $2.50 portal fee. All fees are non-refundable. If the record is not found, you will not get a refund. If you need to mail the certificate to another state after receiving it, FedEx or UPS shipping from Hawaii to the mainland typically runs $20 to $30.
Note: Death certificates are not issued by the Kauai office. Those must be requested through the Office of Health Status Monitoring on Oahu.
About the Kauai Health Office
The Kauai District Health Office is more than just a records pickup point. It is the main Department of Health facility serving Kauai and Niihau. The office provides a range of public health services and oversees local programs on the island. For marriage records purposes, the most relevant function is the issuance of birth and marriage certificates for orders placed through the state portal.
The screenshot below shows the general Kauai District Health Office page, which gives an overview of what the office does and how to contact the right division.
The KDHO page at health.hawaii.gov/kauai is the starting point for any questions about local health office services, including who to contact for vital records assistance on Kauai.
The office sits about 15 minutes from Kapa'a town center. If you are picking up a certificate in person, morning visits during early hours tend to be less busy. The office is busiest during peak tourist months when demand for wedding-related documents rises. Allow extra time if you visit between May and October. If you have questions before your visit, call (808) 241-3498 to confirm your order is ready before driving out.
Kauai County Marriage License Process
A Hawaii state marriage license is required before any ceremony. There is no residency requirement, no blood test, and no waiting period after the license is issued. The license is valid for 30 days from the date it is issued and can be used anywhere in the state, not just on Kauai. The cost is $65, which covers a $60 application fee and a $5 processing fee charged through the online portal.
The process starts online. You must complete the marriage license application at emrs.ehawaii.gov before meeting with a marriage agent. After you submit the application, contact a licensed marriage agent on Kauai to arrange your in-person appointment. Both parties must appear in person within 30 days of the ceremony date. Both must be at least 18 years old. There are no restrictions based on residency or citizenship.
Like on other islands, Kauai does not use a courthouse or government office for license issuance. Hawaii uses a network of private marriage agents who are authorized and licensed by the state Department of Health. All agents work by appointment only. You can find the full and current state list at health.hawaii.gov/vitalrecords.
Note: If either party was previously married, bring a divorce decree or death certificate showing how that marriage ended before applying for a new license.
Kauai Marriage License Agents
Kauai has marriage agents in several communities. All work by appointment only. Contact the agent nearest your venue or location to schedule. The state list is the most current source and is updated when agents are added or removed.
Current Kauai marriage license agents include Dayna Santos in Hanalei at (808) 378-4290. Ellen O'Connell serves the Koloa area and can be reached at (808) 742-7305. In Kapa'a, there are multiple agents: Darlene "Momi" Kapana at (808) 821-6895, Tiffany Mahelona at (808) 639-5891 (text preferred), and Walter "Kamika" Smith III at (808) 635-5973. These agents cover most of the island, from the north shore near Hanalei down to Koloa on the south side. For the official list with any updates, go to health.hawaii.gov/vitalrecords.
The screenshot below shows the statewide marriage agents listing from the Hawaii DOH site, which includes all licensed agents by island and community.
The state DOH marriage agents page lists contact information for every licensed agent in Hawaii. Contact the agent directly to schedule, as availability varies by season.
Historical Kauai Marriage Records
Kauai County was established in 1905 with Lihue as the county seat. The county covers Kauai Island and Niihau. But marriage records on Kauai go back much further than the county itself. The State Archives holds Kauai marriage records from 1826 to 1929, split into two indexing periods: 1826 to 1910 and 1910 to 1929. These include early missionary-era records and kingdom-era documents. This makes Kauai's historical marriage records among the most complete and oldest surviving sets in the entire state.
Fifth Circuit Court marriage records from 1905 to 1949 are available on microfilm, cataloged as MFL 72. These records also include the issue of license to marry for Kauai from 1918 to 1919. Marriage certificates for Kauai from 1905 through 1949 are stored as reference copies arranged alphabetically on microfilm. Researchers doing genealogy work on Kauai marriages often start with these microfilm sets before moving on to more recent DOH records.
The Hawaii Digital Archives at digitalarchives.hawaii.gov has scanned historical documents that include some marriage data from the territorial and kingdom periods. For broader genealogy research, the FamilySearch wiki page at familysearch.org gives a solid breakdown of what records exist for Kauai County and where to access them. FamilySearch also has microfilm images of some Kauai marriage records that can be viewed online or at a local Family History Center.
Note: For Kauai marriage records 75 years old or older, access is open to the public under HRS section 338-18, and no proof of interest is needed to request them.
Communities in Kauai County
Kauai County covers the island of Kauai and the privately owned island of Niihau. Major communities on Kauai include Lihue, Kapa'a, Princeville, Hanalei, Koloa, Poipu, Waimea, and Hanapepe. All marriage records for these areas are handled through the Kauai District Health Office or the state DOH online portal. There are no separate city-level vital records offices on the island.
Kauai is one of the most popular wedding destinations in Hawaii, particularly along the north shore near Hanalei and in the Poipu resort area on the south side. Couples marrying in any community on Kauai follow the same statewide license process through a licensed marriage agent.
Nearby Counties
Kauai County is the westernmost county in Hawaii. The other counties are spread across the island chain. Each county has its own district health office. If you are unsure which county a specific island falls under, the state DOH can help.