Hawaii Death Records

Hawaii records approximately 12,455 deaths each year, translating to an age-adjusted mortality rate of 585.8 per 100,000 residents. The state's death rate is lower than the national average of 805.6 deaths per 100,000 total population. For every 100,000 residents in Hawaii, an estimated 182 die from cancer and about 199 die from heart disease, making both the leading causes of death in the state.

Although death recording in Hawaii dates back to 1849, during which the Board of Education was responsible for registering death events, statewide recording was not consistent until 1896 when the Board of Health took up that responsibility. The primary form of death records in Hawaii is the death certificate. It contains information relating to a death event, including the place of death, the date of death, the time of death, and the cause of death, as well as the deceased's personal information.

In Hawaii, the individual in charge of the disposition of a deceased's body is usually responsible for registering the death event by filing the original death certificate. In preparing the death certificate, the person will obtain the personal information of the deceased from the individual best qualified and enter such information in the death certificate. Afterward, they will present the death certificate to a physician or any other qualified healthcare professional to certify the cause of death to the best of their knowledge.

After the cause of death has been certified, the individual in charge of the disposition of the deceased body will file the original death certificate with the state's Department of Health. Alternatively, they can file it with the department's local agent in the locality where the death occurred. Certified copies of the original death certificate in the file of the Department of Health may be obtained by any eligible individual in the state. The original copies are permanently maintained by the Department of Health.

How Do I Get a Certified Copy of a Death Certificate in Hawaii?

Eligible individuals can obtain certified copies of a death certificate in Hawaii from the state's Department of Health, through the Office of Health Status Monitoring, online, by mail, or in person.

• Online Ordering - The Hawaii Department of Health offers members of the public the eHawaii System to enable them to order certified copies of death certificates online. Anyone making an order may either create a free account to apply or order as a guest. The advantages of ordering with an account include easier form completion, the ability to check order status, and access to a simpler process for re-orders.

  While completing the online form, requesters need to upload images of their government-issued photo IDs and documents showing they are eligible to get the death certificate. They must also pay $12.50 ($10 for the first copy and $2.50 portal administration fee) for the first certified copy of the certificate they intend to obtain and $4 for each additional copy of the same certificate. Online requests may only be paid by debit or credit cards in the requester's name.

  Any applicant who mails in a photocopy of their ID must write the order number of the copy. Generally, requesters may either choose to have their orders delivered by mail or opt to pick them up. It takes about 6 to 8 weeks to process a request in which the applicant selects mail delivery. On the other hand, applicants who choose to pick up their orders may visit the issuance office at their earliest convenience.

• Mail Ordering - Take the following steps to order a certified copy of a Hawaii death certificate by mail:

  • Print out and complete the Request for Certified Copy of Death Record.
  • Prepare a photocopy of a valid government-issued photo ID.
  • Add any document showing entitlement or eligibility to the requested death certificate.
  • Pay the appropriate fee by money order, certified check, or cashier's check made out to the State Department of Health. The applicable fees are $10 for the first copy of each certified copy of the death certificate, $4 for each additional copy ordered at the same time, and $2.50 for all orders up to 5 certified copies of the certificate.

  • Mail the completed request form, proof of eligibility, photocopy of ID, and the appropriate payment to the state's Department of Health at:

    State of Hawaii Department of Health

    Office of Health Status Monitoring

    Issuance/Vital Statistics Section

    P.O. Box 3378

    Honolulu, HI 96801

• In-Person Request- Anyone requesting certified copies of a Hawaii death certificate in person should bring their completed request form, documents showing eligibility to obtain the certificate, ID, and payment to the Department of Health at:

  State of Hawaii Department of Health

  Vital Statistics Section, Room 103

  1250 Punchbowl Street

  Honolulu, HI 9680

  An applicant may be required to complete additional forms when requesting copies of a death certificate in person at the Honolulu office. They can pay for their orders with a certified check, cash, money order, or cashier's check.

Are Hawaii Death Records Public?

No. Public access to Hawaii death records is restricted by Section 338-18 of the state's Revised Statutes. Unless an individual meets certain eligibility conditions, the Department of Health may not allow such a person to inspect or obtain copies of a death record. However, there are no public access restrictions to Hawaii death records for death events that occurred over 75 years ago.

Who Can Request an Original Death Certificate in Hawaii?

Original death certificates in Hawaii are permanently preserved by the Office of Health Status Monitoring, a division of the state's Department of Health. As a result, no individual may request them. However, certified copies of a death certificate (under 75 years) in the state may be issued to certain eligible or authorized persons who have a direct and tangible interest in the certificate. Such persons can be any of the following:

• The decedent's spouse.
• The decedent's children or grandchildren.
• The decedent's parents.
• The decedent's legal guardian.
• The decedent's siblings, cousins, uncles/aunts, or grandparents.
• Any agency or individual acting on behalf of the deceased.
• Any individual who needs to determine the death of a non-family member who is also a co-owner of a property bought under a joint tenancy agreement.
• A personal representative of the deceased person's estate.
• Individuals who have filed to adopt a child and who need to determine the death of one or both of the prospective adopted child's legal or natural parents.
• An individual who requires a death certificate to determine payments under a credit insurance policy.
• Anyone with an order from a court of competent jurisdiction.

How Long Does It Take to Get a Death Certificate in Hawaii?

This generally depends on the method of ordering the certificate. If requested by mail, the average processing time for a certified copy of a Hawaii death certificate that is already filed with the state's Department of Health is 6 to 8 weeks. Orders submitted online may also take this long for requesters who opt to have them delivered by mail. However, the turnaround time/wait time for an in-person request is usually shorter.

The major factor causing a delay in getting a certified copy of a death certificate in Hawaii is the situation surrounding the death event. For example, it can take a long time before a final death certificate is filed with the Office of Health Status Monitoring for a death that occurs under suspicious conditions. In such cases, autopsies may be required to uncover the cause and manner of death, a process that adversely impacts the timely availability of a final, original death certificate.

In Hawaii, it can take up to 6 months to finalize an autopsy report. This is a result of factors such as the Department of Medical Examiner being understaffed and the complexity of the case. Cases requiring further investigations and further testing usually take a longer time before the final autopsy report is ready. The finalized death certificate will only be prepared after a completed autopsy report is available. As a result of this, when the circumstances around a death event warrant an autopsy, it can take several months before the final death certificate containing the cause of death is filed with the state's Department of Health, following which eligible persons may obtain certified copies.

Can I View Hawaii Death Records Online for Free?

Members of the public may view free name indexes and images of historic Hawaii death records online for free through resources like Ancestry.com and FamilySearch.org. These resources are particularly helpful in finding death information about a person's ancestors as well as non-relatives. Similarly, with third-party sites like Hawaiipublicrecords.us, anyone may access certain death records in the state. However, third-party sites generally offer paid services and are not free.

Furthermore, there are other alternative ways of looking up information regarding death events in Hawaii for free. One such way is to check substitute records, which typically hold information about death events not officially registered in the state. Examples of these records are obituaries, newspapers, cemetery records, hospital records, tax records, probate records, death notices, and mortuary records.

When Would You Require A Death Certificate in Hawaii?

There are multiple reasons a person whose loved one has passed away would need certified copies of the deceased's death certificate. Generally, a death certificate is required for the following administrative and legal purposes in Hawaii:

• Filing life insurance claims with the deceased's insurance providers.
• Notifying the Department of Veterans Affairs (if applicable), the Social Security Administration (SSA), and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) about someone's death.
• Transferring ownership of assets in the deceased's name to other persons.
• Terminating the deceased's subscriptions to various utility services.
• Pursuing a wrongful death legal case.
• Informing a deceased's creditors and mortgage lenders of their client's passing.
• Arranging a deceased person's funeral.
• Gaining access to a decedent's bank accounts and other financial assets, including bonds and stocks.
• Canceling a decedent's credit cards.

How Many Death Certificates Do I Need in Hawaii?

It is important to order several certified copies of a Hawaii death certificate when a loved one passes away in the state. While obtaining 8 to 12 copies may be ideal in most situations, the actual number of copies needed varies and largely depends on some factors. Such factors include the size of the deceased person's estate/assets, the government agency or private entity that needs a copy of the death certificate, and the number of legal or administrative transactions requiring a copy.