Kalawao County Birth Records
Kalawao County birth records are issued by the State Department of Health and routed through Maui County for local help. Kalawao is the smallest county in the state, covering only the Kalaupapa Peninsula on Molokai. The county has no vital records office of its own. Residents and researchers order a Kalawao County birth certificate online at vitrec.ehawaii.gov, and the Maui District Health Office in Wailuku answers local questions. This page covers the local contacts, the shared Maui path, and the historical sources for any Kalawao County birth record search.
Kalawao County Overview
Kalawao County Vital Records Path
Kalawao County has no county clerk, no district health office, and no in-person walk-in point for birth certificates. The county covers the Kalaupapa Peninsula on Molokai, where the state established a historic settlement in 1866. Today, the peninsula is a National Historical Park. Because the population is very small, the state runs Kalawao County vital records through the Maui District Health Office.
For any Kalawao County birth record, use the Maui office as the local contact. The Maui District Health Office vital records page lists the full range of services. The office sits at the State Office Building, 54 South High Street, Room 301, Wailuku, HI 96793, and the phone rings at (808) 984-8210. Maui County covers Kalawao for statistical and administrative purposes.
The Kalawao County vital records overview confirms that residents work through the state and Maui offices for any Kalawao County birth certificate.
It is a helpful reminder that the county itself does not issue certificates.
| Local Office | Maui District Health Office (covers Kalawao) |
|---|---|
| Address |
State Office Building 54 South High Street, Room 301 Wailuku, HI 96793 |
| Phone | (808) 984-8210 |
| Online Orders | vitrec.ehawaii.gov |
| State Office |
P.O. Box 3378, Honolulu, HI 96801 (808) 586-4539 |
How to Order Kalawao County Birth Records
The online path is the only practical option for a Kalawao County birth certificate. Place the order at vitrec.ehawaii.gov. Upload a government photo ID. Pay with a credit or debit card. The certified Kalawao County birth record ships by first-class mail to the requester's address.
There is no pickup service on Molokai or at the Maui office for any Kalawao County birth record. Every certificate is mailed from the state office in Honolulu. Plan 6 to 8 weeks of mail time for most orders. Rush options are limited, so place requests early when a tight deadline is in play.
To order a Kalawao County birth record, you need:
- Full name on the Kalawao County birth record
- Date of birth and island of birth
- Parents' names, including mother's maiden name
- A valid photo ID
- A credit or debit card matching the requester's name
Mail orders go to State Department of Health, Office of Health Status Monitoring, Issuance/Vital Statistics Section, P.O. Box 3378, Honolulu, HI 96801. Send a money order or cashier's check. Personal checks are not accepted. See the Legal Aid Society vital records guide for help with the form.
Kalawao County Birth Record Fees
Fees match the rest of the state. The first certified copy of a Kalawao County birth record is $10. Each added copy is $4. A portal administration fee of $2.50 is added for each increment of up to five copies. One certified Kalawao County birth certificate ordered online totals $12.50.
A letter of verification is $5. Under HRS §338-14.3, the letter confirms that a Kalawao County birth record is on file. Apostille and authentication fees apply when sending a Hawaii birth certificate abroad. Current fees live on the DOH fees page. All payments are non-refundable.
Historical Kalaupapa and Molokai Birth Records
Kalawao County was founded in 1905 to run the leprosy settlement at Kalaupapa. Historical records for the settlement live at the Hawaii State Archives. Molokai birth records sit under the "Mo" island code in the Vital Statistics Collection and are grouped with Maui County holdings. The Hawaii State Archives has the finding aid that shows how each box is arranged.
The Hawaii Digital Archives puts parts of the collection online. Marriage records for Molokai Island from 1850 to 1910 and 1911 to 1929 are on the Ulukau Hawaiian Electronic Library. Researchers tracing a family through Kalawao should also search under Maui County indexes because the records often overlap.
The Kalaupapa National Historical Park preserves the settlement and its papers. Historical birth records for early Kalaupapa residents are limited, because many patients were registered in ways that do not match standard Hawaii birth certificates. The UHM Manoa genealogy guide explains the options for this unique period of Hawaii history.
FamilySearch has microfilmed a range of Maui County and Molokai vital records from 1841 to 1944. Access is free with a FamilySearch account. The Kahului Family History Center at (808) 877-0586 helps researchers pull microfilm that also covers Molokai and Kalawao.
The Hawaii State Library at 478 South King Street in downtown Honolulu holds microfilm indexes to birth records for 1896 through 1909. Since Kalaupapa fell under the old Molokai registration district during much of that window, a Kalawao County birth record from the early 1900s may appear on the Molokai index rolls. Call the Hawaii and Pacific Collection at (808) 586-3535 to line up a visit.
Who Can Request Kalawao County Birth Records
Access to a Kalawao County birth record is limited. Under HRS §338-18, only people with a direct and tangible interest can request a certified copy. The registrant, the registrant's spouse, parents, children, grandchildren, siblings, and other relatives who share a common ancestor are eligible. A legal guardian, personal representative, or court order also opens the door.
For records older than 75 years, the state can allow genealogy access under HRS §338-18(e). Records more than 115 years old may be reviewed in person by staff appointment. The Genealogy Requests page walks through the steps for any Kalawao County birth record search tied to family history work.
Adoption Records for Kalawao County
Adoption records tied to Kalawao County go through the Family Court of the Second Circuit at Hoapili Hale, 2145 Main Street, Wailuku, HI 96793-1679. Call (808) 244-2770. The court serves Maui and Kalawao for adoption matters and can issue a Letter of Non-Identifying Information, the Adoption Decree, and the pre-adoption Hawaii birth certificate where one exists.
A Letter of Non-Identifying Information is free and reports biological ancestry without names. Pre-adoption Kalawao County birth records require a court order or the registrant's consent. The Office of Hawaiian Affairs document guide lists every step.
Note: Kalawao is the smallest county in the United States by population. Most local Kalawao County birth record work happens through Maui County offices and the state system.
Communities in Kalawao County
Kalawao County covers only the Kalaupapa Peninsula on Molokai. The settlement at Kalaupapa and the former village of Kalawao are the main areas. No large cities fall within county lines.
People moving to or visiting Kalaupapa use Maui County offices for any Kalawao County birth certificate request. Researchers tracing family history often check Molokai records too, since the island falls under Maui County for other vital records.
Nearby Counties
The other Hawaii counties handle their own birth record offices. Use the links below.