Makakilo Genealogy Records
Makakilo is a planned community on the slopes of Leeward Oahu, part of Honolulu County, and residents tracing family history here work through state and county agencies that hold records going back well over a century. Vital records, court files, land documents, and archival collections are spread across several offices in Honolulu, and this guide walks you through each one so you know where to look and what to expect.
Makakilo Quick Facts
Makakilo Vital Records at the Hawaii State Department of Health
Birth, death, and marriage records for Makakilo residents are held by the Hawaii State Department of Health (DOH), not by any local city office. This is because Hawaii maintains vital records at the state level. The office is located at 1250 Punchbowl Street, Room 103, in Honolulu, and is open Monday through Friday from 7:45 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. You can reach them by phone at (808) 586-4539.
The cost for a certified copy is $10 for the first copy and $4 for each one after that. If you order online through the state's portal, there is a $2.50 processing fee on top of the copy fee. You can request records in person, by mail, or online. The online system is at vitrec.ehawaii.gov/vitalrecords/. The main vital records page is at health.hawaii.gov/vitalrecords/.
For genealogy work specifically, the DOH has a dedicated genealogy request process. Under Hawaii Revised Statutes Section 338-18, records that are 75 years old or older are open to the public for genealogical research. This means many historical birth, death, and marriage records are accessible without needing to prove direct descent. The genealogy request page is at health.hawaii.gov/vitalrecords/genealogy/.
Hawaii State Archives: Genealogy Records for Makakilo Research
The Hawaii State Archives is one of the most valuable stops for anyone digging into Makakilo family history. The Archives holds records that predate statehood by decades. The physical location is 367 S. King Street in Honolulu, and the phone number is (808) 586-0329. Their genealogy research guide is at ags.hawaii.gov/archives/about-us/genealogy-research-guide/.
Key collections at the Archives include Oahu birth records from 1852 to 1885, death records from 1852 to 1873, and marriage records from 1826 to 1929. Probate records for the First Circuit go back to 1847 and run through 1921. These older records cover the Hawaiian Kingdom period and are not available anywhere else in original form. If your ancestors lived anywhere on Oahu before Hawaii became a territory, the Archives likely has something on them.
Many of these records are also available digitally. The Hawaii State Archives digital collection is at digitalarchives.hawaii.gov/. You can browse and search from home before deciding whether you need to visit in person or request copies. Not everything is online yet, but the digital collection grows over time.
First Circuit Court Records Covering Makakilo
Makakilo falls within the First Judicial Circuit, which covers the entire island of Oahu. For Leeward Oahu residents, the Kapolei Judiciary Complex is the primary courthouse. Court records include civil cases, probate filings, land court matters, and family court records. You can search case information through the eCourt Kokua system, which is the Hawaii state courts' public access portal at courts.state.hi.us/legal_references/records/search_court_records.
eCourt Kokua lets you search by party name or case number. Certified copies of court documents cost $3 for the first page and $5 for each page after that. Some older records may need to be requested in person at the courthouse. Probate records are especially useful for genealogy because they name heirs, list assets, and often include family relationships that don't appear in other documents.
City and County of Honolulu Records
The City and County of Honolulu maintains its own set of records separate from state agencies. The main website is honolulu.gov. City records go back to 1905 and include engineering maps, legislative records, and administrative files. For genealogy purposes, these records can help fill in gaps about property ownership, city permits, and local government interactions. You can contact the City Hall Annex in Honolulu at (808) 523-4044 for guidance on what records are available and how to get them.
Bureau of Conveyances: Land Records for Makakilo Families
Land records are a key tool in genealogy. They show who owned property, when they bought or sold it, and sometimes reveal family connections through inheritance and transfers. The Bureau of Conveyances maintains Hawaii's land records and has grantor and grantee indexes going back to 1845. The office is at 1151 Punchbowl Street, Suite 120, in Honolulu. Phone is (808) 587-0147. Their website is at dlnr.hawaii.gov/boc/.
Because Makakilo was developed largely in the latter part of the 20th century, land records there tend to be more recent. But if your ancestors owned land elsewhere on Oahu before moving to the Leeward side, those older Bureau of Conveyances records can be very useful. Searching by surname in the grantor/grantee index can turn up deeds, mortgages, and other instruments that help establish timelines and family connections.
Hawaii State Library and Ancestry Access
The Hawaii State Library system provides free access to Ancestry.com from any branch with a library card. That is a major resource, since a personal Ancestry subscription can be expensive. You can also access microfilm copies of birth, death, and marriage indexes at many branches. The main library system website is librarieshawaii.org.
The nearest branch to Makakilo is the Kapolei Public Library. It is worth calling ahead to confirm what genealogy resources are currently available on site, since collections and hours can vary. Library staff can often point you toward specific microfilm reels or databases that match your research time period.
FamilySearch and the Waipahu Center
FamilySearch is a free genealogy platform with millions of records. Their online portal at familysearch.org includes many Hawaii vital records, land records, and historical documents. For in-person help, the Waipahu FamilySearch Center is the closest center to Makakilo and can be reached at (808) 678-0752. Staff and volunteers at FamilySearch centers can guide you through research strategies, help you use the online tools, and assist with records in Hawaiian or other languages.
FamilySearch has digitized a significant portion of the records held at the Hawaii State Archives and other agencies, so some things you would otherwise need to visit Honolulu to see are now available online at no cost. It is a good first stop before making trips to physical offices.
Ulukau: Hawaiian Language Records
If your family has deep roots in Hawaii, you may encounter records in the Hawaiian language. Ulukau is a free digital library that includes Hawaiian-language newspapers, marriage records from 1826 to 1929, and probate records from 1847 to 1917. The site is at ulukau.org. These records predate English-language record-keeping in Hawaii and can be the only source for information on ancestors from the Kingdom period. Some records include place names, land divisions, and family relationships that don't appear in later English-language documents.
What to Request When Researching Makakilo Genealogy Records
Most people start with the records they know the least about. A short list of the most common genealogy record types and where to get them in Makakilo's jurisdiction:
- Birth certificates (1852 onward): Hawaii DOH, 1250 Punchbowl St., or online at vitrec.ehawaii.gov
- Death certificates (1852 onward): Same as above
- Marriage records (1826 onward): Hawaii DOH for recent records; State Archives and Ulukau for older ones
- Probate and estate records: First Circuit Court via eCourt Kokua or in person at Kapolei Judiciary Complex
- Land records (1845 onward): Bureau of Conveyances, 1151 Punchbowl St.
- City and county administrative records (1905 onward): City and County of Honolulu, City Hall Annex
For records older than 75 years, the Hawaii DOH genealogy process is generally the right path. For recent records, you need to show direct descent or legal interest. Court and land records have their own access rules, but most older materials are available to any researcher who asks in the right way.
Tips for Getting Started with Makakilo Genealogy
Start with what you know. Write down names, dates, and places for the family members you can document now. That gives you a baseline. From there, work backward one generation at a time. Use the free tools first: FamilySearch, Ulukau, the Hawaii State Archives digital collection, and the library's Ancestry access. Save paid requests and in-person visits for records you can't find any other way.
Because Makakilo is a relatively newer development, your ancestors likely lived in other parts of Oahu before the community was built. Check records for Ewa, Waipahu, Kapolei, and other nearby areas. Land records and census data from those places may fill gaps that Makakilo-specific searches can't answer. The Bureau of Conveyances grantor/grantee index is especially helpful here because it covers all of Oahu.
If you run into records in Hawaiian, don't skip them. Many of the most detailed family records from the Kingdom period are in Hawaiian, and Ulukau or a local FamilySearch volunteer may be able to help you read them. The State Archives also has staff who can assist with older documents.
Nearby Cities for Genealogy Research
Researchers working in Makakilo often find that their family records connect to neighboring communities. The following nearby cities also have genealogy resource pages: