Wailuku Genealogy Records
Wailuku is the county seat of Maui County, and it holds some of the most valuable genealogy records in the state. Vital records, court files, land deeds, and historical archives are all within reach here, whether you search in person or online.
Wailuku Quick Facts
Vital Records for Wailuku Genealogy Research
Birth, death, and marriage records are the core of most family history searches. In Wailuku, these records are handled through the Maui District Health Office and the Hawaii State Department of Health. It is worth knowing the exact process before you start, because Maui operates a bit differently than other islands.
The Maui District Health Office is located at the State Office Building, 54 South High Street, Room 301, Wailuku. The phone number is (808) 984-8210, and office hours are Monday through Friday, 7:45am to 4:30pm. One important note: there is no walk-in pickup service available on Maui. You cannot show up and collect a certified copy the same day. All orders must be submitted by mail or placed online. This is a firm rule, so plan accordingly if you are traveling from off-island.
Online orders go through the state vital records portal at vitrec.ehawaii.gov/vitalrecords/. The Hawaii State Department of Health oversees the full vital records system at health.hawaii.gov/vitalrecords/. Fees are $10 for the first certified copy, $4 for each additional copy of the same record, and $2.50 for online orders.
Genealogy-specific requests follow different rules. Under Hawaii Revised Statutes Section 338-18, records that are 75 years or older are generally open for genealogical access. The state DOH runs a dedicated genealogy request page at health.hawaii.gov/vitalrecords/genealogy/. If the records you need fall within that older range, you may qualify for access even without a direct family relationship to the person on record.
Second Circuit Court Genealogy Records in Wailuku
The Second Circuit Court sits at 2145 Main Street, Wailuku. The main phone line is (808) 244-2929. This courthouse holds court records that go back well into the 1800s, which makes it a rich source for family researchers tracing ancestors who lived on Maui.
Marriage certificates from the Second Circuit Court cover the years 1905 to 1949. Probate records here go back to 1846 through 1900, with additional records from 1915. Probate files are especially useful in genealogy because they often name heirs, list property, and describe family relationships in ways that vital records do not.
The Hawaii Judiciary runs an online search tool called eCourt Kokua, accessible through courts.state.hi.us. You can search by party name or case number. Copy fees at the courthouse are $3 per page for standard copies and $5 per page for certified copies. If you need older probate files or marriage records that predate digital systems, contact the clerk's office directly to confirm availability and turnaround times.
Maui County Clerk Records
The Maui County Clerk's office is at 200 South High Street, Wailuku. The phone number is (808) 243-7825, and hours are Monday through Friday, 7:45am to 4:30pm. This office handles marriage licenses, civil union records, and county council documents. If you are looking for a marriage license issued through Maui County rather than a certified state marriage certificate, this is the right place to contact.
Hawaii State Archives and Early Maui Records
The Hawaii State Archives is one of the best sources for pre-statehood genealogy records. Their main genealogy research guide is at ags.hawaii.gov/archives/about-us/genealogy-research-guide/. For Maui specifically, the archives hold birth records from 1860 to 1864 and from 1899, as well as death records from those same year ranges. Marriage records covering all Hawaiian islands run from 1826 through 1929.
Many of these records have been digitized and are available through the Digital Archives at digitalarchives.hawaii.gov. It is a good idea to check the digital collection first before making the trip to Honolulu, where the physical archives are located. You can save time and know in advance which records are available and which may require an in-person visit or formal request.
Maui Historical Society Archives in Wailuku
The Maui Historical Society is located at 2375A Main Street, Wailuku. They can be reached at (808) 244-3326 or by email at info@mauimuseum.org. Their website is mauimuseum.org. For genealogy researchers, the most useful page is their archival finding aids section at mauimuseum.org/archival-resource-finding-aids.
The Society holds historical documents, photographs, maps, and other materials related to Maui's past. If your family has deep roots on Maui, this archive may contain letters, business records, church documents, or plantation records that are not held anywhere else. Contact them before visiting to confirm research hours and whether an appointment is needed.
FamilySearch and the Wailuku Public Library
FamilySearch is a free genealogy database that holds a large collection of Hawaii records. Maui-specific records on FamilySearch cover the period from 1826 through 1944, including births, marriages, deaths, and other vital events. The main site is familysearch.org. You can search from home, but if you need help accessing microfilm or using research tools, the nearest FamilySearch Center is in Kahului at (808) 877-0586.
The Wailuku Public Library also provides genealogy resources to residents and visitors. Library cardholders can access genealogy databases that are not available for free at home. Call ahead to ask what is currently available, since database subscriptions can change. Public libraries are often overlooked in genealogy research, but they can fill in gaps that courthouse records do not cover.
Land Records and the Bureau of Conveyances
Land records are a powerful tool for genealogy. They show where your ancestors lived, what they owned, and sometimes who they sold or inherited property from. The Hawaii Bureau of Conveyances maintains grantor and grantee indexes going back to 1845. Their website is dlnr.hawaii.gov/boc/ and the phone number is (808) 587-0147. You can search online for many records, or contact the office directly if you need help with older documents.
When searching land records, look for both the English and Hawaiian spelling of your ancestor's name if possible. Many early records use Hawaiian names or phonetic spellings that vary from document to document. A grantor search and a grantee search on the same name can turn up different results, so run both.
Ulukau Hawaiian Electronic Library
Ulukau is a free online resource for Hawaiian language and historical records. It is available at ulukau.org. For Maui genealogy, Ulukau holds marriage records, probate files from 1846 to 1900, and divorce case files. These records are particularly useful if your ancestors lived on Maui during the Kingdom of Hawaii era or the early territorial period. Ulukau also includes digitized Hawaiian-language newspapers, which sometimes published birth, death, and marriage notices that never made it into official government records.
What to Request When Researching Wailuku Family Records
When you contact any of these offices, being specific helps. Know the full name of the person you are looking for, the approximate year of the event, and the island or county. If you have multiple possible spellings of a surname, list them all. Many Hawaiian and immigrant names were recorded inconsistently across different offices and time periods.
- For birth, death, and marriage certificates: contact the Maui District Health Office or order online through the state portal
- For pre-1929 vital records and historical documents: check the Hawaii State Archives digital collection first
- For probate, court, and marriage records from 1846 onward: contact the Second Circuit Court in Wailuku
- For land ownership history: search the Bureau of Conveyances grantor/grantee index
- For local historical materials and plantation-era records: contact the Maui Historical Society
Wailuku's role as the county seat means that many of the most important Maui records have been filed here for generations. Whether you are tracing Native Hawaiian ancestry, immigrant families who came during the plantation era, or more recent relatives, the offices and archives in and around Wailuku are a strong place to start.
Nearby Cities for Maui Genealogy Research
If your research extends to other parts of Maui, these nearby cities also have resources worth checking: