The Legalities to Marrying in Hawaii
Step by Step - How to Legally Get Married in Hawaii
A hopeless romantic himself, James Chun is one of Hawaii’s most sought after celebrants for good reason. After spending the past decade working as an Oahu-based officiant he knows a thing or two about the legal process as well. Whether you are a local, an out-of-state American or a foreigner to Hawaii, making sure you tick off the legal steps is equally as important as your choice of cake toppings! Follow James’ insightful guide below and be sure to check out his helpful video too!
So you’re asking, “How Do I Get married in Hawaii”?
Whether you are having a large wedding or even a civil wedding, to be legally wed in Hawaii, you must obtain a marriage license in Hawaii - an out of state marriage license will not be valid. You can get your marriage license as early as 30 days before your ceremony but not sooner than 30 days. You must have it before we perform the ceremony and also bring it to the ceremony site. This is the second most important thing besides your presence at the ceremony if you want it to be a legal ceremony. After the ceremony, your celebrant will personally file it with the State of Hawaii.
If you forget to bring the license to the ceremony your chosen celebrant can still file it with the State of Hawaii because your information is already pre-registered. In this case, you will need to provide me with your birth dates your marriage license can be found online. Once your officiant has filed your paperwork with the State of Hawaii, you will receive the official legal copy which you can use to take care of further business. It takes the State of Hawaii 4-6 weeks to send you the certified marriage documents. If you’d like to get it sooner, you can fill out a request form and pay the extra fee to the Department of Health.
Here is the link to apply for a Hawaii Marriage License
Further information
After you have applied to get married, you must go in person to pick up a marriage worksheet with a marriage agent at the following location.
Hawaii Department of Health
(Mon - Fri, 8:00a - 4:00) Holidays excluded
1250 Punchbowl Street
Honolulu, Hawaii 96817
Maui District Health Office
State Office Building
54 South High Street, Rm. #301
Wailuku, Maui, Hawaii, 96793
Kauai District Health Office
3040 Umi Street
Lihue, Hawaii 96766
Q&A With
Rev. James Chun
How do I obtain my temporary marriage license after the wedding?
After your marriage has been filed with the State of Hawaii, you will be able to look up your marriage record with the LOCATOR ID provided to you from the marriage agent. Using the ID, you will be able to print a temporary PDF of your license. Your official marriage license will be mailed to you by the State of Hawaii in about six weeks. However, if you want to obtain the official certificate sooner, you may personally go back to the Health Department (after the paperwork has been processed) to request a print out (a small fee will apply). If you need additional copies, you may order them online at the Hawaii Vital Records website.
I am not a US citizen, and the person I am marrying is from another country. Can we still get married in Hawaii?
Yes, you can. Please consult with the State licensing office for details. They are very friendly and will answer your questions by phone.
If we want to have our ceremony on a State beach or park, do we need a permit?
Before you can obtain a permit, you will need to purchase a $1,000,000 policy for "special event insurance". A google search will provide you with a list of companies that provide the coverage...for about $100. Once you have the coverage, you will be able to obtain a permit from the State. The cost for the permit is $20. It is also important to remember that you must provide copies of the state permit to all working parties while at the ceremony. Here is the link to the form and further information.
If you are looking for a celebrant perform your Hawaiian nuptials, contact Rev. James Chun or any of our other recommended celebrants.
Images: Supplied by Rev. James Chun