HAWAII COUNTY, HI HISTORY AND LOOKUP
County History Books
*None Listed
Hawaii County, Hawaii: A Genealogical Overview
Hawaii County, commonly referred to as the “Big Island,” is the largest county in the State of Hawaii and encompasses the entire Island of Hawaii. It is a region rich in Native Hawaiian history, Polynesian settlement, missionary influence, sugar plantation development, and modern multicultural growth. For genealogists, Hawaii County offers extensive resources that trace indigenous Hawaiian lineages, immigrant laborer communities, and settlers who arrived during the 19th and 20th centuries.
I. County Formation and Evolution
Hawaii County represents one of the original counties created in the early 20th century as part of Hawaii’s governmental organization.
- 1905: County Formed: Hawaii County was established on July 1, 1905, by the Territorial Legislature of Hawaii.
- Parent Entity: It was created as one of the five original counties of the Territory of Hawaii.
- Subsequent Formations: Unlike other counties on the islands, Hawaii County encompasses the entire Big Island and has not been divided.
- Name Origin: Named after the Island of Hawaii itself, which according to tradition, was named for Hawaiʻiloa, the legendary Polynesian navigator.
- County Seat History: The city of Hilo serves as the county seat and remains the administrative and economic center of the island.
II. Settlement and Early History
- Early Inhabitants: Polynesians settled the island more than a thousand years ago, creating a strong Native Hawaiian cultural presence that continues today. The island was divided into traditional land divisions known as ahupuaʻa.
- Unification by Kamehameha I: The island is historically significant as the birthplace of King Kamehameha I, who unified the Hawaiian Islands in 1810.
- Missionary and Agricultural Development (1820s–1900s): Christian missionaries arrived in the early 19th century, followed by the growth of sugar plantations and ranching, which dominated the island’s economy.
- Key Historical Events:
- Plantation Era: Large numbers of immigrant laborers arrived from Japan, China, Portugal, the Philippines, and Puerto Rico to work on sugar plantations.
- Volcanic Activity: Mauna Loa and Kīlauea, two of the world’s most active volcanoes, have significantly shaped settlement patterns and local history.
- Statehood (1959): Hawaii became a U.S. state in 1959, and Hawaii County remained its largest county in land area.
III. Genealogical Records and Resources
- County Offices: The Hawaii County Clerk’s Office in Hilo maintains vital records, property deeds, and probate files beginning in the early 20th century.
- Vital Records:
- Birth, Marriage, and Death Records: Hawaii began centralized registration of vital events in the mid-19th century under the Kingdom of Hawaii. Territorial and state records are preserved through the Hawaii State Department of Health.
- Essential Records and Archives:
- Hawaii State Archives (Honolulu, HI): Holds extensive collections from the Kingdom, Territorial, and State periods, including land grants, court files, and legislative records.
- Hilo Public Library and Hawaii State Library System: Provide access to newspapers, photographs, maps, and genealogical materials.
- Church Records: Catholic, Protestant, and Mormon congregations, along with Native Hawaiian church records, document baptisms, marriages, and burials.
- Libraries and Societies:
- Hawaii Island Historical Society (Hilo): Preserves manuscripts, oral histories, and photographs related to Hawaii County history.
- Hawaiian Historical Society (Honolulu): Offers broader resources that include materials connected to Hawaii County families and institutions.
- Bordering Jurisdictions:
Hawaii County is unique in that it encompasses the entire Island of Hawaii and therefore has no bordering counties. Neighboring islands are administered as separate counties within the state.