Birth Certificates and Identity Documents 

Birth Certificates and Identity Documents 

Vital records are government records of life events such as a birth, death, civil union, marriage, or divorce. Vital records usually consist of names, places, dates and other information that identify a person or event. Original or certified copies of these records are needed to get a government identification card, a driver’s license, to register for school, for employment, or to apply for government programs. 

Jurisdiction 

To get a vital record in Hawaii, an event such as a birth, death, civil union, marriage, or divorce must have happened in Hawaii, and have been recorded with the Department of Health, Office of Health Status Monitoring.  

Process 

Legal rules limit who can get a vital record.  To get a certified copy of a vital record, you must have a direct interest in the record. Examples of people with a direct interest would be the person listed on the record, the person’s spouse or domestic partner, parents, siblings, grandparents, grandchildren, a legal guardian of the person, or an attorney representing the person. If you think someone else should be able to get a vital record for you, you should check directly with the vital records office in the state you are requesting the record from.   

Someone who wants a birth certificate must complete an application and show a copy of their valid unexpired government identification card. If you do not have a valid unexpired government identification card, an attorney representing you may be able to request the birth certificate for you. Additional supporting documents may be required to prove your identity.  

In Hawaii, the cost for a birth certificate is $12.50. You can get a waiver of the fee if you are a veteran. Please check if you qualify. 

In Hawaii, it can take 8-10 weeks by mail to receive your birth certificate. Depending on how many people want records at the vital records office, it may be a longer or shorter time period. Other delays may be caused by information discrepancies.  

Special Concerns 

If you are born in another state please check with the vital records office in that state or check information online at the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s website https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/w2w/index.htm 

If you are a U.S. citizen born in another country, you may get a replacement consular report of birth abroad as your birth certificate from the Department of State, but only if your parents registered your birth with the Department of State.  If you are not a U.S. citizen, you can go to the consulate to request help with getting your birth certificate from your country of birth. 

Many State and Federal agencies are currently experiencing delays in processing applications for vital documents. It may take from 12 weeks to a year or more to receive a birth certificate from another state or federal agency.