Census Records for Hawaii
This entry was originally written by Dwight A. Radford for Red Book: American State, County, and Town Sources.
Federal
Population Schedules
• Indexed'1910, 1900, 1920, 1930
• Soundex'1900, 1920
The Hawaiian Islands were annexed to the United States in 1898. The 1900 U.S. census was being taken of the island population when they became a U.S. territory on 14 June 1900. The 1900 U.S. census is arranged by island since there were no counties at the time. The island of Niihau was enumerated as E.D. 84 of Kauai; the island of Kahoolawe as E.D. 107, and Lanai as E.D. 100 of Maui.
Counties were established beginning in 1905. By 1910 these included Kauai County with Niihau as E.D. 16; Maui County with Kahoolawe as E.D. 91, Lanai as E.D. 95, Molokai as E.D. 72, and Honolulu County with the Midway Islands as E.D. 135. The 1910 U.S. census of Hawaii is indexed and has been published. In 1910 Kalawao County on the island of Molokai was comprised of a leper colony.
In addition to the entire U.S. Federal Census Collection there is an index for the Hawaii Census, 1900-10 at Ancestry.com.
Territorial and State
Censuses for portions of the Hawaiian Islands were enumerated in 1866, 1878, 1890, and 1896. The 1878 census covers the islands of Hawaii, Maui, and Oahu, and the 1896 census covers Honolulu only. Copies of these early census records are on file at the Hawaii State Archives and the FHL.
The Hawaii State Archives has two 'census files' (1840'66 and 1847'96) that contain miscellaneous records such as school censuses, population lists, and vital record summaries. These are also on microfilm at the FHL.
The 1847 'Foreigners in Honolulu' census has been indexed in volume 2, #1-2 (April'July 1993) issue of Ke Ku'auhau magazine.
External Links
- Hawaii Census Records - free up-to-date guide to accessing Hawaii census records. Identifies federal, state, and territorial censuses, as well as substitute records (FamilySearch Research Wiki).
