Getting started with Marriage Information for Hawaii
Before you plan to perform a wedding in Hawaii, it is important to understand the state's legal requirements.
To get started, check out the information provided below for getting ordained and registering as a wedding officiant in Hawaii.
If you have questions, please go to our helpful FAQ. For more information or support, please visit our contact us page.
Step 1: Become Ordained for Hawaii
To get ordained and become a minister to perform ceremonies in Hawaii, start by completing our ordination application.
Once you have completed the application for ordination you will be sent an email that confirms your ordination. Our ordinations for Hawaii are completely free, granted to you for life and can be completed in less than a day. More than half a million people just like you, have registered and received their license to perform weddings.
If you have not completed the application, you can get ordained for free and start your journey as an authorized minister in Hawaii with Open Ministry by using the button below!
Step 2: Contact The Hawaii County Clerk
Next, contact the office of your local marriage authority (typically your county clerk in Hawaii). Let them know that you are an ordained minister with Open Ministry in California, and ask them what information they require of you, to officiate a marriage in Hawaii.
Clerks and governing agencies may require you to present them with a physical copy of your ordination record to register we offer packages which include bundled items at a discount.
When speaking with the Hawaii county clerk it can be helpful to use the following phrases:
- I am an ordained minister with a church ministry in California.
- I would like to register as a wedding Officiant in your county to perform and solemnize weddings.
- What agency or department issues marriage licenses in your county and how may I contact them?
- I have my Letter of Good Standing and Ordination Credential as proof of my ministry and ordination for Hawaii.
- Do you require any additional documentation for me to register as a wedding officiant in Hawaii?
Step 3: Register with the Hawaii Clerk
After you've contacted the marriage authority in Hawaii, we recommend that you visit the bookstore to get your official credentials for your records, presentation or registration.
See Hawaii State Statutes for More specific Requirements
When registering as an officiant in Hawaii, you may be asked to display proof of your ordination to the Hawaii county clerk's office before they will accept the marriage license as having been solemnized. We generally advise ministers of Hawaii to get a Complete Membership Package for Hawaii which includes a Letter of Good Standing (the live signed and notarized physical copy of your good standing with our ministry) an Ordination Credential, Minister Wallet Card and much more.
Having physical copies of your credentials provides peace of mind for couples and others that you intend to marry. Additionally, we recommend you give yourself at least 4 weeks between the date of the wedding ceremony and your credential request to ensure that you receive all of your materials to register in time.
Please note, that any state or county can impose different requirements;
this may include other nominal fees and additional paperwork that may need to
be completed before the ceremony can take place.
It is important to note that some county clerks in Hawaii may require wedding
officiants to attach a statement which asserts some of the elements in the
marriage license upon submission, including the following:
- The time and location at which the wedding took place
- The names and places of residence of all official witnesses
- The religious organization in which the officiant is ordained
- The printed name and address of the officiant
When filling out the Hawaii marriage license, Hawaii state or the clerk may
request you use the title "Minister" or "Reverend".
The clerk may also require you enter your denomination, you can use
"Non-Denominational" or your practicing denomination. Failing to
state a denomination may result in rejection and could require a duplicate
marriage license.
Step 4: Perform the Ceremony
Before you perform a wedding in Hawaii, be sure that the couple has picked up their Hawaii state issued marriage license from the appropriate office. Once you have completed the steps listed, you are ready to perform the wedding!
Officiating a wedding in Hawaii can be a great and wonderful experience. Work with the couple to determine the proper ceremony format and any details they wish to have. For ideas and inspiration check out our sample ceremony scripts.
We recommend that new ministers who are going to be performing a wedding in Hawaii, or who have questions about the ceremony read over our Officiant Guide.
Step 5: Submit the Hawaii Marriage License
Hawaii marriage licenses are valid for a set number of days, and there may be a waiting period between when the couple receives the marriage license in Hawaii and when the ceremony may be legally performed in Hawaii.
This information is generally written on the license and must be followed to ensure the ceremony is recorded properly by Hawaii.
Please note that the signed marriage license for Hawaii must be returned to the issuing office in Hawaii state, before the time limit is reached. You can check the marriage license for the exact dates.
After the ceremony, you will need to return the completed and signed marriage license to the Hawaii states issuing office. This is essential for the marriage to be legally recorded. In most cases there is an address listed on the marriage license, use that to mail it back to the governing agency so that it can be recorded by the Hawaii.
If you have any questions about the returning of the license, contact the Hawaii agency that issued it for more information.
Hawaii State Minister & Marriage Statutes
572-12 By whom solemnized
A license to solemnize marriages may be issued to, and the marriage rite may be performed and solemnized by any minister, priest, or officer of any religious denomination or society who has been ordained or is authorized to solemnize marriages according to the usages of such denomination or society, or any religious society not having clergy but providing solemnization in accordance with the rules and customs of that society, or any justice or judge or magistrate, active or retired, of a state or federal court in the State, upon presentation to such person or society of a license to marry, as prescribed by this chapter. Such person or society may receive the price stipulated by the parties or the gratification tendered.
Division 1: Government - Title 31: Family - Chapter 572: Marriage - Part 1: Requisites, Procedures
[CC 1859, §1285; RL 1925, §2950; am L 1929, c 104, §6; RL 1935, §4640; RL 1945, §12361; RL 1955, §323-12; HRS §572-12; am L 1969, c 19, §2; am L 1974, c 15, §1]
572-11 Marriage ceremony; license to solemnize
It shall not be lawful for any person to perform the marriage ceremony within the State without first obtaining from the department of health a license to solemnize marriages.
Division 1: Government - Title 31: Family - Chapter 572: Marriage - Part 1: Requisites, Procedures
[CC 1859, §1283; RL 1925, §2949; am L 1929, c 104, §5; RL 1935, §4639; RL 1945, §12360; RL 1955, §323-11; am L Sp 1959 2d, c 1, §19; HRS §572-11; am L 1969, c 19, §1]
572-13 Record of solemnization; marriages, reported by whom; certified copies
(a) Recordkeeping. Every person authorized to solemnize marriage shall make and preserve a record of every marriage by the person solemnized, comprising the names of the man and woman married, their place of residence, and the date of their marriage.
Every person authorized to solemnize marriage, who neglects to keep a record of any marriage by the person solemnized shall be fined $50.
(b) Marriages, reported by whom. It shall be the duty of every person, legally authorized to perform the marriage ceremony, to report within three business days every marriage ceremony, performed by the person, to the agent of the department of health in the district in which the marriage takes place setting forth all facts required to be stated in a standard certificate of marriage, the form and contents of which shall be prescribed by the department of health.
(c) Certified copies of certificate of marriage. The department of health shall deliver one certified copy of the certificate of marriage or the contents or any part thereof as provided in section 338-13 to the persons married. The certificate shall be prima facie evidence of the fact of marriage in any proceeding in any court.
The department of health shall upon request, furnish to any applicant additional certified copies of the certificate of marriage or any part thereof.
Copies of the contents of any certificate on file in the department, certified by the department shall be considered for all purposes the same as the original.
The department may prescribe reasonable fees, if any, to be paid for certified copies of certificates.
Division 1: Government - Title 31: Family - Chapter 572: Marriage - Part 1: Requisites, Procedures
[L 1864, p 21; am L 1903, c 8, §2; am L 1911, c 23, §1; RL 1925, §2951; RL 1935, §4641; RL 1945, §12362; RL 1955, §323-13; HRS §572-13; am L 1974, c 31, §2; am L 1978, c 49, §2; am L 1981, c 202, §2; gen ch 1985]
572-13.5 Revocation or suspension of licenses to solemnize
Any license to solemnize marriages issued pursuant to section 572-12 may be revoked or suspended by the department of health, if the holder of the license has failed to comply with the applicable provisions of this chapter or of the rules of the department of health.
Division 1: Government - Title 31: Family - Chapter 572: Marriage - Part 1: Requisites, Procedures
[L 1981, c 202, §3]