Hawaii is one of the states that does not have a single central online state repository for searching historical newspapers, but they use the Library of Congress Chronicling America site as their main site for searching old newspapers, and there are a couple of other large collections. There are some free online newspapers on other sites and collections available on subscription sites. Below is a list of where the titles are stored and the link so that you can access them.
There are about 500 newspapers that have been published in the Aloha state – certainly not all of them are searchable online. But there are several that are indeed available. So go for it – find your Hawaii ancestors and all the interesting articles that capture the stories of their lives.
Please note that I have not always entered the dates that are included in the collections, as I suspect they will change as more items are digitized. Also I suspect that some of these links may change over time – so if there is a dead link – please use your favorite search engine to find their new location.
(Updated June 2021; recently added links are in BOLD)
Free Sites:
Statewide Collections:
Chronicling America – Hawaii Newspapers
- Hilo, Hawaii, 1895-1917 – Hilo tribune.
- Honolulu (Oahu), Hawaii, 1840-1841 – The Polynesian.
- Honolulu [Hawaii, 1899-190? – Austin’s Hawaiian weekly.
- Honolulu [Hawaii, 1902-1911 – The Honolulu times.
- Honolulu [Hawaii], 1882-1895 – The Daily bulletin.
- Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii, 1895-1912 – Evening bulletin.
- Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii, 1912-current – Honolulu star-bulletin.
- Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii], 1865-1918 – The Hawaiian gazette.
- Honolulu [Oahu], 1893-1912 – The Hawaiian star.
- Honolulu [Oahu], Hawaii, 1844-1864 – Polynesian.
- Honolulu, 1891-1895 – Hawaii holomua.
- Honolulu, 1893-1895 – Hawaii holomua = Progress.
- Honolulu, H.I., 1880-1885 – Saturday press.
- Honolulu, H.I., 1895-1895 – The Independent.
- Honolulu, H.I., 1895-1905 – The Independent.
- Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands, 1856-1888 – The Pacific commercial advertiser.
- Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands, 1885-1886 – Daily Honolulu press.
- Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands, 1885-1921 – The Pacific commercial advertiser.
- Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands, 1886-1887 – The daily herald.
- Honolulu, T.H., 1900-1902 – The Honolulu republican.
- Honolulu, T.H., 1910-1910 – The Democrat.
- Lihue, Kauai, H.T., 1902-current – The Garden Island.
- Wailuku, Maui, H.I., 1900-current – The Maui news.
Google News Archive
- Molokai – The Molokai Dispatch
Hawaiian Language Newspapers 1834-1927
- Ke Aloha Aina Oiaio – 1896-1897
- Ke Au Hou – July 1910 – January 1912
- Ke Au Okoa – April 24, 1865 – June 5, 1865
- Hawaii Holomua – 1912
- Ka Hoku o ka Pakipika – September 23, 1861 – May 14, 1863
- Ke Kilohana o ka Malamalama – 1907 – 1919
- Ka Lama Hawaii – February 14, 1834 – December 26, 1834
- Ka Lanakila – July 1, 1909 – October 21, 1909
- Ka Lei Momi – June 21, 1893 – September 22, 1893
- Ka Lei Momi e Mau Kou Olino Ana – August 5, 1893 – December 25, 1893
- Ka Leo o ka Lahui – 1889-1896
- Ka Loea Kalaiaina – 1897-1900
- Ka Makaainana – 1887-1899
- Ka Manawa – November 7, 1870 – December 12, 1870
- Ka Na’i Aupuni – 1905-08
- Ka Nupepa Kuokoa – 1861-1927
Ho’olaupi’i – Hawaiian Nupepa Collection 1834-1948
- Ahailono a ka Lahui
- Hawaii Holomua
- Hawaii Holomua
- Home Rula Republalika
- Honolulu Times
- Ka Elele
- Ka Hae Hawaii
- Ka Hoku Loa
- Ka Hoku o Hawaii
- Ka Hoku o ka Pakipika
- Ka Holomua
- Ka Lahui Hawaii
- Ka Lama Hawaii
- Ka Lanakila
- Ka Lau Oliva
- Ka Lei Momi
- Ka Lei Rose o Hawaii
- Ka Leo o ka Lahui
- Ka Makaainana
- Ka Manawa
- Ka Naʻi Aupuni
- Ka Nonanona
- Ka Nupepa Elele
- Ka Nupepa Kuokoa
- Ka Nupepa Puka la Aloha Aina
- Ka Nupepa Puka la ko Hawaii Pae Aina
- Ka Oiaio
- Ke Alahou
- Ke Alakai O Hawaii
- Ke Alakai o Hawaii
- Ke Alakai o Hawaii
- Ke Alaula
- Ke Aloha Aina
- Ke Aloha Aina Oiaio
- Ke Au Hou
- Ke Au Okoa
- Ke Kiai
- Ke Kilohana o ka Malamalama
- Ke Koo o Hawaii
- Ke Kumu Hawaii
- Ko Hawaii Pae Aina
- Ko Hawaii Ponoi
- Kuokoa Home Rula
- Kuu Hae Hawaii
- Nuhou
- O ka Hae Katolika
- Puuhonua o na Hawaii
- The Liberal
Papakilo Hawaiian Language Newspaper Collection (1834–1980)
- Ahailono o ka Lahui (1890)
- Hawaii Holomua (1891-1912)
- Home Rula Repubalika (1901-1902)
- Honolulu Republican (1902)
- Ka Elele Hawaii, Ka Elele (1844-1854)
- Ka Elele Poakolu (1880-1881)
- Ka Hae Hawaii (1856-1861)
- Ka Hoku o Hawaii (1917-1948)
- Ka Hoku o ka Pakipika (1861-1863)
- Ka Holomua (1913-1914)
- Ka Lahui Hawaii (1875-1877)
- Ka Lama Hawaii (1834)
- Ka Lanakila (1909)
- Ka Lau Oliva (1871-1874)
- Ka Lei Momi (1893)
- Ka Leo o ka Lahui (1889-1896)
- Ka Loea Kalaiaina (1897-1900)
- Ka Makaainana (1887-1899)
- Ka Malamalama o Hawaii, Ka Lei Rose o Hawaii (1898)
- Ka Manawa (1870)
- Ka Naʻi Aupuni (1905-1908)
- Ka Nonanona (1841-1845)
- Ka Nupepa Elele Poakolu (1883-1885)
- Ka Nupepa Elele (1885-1892)
- Ka Nupepa Kuokoa (1861-1927)
- Ka Nupepa Puka la Aloha Aina (1893-1894)
- Ka Nupepa Puka la ko Hawaii Pae Aina (1884-1885)
- Ka Oiaio (1889-1896)
- Ka Puuhonua, Ka Puuhonua o na Hawaii (1916-1918)
- Ka Wai Ola – Office of Hawaiian Affairs (1980-2017)
- Ke Alahou (1979-1980)
- Ke Alakai O Hawaii (1887-1888)
- Ke Alakai o Hawaii (1919-1920)
- Ke Alakai o Hawaii (1928-1937)
- Ke Alaula (1866-1873)
- Ke Aloha Aina Oiaio
- Ke Aloha Aina (1895-1920)
- Ke Au Hou (1910-1912)
- Ke Au Okoa (1865-1873)
- Ke Kiai
- Ke Kilohana o ka Malamalama (1908-1910)
- Ke Koo o Hawaii (1883)
- Ke Kumu Hawaii (1834-1839)
- Ko Hawaii Pae Aina (1878-1891)
- Ko Hawaii Ponoi (1873-1874)
- Kuokoa Home Rula (1907-1912)
- Kuu Hae Hawaii (1913)
- Nuhou (1873-1874)
- Nupepa Puka La Kuokoa (1893)
- O ka Hae Katolika (1868-1870)
- The Liberal (1893)
University of Hawaii eVols Newspaper Collection
- Austin’s Hawaiian Weekly
- Daily bulletin
- Daily herald
- Daily Honolulu press
- Democrat
- Evening bulletin
- Garden Island
- Hawaii Progress Holomua/Hawaii Holomua Progress
- Hawaiian gazette
- Hawaiian Star
- Hilo Tribune/Weekly Hilo tribune
- Honolulu republican
- Honolulu Star Bulletin
- Honolulu Times
- Independent
- Independent
- Maui News
- Pacific Commercial Advertiser
- Saturday press
- The Polynesian
University of Hawaii Manoa Portuguese Newspaper Collection
- O Luso Hawaiiano August 1885 to December 1890
- Aurora Hawaiiana [Hawaiian Dawn] August 1889 to March 1891
- A Uniao Lusitana Hawaiiana. March 1892 to February 1896
- A Sentinella [Sentinel] 1892 to 1896
- O Luso February 1896 to October 1897, October 1910 to Jan. 1920
- A Setta [Arrow] 1903 to 1921
- O Popular July 1911 to January 1913
- O Facho [The Torch]
University of Hawaii Manoa Filipino Newspaper Collection
- Ang Banagbanag = The Dawn, 1939
- Filipino Herald of Hawaii, 1962
- Hawaii Filipino News (Juan C. Dionisio, editor) 1977-1978
- Hawaii Filipino News (Roman R. Cariaga, editor)
- Hawaii Filipino News (Teodoro G. Biano, editor)
- Hawaii Press (Hawaii Filipino News)
- Hawaiian Reporter
- Hawaii’s Filamerican tribune
- Naimbag-a-Nakem
- New Filamerican
- New Philippines
- The Independent
- Ti Managservi
- Ti Mangiturong
Filipino Newspaper Digitization Project
- Ang Banagbanag
- Filamerican Tribune
- Filipino Herald of Hawaii
- Hawaii Filipino News (Biano)
- Hawaii Filipino News (Cariaga)
- Hawaii Filipino News
- Hawaii Press (Hawaii Filipino News)
- Hawaiian Reporter
- Naimbag-a-Nakem
- New Filamerican
- New Philippines
- P.I. Commonwealth Chronicle
- Pacific Courier
- Pacific Post News
- Philippine Commonweath Chronicle
- Philippine News Tribune
- The Independent
- Ti Managservi
- Ti Mangiturong
- Ti Progresibo
- Ti Pudno (The Truth)
- Ti Silaw (The Light)
- Ti Timek Ti Vibora Luviminda (The Voice of Vibora Luviminda)
University of Massachusetts/Dartmouth Hawaiian Portuguese Newspapers
Student Collections:
Chaminade University – Honolulu
Hawaii Pacific University – Honolulu
Honolulu Community College – Honolulu
Kapi`olani Community College – Honolulu
Kauai Community College – Puhi
Leeward Community College – Pearl City
University of Hawaii – Hilo
University of Hawaii – Manoa
University of Hawaii – West Oahu
Windward Community College – Kaneohe
Miscellaneous Collections and Indexes:
Independent Voices – Alternative Newspapers
- Hawaii Resistance Notes
- Liberated Barracks
- O.D.D.
- Sanctuary
Bob Krauss Research Index – an index of English-language newspapers from Hawaiʻi, 1840-1944
- Daily Bulletin (344 index entries)
- Hawaiian Star (2,682 index entries)
- Honolulu Advertiser (990 index entries)
- Honolulu Star-Bulletin (8,792 index entries)
- Pacific Commercial Advertiser (29,388 index entries
- Polynesian (11,621 index entries)
- Evening Bulletin (8 index entries)
- Friend (21 index entries)
- Hawaiian Gazette (4 index entries)
- Hilo Daily Tribune (18 index entries)
- Maui News (105 index entries)
Hawaii War Records Depository Photographs
- Honolulu Star Bulletin
- Honolulu Advertiser
Japanese American Historical Newspapers Collection
- Gyōshō / 鐘暁, (Honolulu, HI)
- Hawai Asahi / 布哇朝日 [The Hawaii Asahi], (Hilo, HI)
- Hawai Bun’en / 布哇文苑 [The Hawaii Bunen], (Honolulu, HI)
- Hawai Mainichi / 布哇毎日 [The Hawaii Mainichi], (Hilo, HI)
- Hawai Nichi Nichi Shinbun / 布哇日日新聞 [The Hawaiian – Japanese Daily Chronicle], (Honolulu, HI)
- Hawai Sandi Nyūsu / 布哇サンディ・ニュース [The Hawaii Sunday News], (Hilo, HI)
- Hawai Shinbun / 布哇新聞 [The Hawaii Shimbun], (Honolulu, HI)
- Hawai Shinpō / 布哇新報 [The Hawaii Shinpo], (Honolulu, HI)
- Hawai Shokumin Shinbun / 布哇植民新聞 [The Hawai Shokumin Shinbun], (Hilo, HI)
- Hawai Shōgyō / 布哇商業 [The Hawaii Shogyo], (Hilo/Honolulu, HI)
- Hawai Sutā / ハワイスター [The Hawaii Star], (Honolulu, HI)
- Hawaii Times / 布哇タイムス, (Honolulu, HI)
- Hiro Shinpō / ヒロ新報 [The Hilo Shinpo], (Hilo, HI)
- Honoruru Shinbun / ほのる々新聞 [Honolulu News], (Honolulu, HI)
- Jitsugyō no Hawai / 實業之布哇 [The Jitsugyo no Hawaii], (Honolulu, HI)
- Kawai Shinpō / 加哇新報 [The Kauai Shinpo], (Līhuʻe, HI)
- Kazan / 火山 [The Volcano], (Honolulu, HI)
- Kona Hankyō / コナ反響 [The Kona Echo], (Holualoa, Kona, HI)
- Maui Rekōdo / 馬哇レコード [Maui Record], (Wailuku, HI)
- Maui Shinbun / 馬哇新聞 [Maui Shimbun], (Wailuku, HI)
- Nihon Shūho / 日本週報 [Japanese Weekly News], (Honolulu, HI)
- Nippu Jiji / 日布時事 [The Nippu Jiji], (Honolulu, HI)
- Rakuen / 楽園 [The Paradise], (Hilo, HI)
- Shūkan Hawai Shinpō / 週刊布哇新報 [The Weekly Hawaii], (Honolulu, HI)
- Yamato / やまと [The Yamato], (Honolulu, HI)
- Yamato Shinbun / やまと新聞 [The Yamato Shimbun], (Honolulu, HI)
- Hawai Purantēshon Kuronikuru / 布哇プランテーションクロニクル [Hawaii Plantation Chronicle], (Honolulu, HI)
- Labor Review of Hawaii, (Honolulu, HI)
- Maco Breeze, (Paia, HI)
- Voice of Labor, (Honolulu, HI)
- Hawai Mikkyō / 布哇密教 [Hawaii Mikkyo], (Honolulu, HI)
- Hōyū / 法友, (Honolulu, HI)
- Kōjō / 向上 [The Kojyo], (Kealakekua, HI)
- Kyōdan Jihō / 教團時報 [Buddhist Child], (Honolulu, HI)
- Kazan Shinbun / 火山新聞 [The Kwazan], (Hilo, HI)
- Yōen Jihō / 洋園時報 [The Yoen Jiho], (Koloa, HI)
- The Molokai Dispatch Kaunakakai, Hawaii
- Kohala Mountain News Kapa’au
For Obituary Indexes, transcriptions, and other death/obituary information from historic newspapers, please check out the Obituaries page.
Other Free Sites:
Honolulu
- The Friend
- The Friend
- Friend
- Friend
- Friend
- Honolulu Record
- Index to the Honolulu Advertiser & Star Bulletin (Index only)
- Ka Elele
- Ka Nonanona
- Honolulu Hawaii Catholic Herald – 2013-present
- Polynesian
Pearl Harbor
Subscription or Pay Sites:
Ancestry.com:
There are currently 19 publications available at this site. See all the titles at Ancestry – Hawaii Newspapers
Genealogy Bank:
There are currently 64 publications available at this site. See all the titles at Genealogy Bank – Hawaii Newspapers
Newspaper Archive:
There is currently 62 publications available at this site. See all the titles at Newspaper Archive – Hawaii
Newspapers.com:
There are currently 24 publications available at this site. See all the titles at Newspapers.com – Hawaii
And Finally:
You also need to visit the Newspapers in Hawaii site, which can tell you what is occurring in the state with regard to newspaper projects. Another searchable database for published newspapers (not necessarily online) is The Hawaiian Historical Society – Helen Chapin’s Guide to Newspapers of Hawaii, 1834-2000.
Please note – even more may be available via a local library where a library card is required. And of course there is always microfilm for those that have not been made available online as yet.
Good Luck and Happy Hunting!
For more links for different states, provinces, and countries – please see the Newspaper Links page on this website.
For other Free Hawaii Links, click on the category of interest:
Newspapers
Obituaries
BMD Records
Photos
Yearbooks
Directories
Divorce Records
Naturalizations
Church Records
School Records
Coroner Records
Voter Records
Probate and Wills
Immigration
Mortuary Records
Alumni Records
Cemetery Records
Thank you so much for gathering these websites together. I’ve been wanting to research my Hawaiian ancestry, and this has made it so much easier. Mahalo nui loa.