How to Use The State of Hawaii Honolulu Advertiser and Honolulu Star Bulletin Obituaries Database

This database is an surname alphabetical arrangement of deaths reported in the Honolulu Advertiser and Honolulu Star Bulletin. It can be searched by surname or full name using the search engine provided. You may also click on the appropriate surname's first letter and search that listing by scrolling through the page.

There is no claim to accuracy of information listed other then the fact that it was done as an electronic transfer from the original online version of the newspapers involved and therefore reflects the data as originally found in the papers. Any corrections to the entry can be made by sending an email message to: rathgebb@byuh.edu.

Special Notes:

For the most part, names which are entirely in "Upper Case" originated in the Honolulu Advertiser. In addition , where listed, the entire name (including the original family name) is provided.
Example: KEHAU SPROAT MENDOZA
For the most part, names which are entirely in the "Lower Case" originated in the Honolulu Star Bulletin. Example: Keahu Sproat Mendoza. Many of the names in the Star Bulletin provide letters only for portions of the name other then the first given name and surname.
Example: K.S. Mendoza
Surnames are listed in a strict letter by letter order. Thus the surname "McBaine" would not be spelled out as "MacBaine" and would appear after a surname such as " Marriott".
Titles such as Rev, Dr., Sgt., Jr., Sr., etc. are not considered in how surnames are listed.
In most cases, obituaries which in one paper, provided greater detail for prominent community individuals, were chosen over the shorter entries from the other paper.
However there are times when the same obituary from both papers is included because of the content differences.
When you have a combination surname such as "Smith-Jones", the name will appear after the last Smith surname in a word-by-word, letter-by-letter order. It WILL NOT appear as part of the "Jones" surname file.
A compound surname like De La Cruz is treated the same as Dela Cruz, and would appear in the "D" file not "C". There are several examples of compound name combinations found throughout the various files.
In the case of some surnames, it is not possible to determine if the surname is a compound surname or a single surname. An example is a name which ends in Au Ho. Because of this uncertainty, this name was listed under both the "A" and "H" surnames. Searchers are advised to check both names when it appears the surname may or may not be a compound surname.
The search engines which are a part of each year's main page may not always be the best way to search. Sometimes you can save time by going to the surname letter and then scroll through the listings to the one you are looking for. However, one thing the search engines will do will be to locate the surname you are looking for as associated with people other then the specific deceased surname. This helps in locating surnames that otherwise would not be connected.
The years 1997 and 1998 are for the most part only from the Honolulu Star Bulletin. The lack of archival information online for those years from the Honolulu Advertiser is the main reason for this situation. As time allows, it is hoped that the data can be retrieved using microfilms and then cross referenced to what is currently on the sites for those two years.
The current year 2004 is being updated on a continual daily basis, beginning with January 1, 2004.This should facilitate those looking for the most recent obituary information rather then wait for a whole year plus to begin searching.