RESEARCH PROBLEMS AND HOW TO SOLVE THEM
A. Overcome Race Information Errors. During the 1920’s and 30’s race information as stated on birth, marriage and death certificates, is often incorrect. During that time frame, some Hawaiians thought it was more prestigious to be Hawaiian-Caucasian or Hawaiian-Chinese when indeed the family was pure Hawaiian.
In order to prove that race information is wrong as reported in that time frame, it is necessary to go back another generation to find certificates and documents that show correct information.
B. No Parents Found on Death Certificates in Leprosy Deaths. Often parents were not listed on the death certificate of a person who died of Hansen’s Disease. It is disheartening for the family researcher to find a certificate with no parent’s listed, as the certificate may be the only hope of learned the names of the next generation. When this happens in the research, use a form to access the family information in the files of the Hansen’s Disease Center. Some of these records are also in the Hawaii State Archives. These records have also been filmed by the LDS (Mormon) church and can be found in the LDS (Mormon) Family History Centers. Be aware that sometimes the Hansen’s Disease center will not have information requested and will reply “no information found.”
C. Place Names. Attention must be given to birth, marriage, death certificates and other documents becasue they will sometimes show locations that no long exist. Or they will show a location like Waimea that can be found on Oahu, Hawaii and Kauai. Honolulu in the 1800’s was known as Kona and the 1800’s village of Honolulu was found in the Hana district of Maui. Sometimes it will be helpful to refer to a map of the time period or refer to a gazeteer such as, “District and County Guide of the Territory of Hawaii,” by Jessie H. Lindsey, 1947, in the Hawaii State Archives.
