Hawaii, U.S., Certificates of Identification for Chinese Arrivals, 1895-1898

The Kingdom of Hawaii existed as an independent nation from 1795 until 1898. It was formed when the independent islands of Hawai?i, O?ahu, Maui, Moloka?i, and Lana?i unified into one government. The remaining islands, Kaua?i and Ni?ihau, joined the kingdom in 1810. Initially, the Kingdom of Hawaii was a monarchy. Two dynastic families ruled over the island nation: the House of Kamehameha (1795-1872) and the Kalakaua Dynasty (1874- 1893).

The Kingdom of Hawaii became a constitutional monarchy in 1840, then briefly became the Republic of Hawaii after the ruling dynasty was overthrown in 1893. It was annexed as a territory of the United States in 1898 and became the fiftieth state of the U.S. in 1959.

About This Collection
This collection consists of certificates of identification for Chinese arrivals in the former Republic of Hawaii. Details available in these records include:

• Name
• Date of arrival
• Ship
• Permit number
• Photograph locator

Note: Photographs are not available in this collection. Photographs of arrivals were taken and kept in a Deposit Book. Copies of these photographs can be obtained from the Hawaii State Archives using locator information that is provided on each certificate.