How to Research the History of Your Home: A Resource Guide
Researching the history of your home can be a fun and rewarding experience whether your
purpose is to share the information with family and friends, nominate your home for the Register
of Historic Places, document local or family history or for your own personal satisfaction.
This Resource Guide will address some of the questions you may have such as:
What types of information do I need to start my research?
Where to start?
Where can I find information about my property and neighborhood, such as who designed,
constructed my home?
How do I keep track of/organize my research?
Why consider nominating my property to the state or national register?
What are uncommon sources of information that might prove helpful?
In researching a historic residence, your goal is to find out what it was like originally and this may
include learning more about the surrounding neighborhood, too.
You want to find out:
Who built the house and when?
What did the house originally look like—inside and out?
Who owned and lived in it?
What were the cultural forces at work when the house was built?
What changes have been made and when?
This Guide lists resources and tips that can help.
GOOGLE, WEBSITES, CITY DIRECTORIES, PHONE BOOKS, MAPS, NEWSPAPERS
These are a good place to start, especially since much of the searching can be done from your
own computer.
The Hawai‘i State Public Library has city directories through the end of the twentieth century.
Directories list names and in the back, businesses.
Rely whenever possible on original sources and trusted historians, suspect all secondhand and
thirdhand information (especially anything on social media) until you can verify it independently
with accurate information.
Come up with a good organizing system before you amass much data. Create multiple folders
and rename digital files for easy searching and retrieval. For example, if you put the date at the
front of the file name in YEAR-MONTH-DAY format, everything will automatically sort
chronologically. Also add keywords to the file name for quick searches across different folders.
ORAL HISTORY & CENSUS RECORDS
Interview neighbors, previous owners, or relatives of these families. Many of the historic homes
in Hawaii were built during the first half of the twentieth century, so they are associated with
people and communities which still are able to provide first-hand information.
Put together a list of names of people associated with the house, such as former neighbors, family
friends, housekeepers, relatives, etc. An internet search may give you information to help locate
some of these people. Some information they may be able to provide include colors of the house
inside and out; type and placement of the furniture; uses of various rooms; and stories about its
occupants. One of the most important things you may find are old photos of the house.
DEPARTMENT OF PLANNING AND PERMITTING
To begin your research, you will need the residence’s street address and Tax Map Key (TMK)
number. You can find a residence’s TMK number on the Real Property Tax Bill. Use the TMK
number to find the permit history for your residence. Building permit records help you find the
dates of alterations made to the house, the type of alterations, the name of the owners, name
of the architect and builder, cost, floor plans that show the location of major fixtures, and types
of materials.
In Honolulu, this information may be found on-line on the website for the Department of
Planning and Permitting for the City & County of Honolulu:
http://www.honoluludpp.org
The Geographic Information System (GIS) option allows you to search either by address or TMK
number. The zoning information will tell you if the residence is already on the “historic site
register.” Building permits issued prior to January 1972, however, are not available on-line. Copies
of the building permits may be obtained by visiting the Data Access and Imaging Branch on the
first floor of the Honolulu Municipal Building at 650 South King Street, tel. (808) 527-6743 or
email [email protected].
COUNTY REAL PROPERTY TAX ASSESSEMENT OFFICE
A residence’s real property tax records help you establish the “chain of title” history that shows
who owned the residence and when ownership transfers occurred.
On the summary tax sheet for the residence, each transfer of ownership is recorded. On the same
line as the transfer, there is a document number that will help you locate the deed book in which
a copy of the deed is kept. The next section will explain how to find the deed book at the State
Bureau of Conveyances.
In Honolulu, a residence’s tax records can be found at the City and County’s Tax Assessment
Office. This office houses the original field books containing residences’ tax history. These original
field books are no longer available, but they have been scanned and can be viewed by the public
on-line at computer terminals in the computer room.
Property tax records for residences in Kauai, Maui, and Hawaii Island Counties can be researched
by going to the county tax assessor’s office to request information. Locations for the county tax
assessment offices can be found at each of the county’s homepages by using the links provided
below.
While you are researching tax record information at the county tax office or on their website,
request a copy of the tax map, which shows the boundaries of the property. This map will provide
a useful basis on which to draw the site map of your residence, a required part of the nomination,
should you decide to pursue historic designation for your property.
For Oahu County: Property records:
City and County of Honolulu Public Access (qpublic.net)
https://www.realpropertyhonolulu.com/
Honolulu GIS:
Honolulu Land Information System (HoLIS) - Department of Planning & Permitting - City
& County of Honolulu (hicentral.com)
https://www.honolulugis.org/
For Hawaii Island County, residents can download TMK maps at:
https://www.planning.hawaiicounty.gov/resources/tax-maps-tmk-maps/
For Maui County, maps can be found at:
https://www.mauicounty.gov/757/Tax-Map-Information/
For Kauai County, the Real Property Assessment Office will provide individual plat maps, which
may be ordered directly. Contact information can be found at:
www.kauai.gov/realproperty/
BASIC RESEARCH MATERIALS
Websites
Google.com - free
Findagrave.com – free
Ancestry.com – basic is $25/month, advanced is $450/year
nthp.org – National Trust for Historic Preservation
imagesofoldhawaii.com – Peter Young’s excellent collection of historical articles
gis.hicentral.com – Interactive GIS Web Map and Data Services, good for individual parcel
data, TMK maps, building permit information.
City Directories
Years: 1871-1924 for O‘ahu: 1869-to current some online and some on microfilm
Location: Honolulu Public Library, UH Manoa online
Format: hard copy and pdf
Contents: Listing by street address, alphabetical listing, business listing, business ads.
Excellent resource for dating houses and locating notable residents. From 1908, use the
street index to get names, then alphabetical listing to get full names and occupations. For
1907 and earlier you will have to work backwards by name (even though the house might
be older, the trail stops cold if someone moves!). Be aware of street name changes,
address inaccuracies and re-numberings.
Phone Books
Years: 1894 to 1928 (O‘ahu) on microfiche with some years missing;
1929-1953 (Mutual Telephone Co.) (O‘ahu) hard copy.
1954-1979 (Hawaiian Telephone Co.) (O‘ahu) hard copy.
1980-2001 (GTE) (O‘ahu) hard copy.
Library visit recommended to check for specific years.
Library also has directories for Hawai‘i Island, Kaua‘i, Moloka‘i, Maui and Lāna‘i.
Location: Honolulu Public Library
Format: microfiche, hardcopy
Contents: names and addresses of those with telephone service. Issued semi-
quarterly for earlier years. Good for fine-tuning dates from City Directories.
Fire Insurance Maps
Years: 1879 (Lion),
1885, 1891, 1899, 1906 (Dakin)
1914, 1927, 1955 (Sanborn)
Location: Hawaii State Archives (1879 Lion, 1885 Dakin)
Bishop Museum (1879 Fireman’s Fund)
UH Manoa (1891, 1899, 1896 Dakin) (1914, 1927, 1955 Sanborn)
Format: Hardcopy (Hawaii State Archives, Bishop Museum), free download (UH
Manoa, https://digital.library.manoa.hawaii.edu/collections/show/30) (Library of
Congress, https://www.loc.gov/maps/ search for Sanborn and city)
Contents: Shows building footprints including porches, number of stories, type of
construction, addresses (including old addresses if renumbered). An excellent resource
for researching districts. Remember that houses can move and change shape over time.
Miscellaneous Maps
Hawaii State Survey Division, DAGS
http://ags.hawaii.gov/survey/map-search/
for government survey maps and subdivision maps
Land Commission Awards (LCA)
The HSHK Knowledge Well - The HSHK Knowledge Well (oclc.org)
https://hawaiinuiakea.contentdm.oclc.org/
TMK Maps – Honolulu GIS
gis.hicentral.com
Good for identifying parcels, street names, subdivisions
The University of Hawaii Map Collection:
https://guides.library.manoa.hawaii.edu/maps/
Subdivision Plats
Years: various
Location: http://ags.hawaii.gov/survey/map-search/
Format: Online
Contents: copies of subdivision plats, variable quality
Online Newspapers Archive
ChroniclingAmerican.gov – free
Good for finding building permit listings, real estate articles, classified ads, general news
articles, some house photos, real estate transactions, etc.
Newspapers.com - $75 for 6 months, one week trial for free
Good for finding building permit listings, real estate articles, classified ads, general news
articles, some house photos, real estate transactions, etc.
Hawaii Aerial Photographs
Years: 1950-2000
https://uhmagis.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=f6672e31727d49
468a37b7bb3ab77d77/
Click on the layers on the left tab to select the year/location.
ADVANCED RESEARCH MATERIALS
Building Permits
Check for permits here: gis.hicentral.com (Advanced Map). Building Permits issued prior
to January 1972 are not available on-line and may no longer exist. To see if the city still
has that information you can visit the Data Access and Imaging Branch on the first floor
of the Fasi Municipal Building (FMB): 650 S King Street, Honolulu, HI 96813. Provide TMK
to the C&C Real Estate office (basement of Old Police Station downtown) to see if they
have records on construction date and layout/size of house. Early building permit listings
are in daily newspapers.
Architectural Plans
The likelihood of finding actual house plans is close to zero the farther back you go. If you
have a bungalow, it might be a plan from a published bungalow book. If any of the lumber
in your house is numbered it might be from Aladdin, Sears, Montgomery Ward, or other
catalogs of “ready-built” homes. If you find out who the architect was, check with the
Hawaii State Archives or UH Manoa to see if they have any plans.
Photographs
Hawaii State Archives
https://ags.hawaii.gov/archives/about-us/photograph-collection/
Hundreds of photographs are searchable and available for free online, most are from the
1800’s and early 1900’s. Download their list of collections before going in person to do
additional research for materials not digitized.
Bishop Museum – by appointment only, 2
nd
floor, building in back of main museum,
photographs are in folders organized by street, or collection. Download their list of
collections before going in person to do research.
Library of Congress – online, free
The Library of Congress's Prints & Photographs Online Catalog has a collection of
measured drawings, large-format photographs, and written histories of tens of thousands
of historic properties in its collection.
Historic American Buildings Survey/Historic American Engineering Record/Historic
American Landscapes Survey Collection: http://www.loc.gov/pictures/collection/hh/
Hawaiian Historical Society
https://www.huapala.net/collections/browse
UH Manoa Library Digital Image Collections
https://digital.library.manoa.hawaii.edu/
Nippu Jiji / Hawaii Times Photo Archives
www.hojishinbun.hoover.org
Deeds
Bureau of Conveyances
Years: 1800-present
Location: Bureau of Conveyances, 1
st
floor
Format: microfilm records for Land Court Documents and Transfer of Titles
Regular system deeds are hard copy
Contents: Direct Index (Grantor), Reverse Index (Grantee), copies of deeds
Not an easy search, very time-consuming and often difficult to read. (A friend at a title
company can sometimes get copies of specific deeds).
State Historic Preservation Division
SHPD research library online: https://dlnr.hawaii.gov/shpd/about/research-resources-
library/
Hawaii Historic Register nominations – go to SHPD home page to download a list of all
Hawaii properties on the Hawaii and National Historic Register:
https://dlnr.hawaii.gov/shpd/
Historic Hawaii Foundation
Many Hawaii or National Register nominations can be found on the Historic Hawaii
Foundation website. Search properties by county. https://historichawaii.org/historic-
properties/oahu-historic-properties/
Densho Encyclopedia
A great resource on the Japanese in Hawai‘i and for WWII information.
https://encyclopedia.densho.org/ -
Social Media
Can be useful for finding historic photos, relatives and connections and recommended
resources, independently verify all information if at all possible.
• Facebook groups: Remember Oahu from the Past, Remember Oahu from the
Past2, Remember Maui from the Past, Remember Big Island from the Past,
Remember Kauai from the Past, Remember Molokai from the Past. These pages
offer a search engine of their postings and comments for key words.
• Pinterest
• Flickr
• Instagram
MUSEUMS, INSTITUTIONS, AGENCIES, ORGANIZATIONS
You may find old photos and other historical materials at museums and local historical societies.
These collections may provide historical materials such as missionary letters, journals, Hawaiian
church records, Hawaiian language materials, photographs and images of Hawaii and the Pacific
that would be helpful. Remember, however, historical materials that pre-date the construction
of your house might not be directly relevant to its significance, but this information can give you
a better understanding of the individuals who built and lived in the home.
• Hawaii State Archives (HAS) –. Located behind Iolani Palace in the white boxy building
behind the one that says “archives”, walk-ins welcome, metered parking
(ags.hawaii.gov/archives)
• Bureau of Conveyances – 1151 Punchbowl, metered parking (dlnr.hawaii.gov/boc)
• Hawaii State Library (librairieshawaii.org)
• State Historic Preservation Division (SHPD) – 601 Kamokila Blvd, Suite 555, Kapolei, by
appointment only (dlnr.hawaii.gov/shpd)
• City and County of Honolulu, Department of Planning & Permitting (DPP) -650 S. King
Street (www.honoluludpp.org)
• City and County of Honolulu Real Property Assessment Division Property Records Search
(www.qpublic.net/hi/honolulu/search.html)
• UH Hamilton Library (manoa.hawaii.edu/library)
• Bishop Museum (bishopmuseum.org)
• Mission Houses Museum Library (missionhouses.org)
• Hawaiian Historical Society (hawaiianhistory.org)
• Lyman Museum (lymanmuseum.org)
• Kona Historical Society (konahistorical.org)
• Kauai Historical Society (kauaihistoricalsociety.org)
• Bailey House Museum: Maui Historical Society, Bailey House Museum (mauimuseum.org)
• Japanese Cultural Center of Hawaii (jcch.com)
• Hawaii Heritage Center (hawaiiheritagecenter.org)
• Historic Hawaii Foundation (historichawaii.org)
HAWAII STATE LIBRARY
Hawaii’s public libraries offer old newspaper and map collections, as well as reference
materials, which can be used to better understand the social, economic, and political
history of your neighborhood, as well as the individuals associated with an old building.
Hawaii State Library system, and the locations for each island can be found on the website
at: https://www.librarieshawaii.org/
o Genealogical Resources for Hawai‘i:
https://www.librarieshawaii.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Genealogical-
Resources-HPLS.pdf
o Obituaries can give insight into people’s lives. Map collections, such as the
Sanborn Fire Insurance maps, the U.S. Geographical Survey (USGS) maps, and old
city or county maps provide information about streets and buildings as they were
in the past.
o Phonebooks. Once you know the name of someone who lived at your residence,
you can determine how long they lived there by checking historic (annual) phone
books, and check them year by year.
o Subject matter books. History books, such as, Edward D. Beechert’s Honolulu
Crossroads of the Pacific (University of South Carolina Press, 1991), provide many
details about Honolulu.
o The state library sale and used book stores are great if you like to have your own
library. Especially useful are vintage architectural style books and architecture
dictionaries.
HAWAII STATE ARCHIVES
The Hawaii State Archives has old photographs, aerial photographs, old city directories
that list people’s names and occupations, maps, and other types of historical materials
that may provide this type of information. https://ags.hawaii.gov/archives
HAWAII-PACIFIC COLLECTION OF THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII
This collection includes journals and periodicals, as well as newspapers, videotapes, and
special collections, such as, the Hawaii Sugar Planter’s Association archives with some of
the plantation’s original house plans. The Hawaii-Pacific Collection can be reached at
(808) 956-8264 or email [email protected]. The website is:
Pacific Collection - Hawaiian & Pacific Collections Department - Research Guides at
University of Hawaii at Manoa
https://guides.library.manoa.hawaii.edu/c.php?g=447018&p=3054399
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION FOR NRHP APPLICATIONS:
National Park Service, National Historic Landmarks
Research the History of a Property for National Historic Landmark Nomination
https://www.nps.gov/subjects/nationalhistoriclandmarks/research.htm/
National Register of Historic Places (U.S. National Park Service) (nps.gov)
U.S Geographical Survey (USGS) Topographical Maps
USGS topographical maps show the shape and elevation of the land and include both
natural and manmade features, such as roads, boundaries, transmission lines, and major
buildings. These maps are useful tools in understanding the pattern of development in
your part of the islands. Historic USGS topographic maps of various areas in Hawai‘i can
be found in the Hawai‘i State Library’s Map Collection.
Click any point on the primary map and it will show available historic maps on the side
bar. You can then select a specific map, and click the "Show" icon which will overlay your
chosen map on the location you have pin-pointed. The site also allows toggling between
other maps so you can play with the overlay transparencies to see how an area was
documented and developed over time.
https://www.usgs.gov/the-national-map-data-delivery/topographic-maps/
AHUPUAʻA & MOKU
Ahupuaʻa is a Hawaiian term for a large traditional socioeconomic, geologic, and climatic
subdivision of land typically running mauka to makai.
Moku or district is a land division that sections off portions of each island. After the Great
Mahele, the islands were divided into districts.
https://kipukadatabase.com/kipuka/
http://www.ahamoku.org/index.php/maps/
RECOMMENDED READING
House Histories - A Guide to Tracing the Genealogy of Your Home
Author: Sally Light, Golden Hill Press, 1993
Years: various
Format: softcover book
Great suggestions for detailed house research.
A Field Guide to American Houses
Author: Virginia & Lee McAlester, Random House, 1984
Years: 1600-present
Format: softcover book
Excellent photos and sketches, highly recommended.
The Visual Dictionary of American Domestic Architecture
Author: Rachel Carley, Henry Holt & Co., 1997
Years: “Tipi to Tract House”
Format: hardcover book
Good sketches, no photos.
American Shelter
Author: Lester Walker, The Overlook Press, 1996
Years: 300A.D. to 2000A.D.
Format: paperback
Excellent sketches and descriptions, no photos.
Identifying American Architecture”: A Pictorial Guide to Styles and Terms: 1600-1945
Author: John J.G. Blumenson, W.W. Norton & Co., 1977
Years: 1600-1945
Format: paperback
Good photos, good explanations of details.
How Old Is This House?
Author: Hugh Howard, Noonday Press, 1989
Years: 1630-1930
Format: hardcover book
Mostly text, good chapter on oral histories.
What Style Is It?: A Guide to American Architecture
Author: John C. Poppeliers, S. Allen Chambers, Nancy B. Schwartz, National Trust,
1995
Years: 1600-1930
Format: softcover booklet
Good photos, brief descriptions.
Styles and Types of North American Architecture
Author: Alan Gowans, Icon Editions, 1992
Years: 1600-1980
Format: paperback
House Styles in America - The Old House Journal Guide to the Architecture of American Homes
Author: James C. Massey & Shirley Maxwell, Penguin, 1999
Years: 1640-1950
Format: hardcover book
The Comfortable House: North American Suburban Architecture 1890-1930
Author: Alan Gowans, MIT Press, 1987
Years: 1890-1930
Format: hardcover book
Excellent source for domestic architecture, great photos.
America’s Favorite Homes: Mail Order Catalogues and 20
th
Century Houses
Author: Robert A. Schweitzer & Michael W.R. Davis, Wayne State University Press,
1990
Years: 1890-1950
Format: paperback
Great information and photos on kit and mail order homes and companies.
Gustav Stickley - Craftsman Homes
Author: Gustav Stickley (reprint), Gramercy Books, 1995
Years: 1890-1930
Format: hardcover book
Reprint of articles from Gustav Stickley's "Craftsman" magazine.
The California Bungalow
Author: Robert Winter, Hennessey & Ingalls, 1980
Years: 1900-1930
Format: paperback
Good history and photographs of bungalows.
Houses By Mail
Author: Katherine Stevenson, H. Ward Jandl, 1986
Years: 1908-1940
Format: paperback book
Contents: Sears Roebuck kit houses, photos, sketches, floorplans, no addresses
Montgomery Ward’s Mail-Order Homes: A History and Field Guide to Wardway Homes
Author: Rose Thornton & Dale Patrick Wolicki, Gentle Beam Publications, 2010
Years: 1909-1931
Format: softcover book
Contents: Montgomery Ward kit houses, photos, sketches, floorplans
Saving the Neighborhood
Author: Peggy Robin, Woodbine House, 1995
Format: softcover book
The definitive guide for fighting against inappropriate development.
NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES PUBLICATIONS:
Researching a Historic Property - 1991
(National Register Bulletin 39)
How to Apply the National Register Criteria for Evaluation - 1991
(National Register Bulletin 15)
How to Complete the National Register Registration Form - 1991
(National Register Bulletin 16A)
MAGAZINES
Preservation Magazine
The National Trust for Historic Preservation
1785 Massachusetts Ave. NW, Washington, D.C. 20036, (202) 588-6000
Old House Journal
Two Main Street, Gloucester, MA 01930
(800) 234-3797, $27
ABOUT HISTORIC HAWAI‘I FOUNDATION
Historic Hawai‘i Foundation (HHF) is a membership-based, statewide non-profit organization.
HHF was established in 1974 to encourage the preservation of historic buildings, sites, objects and
communities on all the islands of Hawai‘i. HHF provides education, advocacy and technical
assistance to help preserve, enhance, celebrate and use the places that matter.
680 Iwilei Road, Suite 690
Honolulu, HI 96817
808-523-2900
www.historichawaii.org
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
This resource guide was developed as part of the How to Research the History of Your Home
Workshop held on July 23, 2022, a virtual workshop created in partnership with the Department of
the Interior’s National Park Service. Funding support was provided by Mālama Mānoa Educational
Endowment Fund. Mahalo to workshop panelists and volunteers for their contributions to the
program and guide: Alison Chiu, McKenna Makizuru, and Tonia Moy, Fung Associates; Don Hibbard,
architectural historian; Katie Stephens, AHL; Polly Tice and Angie Westfall, MASON; Gary Coover,
Coover Consultants, PLLC; Elaine Jackson-Retondo, National Park Service.
DISCLAIMER
The information and references in this directory are accurate and current to the best of our knowledge
as of August 2022. Information is subject to change. Please feel free to email
