### Submitting Through a Funeral Home For most families, the simplest and most stress-free method is to submit the obituary through a funeral home. Most licensed funeral directors in Hawaii work directly with the *Honolulu Star-Advertiser* advertising department. When you choose this option, the funeral home will handle the formatting, proofreading, and submission on your behalf. They will also coordinate the billing, adding the cost of the obituary to your overall funeral service invoice. This eliminates the need for you to manage deadlines and technical specifications during a difficult time. ### Submitting Directly as an Individual
If you are handling the arrangements independently or using a private memorial service, you can submit the obituary directly to the newspaper. Because the *Honolulu Star-Advertiser* must verify the accuracy of all death notices to prevent fraudulent submissions, you will need to provide official documentation. When submitting directly, be prepared to present a death certificate or a verification letter from the mortuary, crematorium, or medical school handling the remains. ## Step-by-Step Direct Submission Process If you choose to submit the obituary directly, following these steps will help ensure a smooth publication process.
### 1. Contact the Obituaries Department To begin, you must contact the newspaper's classified advertising and obituaries department. You can reach them through the following channels: * **Phone:** (808) 529-4700 * **Email:** obits@staradvertiser.com * **Office Location:** 500 Ala Moana Blvd., Suite 7-500, Honolulu, HI 96813 It is highly recommended to call or email first to confirm current deadlines, submission formats, and pricing structures, as these are subject to change.
### 2. Draft the Text and Select a Photo Write the obituary text clearly. Include key details such as the deceased's full name, age, town of residence, date of passing, and information regarding upcoming memorial services. If you wish to include a photograph, ensure it is a high-resolution digital file (typically in JPEG format). The newspaper can publish photos in black and white or color, though color photos generally incur an additional fee. ### 3. Review the Proof and Approve Pricing
The cost of placing an obituary in the *Honolulu Star-Advertiser* is determined by the length of the text (typically charged per line or column inch), the inclusion of a photograph, and the number of days the notice runs in print. Once you submit your draft, the obituaries department will provide a layout proof and a price quote. Review this proof carefully for spelling, dates, and formatting before giving your final approval and submitting payment. ## Tips for Writing a Hawaii Obituary When writing an obituary for a Hawaii publication, there are several local customs and details you may want to include:
* **Service Attire:** It is common in Hawaii to specify the dress code for the memorial service. Phrases like "Aloha attire," "casual attire," or "white attire requested" help guide attendees. * **Flower Preferences:** If the family prefers lei over traditional floral arrangements, or wishes for donations to be made to a specific charity instead of flowers, include phrases such as "Lei welcome" or "In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to..." * **Local Connections:** Mentioning the deceased's high school (a common point of connection in Hawaii), military service, or local community organizations can help friends and acquaintances recognize the notice. ## Finding and Verifying Published Obituaries Once the obituary is published, it will appear in the print edition of the *Honolulu Star-Advertiser* and online. ### Searching the Online Directory
The newspaper partners with digital memorial platforms to host its online obituary directory. You can locate a published notice by visiting the *Honolulu Star-Advertiser* website and navigating to the "Obituaries" section. The online search tools allow you to: * Search by the individual's first and last name. * Filter results by the date or month of publication. * Browse alphabetically by last name. ### Utilizing Interactive Features Online obituaries offer interactive features that allow friends and family to connect from afar. Visitors to the online listing can:
* **Leave Condolences:** Write messages, share memories, and upload personal photos to the digital guestbook. * **Send Tributes:** Access direct links to order floral arrangements or sympathy gifts for the family. * **Share the Listing:** Easily share the obituary link via email or social media platforms to notify others. ## Accessing Historical Archives If you are conducting genealogical research or looking for an obituary published several years ago, the current online directory may not display older records. To find historical obituaries, you can access the *Honolulu Star-Advertiser* digital archives (which may require a subscription) or visit the Hawaii State Library system, which maintains microfilm archives of local newspapers dating back many decades.
