HI Driver License Renewal

[Frankie's Market]

Unlike the last time I renewed in 2007 (when there was no line, lots of smiles, and I was in and out in a flash) this time there was a line out the door. And people seemed grumpier.

Did you go while the schools are on winter break? Here's a friendly hint: Next time you renew your license, do it at a day and time while schools are in session. That way, you're not standing in line with a bunch of students who are trying to get their permits and licenses.

[Menehune Man]

Reporting in...
I went this morning to the Satelite City Hall under King Street (Fort Street Mall). No one else in line.
Brought my passport, Social Security card and driver's license. All good.
My biggest concern was the eye test. Last time the machine was old and blurry, barely passed.
They now have new ones that are crisp and clear. I got every one right so passed!
Good thing too since my 51st B-day is on Wednesday. Haha!

[Pomai]

Just got mine (yet again) yesterday from the Satellite City Hall in Hawaii Kai Town Center. Got there around 2pm, and the line was almost out the door. Ack! I was able to prefill the renewal form, thanks to mom getting me a copy, but you can do it right in there, no problem.

One caveat: CASH or personal CHECK ONLY! No debit or credit cards are accepted. Wish I knew that, as I had to quickly go grab some cash from the nearest ATM, which was a credit union "Calabash" machine that charged me a $2.50 service fee. Ouch.

The price is $20 (cash or check) for a 4 year Hawaii state driver's license renewal, or $40 for an 8 year driver's license renewal. By default, they charge you the 8 year renewal, which of course you wanna' do.

The line moved fairly quickly, where I stood in line, oh, say about 20 minutes. Thank goodness, as they have signs posted everywhere that clearly states the LAST TRANSACTION will happen at 4pm. So even if you stood in line since 3pm, and you're the last guy, at 4pm, sorry buddy. Come back again.

As for proof of identification, you need at least 2 of 3 articles, plus your current picture driver's license: BIRTH CERTIFICATE + SOCIAL SECURITY CARD +/and/or PASSPORT. Any 2 of those three you'll need to bring, which you MUST MAKE SURE they're VALID ORIGINALS. No photo copies of anything. Also, make sure the name on those ID articles match your current name on your Driver's License. So if you had changed your name some time along the line, that needs to jive on all articles. If it doesn't match, chances are you'll be rejected. So, say if your name is Pomaika'i Robert Von Arnswaldt, each ID article must read Pomaika'i Robert Von Arnswaldt. Not Pomaika'i Robert Vonarnswaldt or Robert Pomaikai Von Arnswaldt. Even the okina in your Hawaiian name (if you have one) needs to match. Essentially, YOU have to be YOU.

Once your ID articles are approved, all you do is take an eye test. It's pretty easy, but if you know you need correction for reading (like it's REALLY BAD), I highly recommend doing that before going in. They had me read line 4, which is the second to smallest font size, checking both eyes. They also turned on a light, where I had to indicate which side it was coming from to check for peripheral vision. Easy. Fast.

After that, pay your $40 cash or check, take your mug shot for your new driver's license, plus a finger print registry, and pau.

Note, they no longer issue you your permanent plastic driver's license on the spot, but give you a temporary license which looks exactly how your permanent will look, except it's thin plastic that folds in half for the back side. It has all the same colors and info' as your permanent will look like, except for a watermark that says when your temp' will expire, which is exactly 30 days from the date it was issued. Your permanent new driver's license gets mailed to you in 2 weeks. So keep an eye out for the mail!

Also note, your Hawaii State Driver's License number (e.g. H12345678) remains the same as your previous license, as I believe that's tied with your SSN in the system.

The design of the Hawaii State Driver's License hasn't changed since I got my last renewal. Same red tone on the top half, with a half rainbow splitting the center, into white below, with your mug shot on the left, and a duplicate smaller shot on the bottom right.

So if you get your driver's license renewal this month, if you opt for the eight years, it will be good up until 2/01/21.

Or unless an asteroid hits us. That's usually how I feel anytime I need to deal with the DMV. LOL

[GregLee]

My wife tried to renew last October, bringing along her birth certificate and two marriage licenses to document her two name changes. Didn't work, since the person in Kaneohe told her the marriage licenses she had weren't state certified. After sending off to other states for properly certified marriage licenses, she tried again in December, but found that the satellite city hall in Kaneohe no longer renews licenses, so on to the Koolau driver test station on Hui Iwa. No go there, either, because the clerk couldn't seem to find the certification on one of her marriage licenses and also, she needed to get a separate eye test from an optometrist. She got the eye test, and we tried again this month, and finally, finally, she got it renewed. Four months, documents from two other states, an eye test, and four visits to license renewal offices.

[Kaonohi]

My wife tried to renew last October, bringing along her birth certificate and two marriage licenses to document her two name changes. Didn't work, since the person in Kaneohe told her the marriage licenses she had weren't state certified. After sending off to other states for properly certified marriage licenses, she tried again in December, but found that the satellite city hall in Kaneohe no longer renews licenses, so on to the Koolau driver test station on Hui Iwa. No go there, either, because the clerk couldn't seem to find the certification on one of her marriage licenses and also, she needed to get a separate eye test from an optometrist. She got the eye test, and we tried again this month, and finally, finally, she got it renewed. Four months, documents from two other states, an eye test, and four visits to license renewal offices.

Fun fun.
They got us over a barrel.

What ever happened to government BY the people, FOR the people and OF the people?

What are we now? Communists? Socialists? Imperialists? Royals? Or some other noxious import?

Where did democracy go? How did we get so LAZY? Lazy enough to let this happen. I predict the growth of a sub-culture, which will undermine this theocracy/ruleocracy, and will fight for the rights of the PEOPLE to reinstate the government we CREATED, which has been stolen from us.
I don't want socialists in my back yard.

I'm on board. Come get me, Obama.

Ainokea nomo. Freedom is more important than sound bites.

[lensperson]

A backyard with a thriving vegetable, fruit and flower garden goes
a long way towards the goal of lessening car use and encouraging
exercise in the form of walking.
After a point one would think that all those records were just gradually erased by mildew and fungus.
It is absolutely unacceptable that Greg should have to put up with this.
The boffins that run the data bases should wake up.

[GregLee]

It is absolutely unacceptable that Greg should have to put up with this.
The boffins that run the data bases should wake up.

Thank you for the sympathy. Myself, I don't blame the database boffins. To people who are totally unconcerned with individual liberties, privacy, government intrusions on our lives, the business with the drivers' licenses makes perfect sense. My wife could be a terrorist or an illegal immigrant who will be caught by these new rules for identifying each of us. Is it likely? No, but it's not impossible. Why must I be searched before boarding a plane? I could have a bomb in my underwear. Why must I wear a seat belt every time I travel in a car? It might protect me in an accident. Has it ever? No, but it could. Why do I have to register my guns or get a background check before buying another? Well, we all know why, don't we. I could be a criminal or a madman who will be caught when I break the gun rules. Did I ever use a gun in a crime or threaten to kill large numbers of children and will I be caught when I break the gun rules? No, no, no, and no, but it's not impossible. Better safe than sorry.

So, I think the boffins is us.

[Frankie's Market]

Myself, I don't blame the database boffins.

Neither do I.

In the 21st century world we live in, trying to solve the problem of long customer service lines at the satellite city hall by simply taking shortcuts in ID documentation/verification is short-sighted and foolish. A homeowner can likewise "solve" the problem of a squeaky hinge on a front door by simply removing the door altogether. But I wonder how long it will be before someone notices this and proceeds to burglarize that house when the owner is away.

Just as a homeowner with common sense would get to the root of the problem by taking care of the hinge, the city should look at ways to streamline and speed-up the customer service. Mayor Caldwell offered up the idea of setting up online cameras at the city hall offices, so people will know if a particular location is busy before going down. Other steps can be taken, like having document specialist(s) inspecting everybody's paperwork before standing in line.

With some sensible changes in city hall procedures, customer wait time can be reduced without compromising national/local security.

[lensperson]

The need for more stringent security in Hawaii is in part
because the isle is home to a multitude of "institutions" used to
ensure national security.

I remember an old documentary from the 1980s that shows the intelligence
measures installed on Oahu from certain embassies in the 1930s.

The breaking of the purple code should have saved some lives but institutional
bottlenecks led to disaster.

In the mid 80s I got lost after getting a wide Nikkor for Bronica
at a pawn shop in Pearl City.

My drive took me into a flat area surrounded by birms.
the guard told me to leave. I did.

[GregLee]

Other steps can be taken, like having document specialist(s) inspecting everybody's paperwork before standing in line.

They were doing that at the Koolau license place, my wife tells me.

They might also keep all the license renewal stations open. The one at the Kaneohe satellite city hall was closed the other day, when my wife went there, as I mentioned.

[lensperson]

This "Let me see your papers" please reminds me of Nazi Germany.
I'm still progressing through season 2 of "Hogan's Heroes".

[Honoruru]

It looks like we now have webcams at our DMV (or at least some of them). Hawaii Kai is not included. If the story in the above link gets cut off because of the “pay wall”, here is the link to the City & County webcams. BTW, as I post this (around 6:15 pm), the lines are empty because the offices are closed, but tune-in around mid-day and see what a difference there is at each DMV location.