Question: A lot of time people will ask about driver’s licenses and you will answer and also refer them to the city’s website for more information. Does that information also apply to state IDs? There seems to be more details there about driver’s licenses than state IDs.
Answer: No, not always. “Both driver licensing and state IDs are state programs, but administered by the counties. Both are governed by different laws,” said Sheri Kajiwara, director of the city’s Department of Customer Services. “Only since 2013 did the city and county take on the responsibility of issuing state ID cards.”
Q: I am moving to a retirement community on Oahu and presume that I must change my address on my state ID. How do I go about doing that?
A: You are not required to notify the government of the change of address, because you hold a Hawaii state ID, not a Hawaii driver’s license. The rules are different.
You may prefer to update the card so it has your current address, which you may do for a fee.
“There is no law for state ID cards related to address change notification requirements. You may use your card until it expires. If you wish to change the address on your card, you would come in to request a duplicate based on an address change. You would need to provide two proof of principal residence documents. Cost for a duplicate card is $6,” said Kajiwara.
Q: My driver’s license expires in less than a year but more than six months (the earliest renewal date). I just moved. Do I have to get a new one?
A: No, but unlike with a state ID, you must notify the Driver License Section of your new address. This notification will not result in you receiving a new license. You may keep using your current license until it expires.
Regarding Hawaii driver’s licenses, Kajiwara said, “State law requires that you notify the driver license office within 30 days of an address change — for the records — as in the process described (on license.honolulu.gov).”
As with state IDs, you may use your current license until it expires or you may update the address by requesting a duplicate based on an address change, at a cost of $6. “Please note that we are now required to shred the outdated card when the new one is issued,” Kajiwara said.
Whether or not you choose to replace the actual license, notify the city of your change of address by completing a Change of Address form CS-L (DL) 89 or sending a letter stating the relevant facts. You must also include two documents that prove your new address, such as a property tax bill, utility bill, rental agreement, payroll stub, etc.
Copies are acceptable to prove Hawaii principal residency; don’t mail original documents that you need for your own record-keeping.
Mail the signed, dated letter or change of address form along with the two forms of proof to: Driver License Section, P.O. Box 30340, Honolulu, HI 96820-0340
Do not send any payment.
Or you may email the material to dl@honolulu.gov or fax it to 768-9096.
E kala mai
My apologies to the couple who overheard my stern “timeout” tone with my son at the mall. … I caught your side-eye. You seemed to be wondering whether to say something. Seeing that made me stop and count to 10. So thank you, even though it was embarrassing. — A mom
Mahalo
I want to thank the local young couple who paid for our early dinner Aug. 29 at the Wailana Coffee House. We wanted to go there before they closed. We did not know this couple yet they chose to pay our bill. We found out from the waitress after they had left. This couple showed great aloha for my elderly mother and myself. Thank you. — A reader
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