Question: My wife’s driver’s license expires next week. There were no appointments for this month, so we tried to walk in. After standing in line for three hours, we had to leave without seeing anyone because at her age she couldn’t stand in line any longer. We have an appointment for early next month, after her license expires. Will she have to take the driver’s test?

Answer: No. To be clear, if she keeps driving after her license expires and is pulled over by the police, she could get a ticket; an expired license is invalid for driving. But as far as renewing her Hawaii driver’s license without having to take the written or road test or pay higher fees, next month is fine, according to the city’s Department of Customer Services.

You confirmed in a follow-up phone call that your wife is a U.S. citizen, therefore the standard rules apply: She can renew her license within 90 days of expiration with no financial penalty and without having to take the written or road test.

From 91 days to less than a year past expiration, a $5 late fee is assessed for every month (or partial month) past due, but retesting is not required. At a year past expiration, the licensee is treated as a new applicant and would have to pass the written and road tests and pay the full cost of a new license.

The rules are different for applicants with temporary lawful status in the United States; they are treated as new applicants, subject to written and road tests, after 90 days past expiration, rather than a year, according to the department’s website.

Be sure that your wife brings all the documents necessary to renew her driver’s license; use the city’s interactive guide to confirm that she has what she needs. Go to license.honolulu.gov and click on the green bar that says “Driver License & State ID Document Guide.”

That same website has a wealth of other information about applying for or renewing a driver’s license or state ID, including how to reserve appointments online.

H Mart update

The state Department of Land and Natural Resources offered an update Tuesday about the permitting process for the H Mart Korean supermarket and restaurant complex planned for 458 Keawe St. in Kakaako.

The DLNR’s State Historic Preservation Division has completed its review of the project’s draft archaeological inventory survey (AIS). “It is currently being revised, and the revised AIS will soon be submitted to SHPD for review and acceptance,” said Dan Dennison, a DLNR spokesman.

An archaeological monitoring plan also must be submitted to SHPD for review before the permit application can return to the Hawaii Community Development Authority, the state agency that oversees development in Kakaako. Once HCDA deems the application complete, it will have 90 days to approve or reject it, a spokesman said.

Readers have asked why the grocery store and dining hall did not open last year as originally planned. We reported in Monday’s column (808ne.ws/34kline) that H Mart awaits permits to proceed with extensive remodeling of the 91-year-old building.

Auwe

Twice in the last two weeks, while in the crosswalk with the walk sign, I was almost run over by cars turning left from South King Street onto Punchbowl Street. In both instances the drivers actually drove around me without stopping, and actually went into the oncoming traffic lane to avoid hitting me.

A black BMW with a special license plate honked at cars he was driving behind who had stopped to yield to pedestrians. This is a very dangerous situation that is going to end up with someone being run over, as no enforcement is occurring even in front of City Hall. — A reader

Write to Kokua Line at Honolulu Star-Advertiser, 7 Waterfront Plaza, Suite 210, 500 Ala Moana Blvd., Honolulu 96813; call 529-4773; fax 529-4750; or email kokualine@staradvertiser.com.