Question: The city website talks about the “gold star” REAL ID driver license and state ID. It says that the gold star “is now just a click away for Oahu residents who can apply for an exact replacement of a driver license or state ID from the convenience of a mobile device or computer.” It gives a link, but when you click on it, the only option is for a driver’s license, not a state ID. Do you click on driver’s license, even though you want a state ID?

Answer: No. You cannot order a replacement state ID online, despite what it previously said on that section of the city’s website. We alerted the city to the mistaken verbiage, and it was corrected Monday. Duplicating a state ID, whether to add a gold star or to replace a missing card, must be done in person, according to the city, which cited state Department of Transportation administrative rules.

As you saw when you clicked the link, https://www1.honolulu.gov/duplicates, the online order to add the gold star to mark federal REAL ID compliance is only for Oahu residents who are duplicating a noncommercial Hawaii driver’s license or instruction permit and who also meet other requirements. The person must have appeared in person between March 1, 2014, and Jan. 31, 2018, to establish REAL ID compliance, and documents verifying their legal U.S. presence, legal name, date of birth and Hawaii principal residency must be on file with the city.

That date range covers a period when Hawaii complied with federal REAL ID rules in issuing driver’s licenses and IDs, but did not use the gold star to symbolize that the requirements had been met. The state adopted use of the gold star in January 2018, saying that the federal government would require it as a standard mark starting Oct. 1, 2020. The main impact on the general public after that date is expected to be at U.S. airports, where passengers would have to present REAL ID-compliant identification to get through the security line and board their aircraft. Hawaii’s delayed adoption of the star mark meant many residents who had verified their identity and legal presence under the strict federal rules didn’t have a gold star on their card to prove it. Obtaining an exact replica except for the addition of the gold star solves that problem. Ordering such a duplicate online is the most convenient, but, as we’ve explained, you can’t do that because you have a state ID, not a driver’s license.

“State rules outlined in Section 19-149-17, Hawaii Administrative Rules, regarding civil identification card duplicates and renewals, would need to be changed to allow the counties the ability to offer duplicates of state IDs online,” said Harold Nedd, a spokesman for the city’s Department of Customer Services.

You can read the rules at https://808ne.ws/adminrule. We’ve reported before that rules and processes regarding driver’s licenses and state IDs are not interchangeable, and this is another example.

Q: So what do I do?

A: Make an appointment at www.license.honolulu.gov to appear in person to add the gold star to your state ID. You can do so at any of the city’s driver licensing centers or at certain satellite city halls (Fort Street Mall, Hawaii Kai, Pearlridge and Windward City).

Auwe

Upon returning from Sunday church, I discovered my large Kelty backpack was missing from my garage. This backpack served me most of my 52 years of summer backpacking in the High Sierra. I have organized and guided over 500 high school students over these years. It would have a street value of $10, but it takes memories of a lifetime by the thief’s arrogance. Auwe already! — Jerry in Kailua

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