Your Hawaii driver's license application: form and documents

What documents do you need for a Hawaii driver's license application?

For a REAL ID permit or license, the state DOT asks for proof of:

• Your legal name
• Your date of birth
• Your legal presence in the U.S.
• Your Social Security number
• Your principal residence in Hawaii, with two documents

One document can prove several things. The manual's example is a birth certificate, which shows your name, date of birth and legal presence. For a first permit on Oahu, Honolulu wants a certified birth certificate issued by a state or local government. Honolulu also says showing Social Security documents has been optional since June 18, 2021.

Proof of your Hawaii address

Bring two documents, each with your name and Hawaii home address. The manual's examples are a current utility bill, phone bill, bank statement or medical statement. Your principal address is where you live now, even if that's temporary. A PO box won't do: Kauai's DMV explains that it can show where you get mail but not where you live. If you're under 18 and don't have two of your own, Honolulu accepts your parents' documents.

When the names on your documents don't match

Names must be the same on every document. If yours differ, bring the paper that links them, such as a marriage certificate, divorce decree or court order. The state DOT notes that on Social Security documents, the middle name and suffix may be shortened, left out or misspelled without causing a problem.

Parental consent if you're under 18

On Oahu, both parents named on your birth certificate sign the Parental Consent Form, CS-L (DL) 239. If a parent can't come, their form must be notarized and brought to the appointment, and faxed, photocopied or emailed forms aren't accepted. A custodial parent or guardian signs with certified court papers, a married teen's adult spouse can sign, and an emancipated minor signs for themselves.

Kauai's rule is similar: who signs depends on custody, and the affidavit must be witnessed by someone authorized to give oaths. If there's no parent or guardian, another responsible person can sign, and they become liable along with you for damage you cause.

REAL ID or a limited purpose license

A REAL ID card is marked with a star and is accepted for boarding domestic flights. If you can't or don't want to show proof of legal presence or a Social Security number, you can get a limited purpose permit or license instead. You still prove your name, date of birth and Hawaii residence, but it's for driving only and isn't accepted for federal purposes. You may hold only one REAL ID card at a time, either a license or a state ID.