City and County of Honolulu Division of Motor Vehicles stepped up to temporarily assist Kaua‘i residents who need a duplicate of their driver’s licenses while Kaua‘i County Division of Motor Vehicles remains closed for in-person services following a recent fire in the Kāpule Building at Līhu‘e Civic Center.
The fire severely disrupted Kaua‘i County government facilities and halted standard driver licensing services on the Garden Isle.
Kauaʻi County residents beginning immediately can now use the Honolulu online portal to request a replacement or duplicate copy of their valid Hawaiʻi driver’s license.
The recent fire didn’t just disrupt county services, it destroyed the primary administrative and information technology hub for Kauaʻi’s Division of Motor Vehicles, leaving many residents without access to essential credential replacements.
“The fire at the Kāpule Building took out systems our residents count on every day, and we know how hard it’s been for people who need a valid license to work, travel or care for their families,” said Kauaʻi County Mayor Derek Kawakami.
While Kauaʻi officials continue working to restore select vehicle registration and inquiry services via drop boxes, kiosks and the Kapaʻa Armory, full on-island driver licensing and reprinting capabilities remain offline.
“By expanding access to our online portal, we can help ease the burden for Kauaʻi residents who urgently need a valid physical license while their home county rebuilds its operations,” said City and County of Honolulu Department of Customer Service Director Kim Hashiro, whose oversight includes the Oʻahu Division of Motor Vehicles.
The standard fee for an online duplicate is $7. The new credential will be printed with the applicant’s existing information on file and mailed directly to their address.
Applicants should allow up to 5 weeks for delivery.
This service is for exact duplicate requests only and cannot be used to change a name, residential address or personal data. Kauaʻi residents can initiate a request by visiting the City and County of Honolulu Division of Motor Vehicles website.
“This is what it looks like when our counties take care of each other,” Kawakami said. “Our team is working every day to bring driver licensing back home, and we’ll keep residents informed at kauairecovers.org as each service is restored. Until then, we ask for continued patience, and we mahalo everyone who has shown up for one another through Hurricane Lowell and this fire.”
