How to get your license back after a DUI in Hawaii
Getting a license back after a DUI is an agency process, not a court one: the steps below are the ones the Hawaii Department of Transportation (Ignition Interlock Program); driver licensing is administered by the county driver licensing offices, and administrative revocations by the Hawaii State Judiciary's Administrative Driver's License Revocation Office (ADLRO) lists, in its order, each quoted from the agency's own page. Requirements differ by offense, blood-alcohol level, refusal, and prior record; the state's wording controls.
Steps the state lists
- 1
Serve the revocation period
HRS § 291E-41(a) provides that no license is restored during the administrative revocation period (one year for a first revocation with no prior contact in ten years) and that on completion the respondent may reapply and be reissued a license under § 291E-45. For a court revocation, HRS § 291E-61(j) provides the examiner of drivers may not grant a new license until the court's revocation period expires.
What the source says
“Except as provided in section 291E-44.5, no license to operate a vehicle shall be restored under any circumstances during the administrative revocation period. Upon completion of the administrative revocation period, the respondent may reapply and be reissued a license pursuant to section 291E-45.”
- 2
Complete the Driver's Education substance abuse assessment (and any ordered treatment)
ADLRO states everyone whose license is revoked for OVUII must complete an assessment of substance abuse/dependence and need for treatment through the Division of Driver Education, and that ADLRO cannot issue a relicensing form until all Driver's Education requirements are completed (HRS § 291E-41(d)).
What the source says
“Everyone whose driver’s license is revoked for OVUII is required to complete an assessment of substance abuse/dependence and the need for treatment through the Division of Driver Education.”
- 3
Pay any outstanding ADLRO fees
ADLRO states that a respondent is not eligible for a relicensing form at the end of the revocation period if any fees (for example the $30 hearing fee) are owed to ADLRO.
What the source says
“you will not be eligible for a relicensing form to get relicensed at the end of your revocation period if you owe any outstanding fees to the ADLRO”
- 4
Request a relicensing form from ADLRO
Relicensing forms are not issued automatically; the respondent must contact ADLRO to request one. With a valid ignition interlock permit and all other requirements met, the form can be issued up to 30 days before the end of the revocation period; without an IIP, up to one week before.
What the source says
“Relicensing forms are not automatically issued by ADLRO. You must contact our office to request a relicensing form.”
- 5
Take the relicensing form to the county driver licensing office (DMV) and apply for a new license
ADLRO states the revoked license is never returned; the relicensing form is taken to DMV (Driver's Licensing), which may not issue a new license until the revocation period has fully expired. The City and County of Honolulu's Department of Customer Services states an out-of-state applicant mails a certified copy of the relicensing form to its Driver's License Section with a $20.00 reinstatement fee.
What the source says
“You need to take the ADLRO relicensing form to DMV (Driver’s Licensing) to begin the relicensing process; however, DMV (Driver’s Licensing) may not actually issue a new license to you until after the license revocation period has fully expired.”
- 6
Clear any other license “stoppers” (courts, Office of Financial Responsibility, other agencies or states)
ADLRO states that other outstanding requirements from the courts, the Office of Financial Responsibility, or other government agencies in Hawai‘i or other states must also be taken care of before relicensing. (HRS § 287-20 requires proof of financial responsibility for repeat OVUII revocations; see that state's requirements page.)
What the source says
“If you have any other license “stoppers” from the courts, the Office of Financial Responsibility and/or from any other government agencies in Hawai’i or in any other state(s), you must also take care of all those outstanding requirements before you can be relicensed.”
- 7
Pay the county reinstatement fee (Honolulu: $20)
The Honolulu Department of Customer Services states a $20.00 reinstatement fee, by certified check or money order payable to the City and County of Honolulu, is required to clear the driver record after an OVUII/DUI revocation; other counties set their own fees.
What the source says
“You will also need to submit a reinstatement fee of $20.00 certified check or money order payable to “City and County of Honolulu” to clear your driver record.”
Official reinstatement page: Hawaii Department of Transportation (Ignition Interlock Program); driver licensing is administered by the county driver licensing offices, and administrative revocations by the Hawaii State Judiciary's Administrative Driver's License Revocation Office (ADLRO)
Conditions that travel with reinstatement
| Reinstatement fee | $20 (City and County of Honolulu driver licensing; fees are set per county) |
|---|---|
| SR-22 / financial-responsibility filing | Repeat offenses only · 3 years — Hawaii SR-22 requirements |
| Ignition interlock | Hawaii interlock rule |
| Required program | Substance abuse assessment through the Division of Driver Education (HRS § 291E-41(d)); on conviction, a fourteen-hour minimum substance abuse rehabilitation program (HRS § 291E-61(b)(1)(A)) |
| Driving during the suspension | Ignition interlock permit (IIP) (HRS § 291E-61(i) for court revocations; HRS § 291E-44.5 for administrative revocations, issued by ADLRO) |
| Re-examination | Knowledge test: required in some cases · road test: required in some cases |
Required program: Substance abuse assessment through the Division of Driver Education (HRS § 291E-41(d)); on conviction, a fourteen-hour minimum substance abuse rehabilitation program (HRS § 291E-61(b)(1)(A))
HRS § 291E-41(d) provides that whenever a license is administratively revoked the respondent is referred to the driver's education program for an assessment, by a certified substance abuse counselor, of substance abuse or dependence and the need for treatment; if warranted, the director orders treatment, with all costs paid by the respondent. On a first OVUII conviction, HRS § 291E-61(b)(1)(A) requires a fourteen-hour minimum substance abuse rehabilitation program, including education and counseling, or other comparable programs deemed appropriate by the court. ADLRO states it cannot issue a relicensing form until all Driver's Education requirements are completed.
“Whenever a license to operate a vehicle is administratively revoked under this part, the respondent shall be referred to the driver's education program for an assessment, by a certified substance abuse counselor, of the respondent's substance abuse or dependence and the need for treatment.”
Driving during the suspension: Ignition interlock permit (IIP) (HRS § 291E-61(i) for court revocations; HRS § 291E-44.5 for administrative revocations, issued by ADLRO)
ADLRO states an interlock is required only if the respondent wants to drive during the revocation period: once an approved IID is installed, the respondent may apply to ADLRO for an ignition interlock permit allowing driving of that vehicle during the revocation period (or until the license expiration date, whichever comes first), by submitting the IID installation agreement, proof of valid motor vehicle insurance, and the IIP application (form #3); no hearing request is needed. The respondent must have held a valid license at arrest and is not eligible if the license is expired, suspended or revoked from another case (HRS § 291E-44.5(b)). Since January 1, 2023 a government-issued identification must also be carried. For a court revocation, HRS § 291E-61(i) directs the court to issue an ignition interlock permit on proof of IID installation and compliant insurance. An employee driver's permit (EDP) is available separately for specified employer-owned vehicles.
“Once you have an approved IID installed, you can apply for an ignition interlock permit (IIP) that will allow you to drive that vehicle during the revocation period specified in the IIP.”
Full page: waiting period, conditions and hearing deadline for the Ignition interlock permit (IIP)
When the interlock can be removed
Hawaii's interlock requirement runs for the revocation period itself (HRS § 291E-41(b) administratively; § 291E-61(b) on conviction) rather than for a fixed post-reinstatement term, so the device obligation ends when the revocation period ends and the person is relicensed. The only early-termination provision is HRS § 291E-61(b)(6): a first offender not subject to an additional mandatory revocation may move the court for early termination of the revocation period after installing and maintaining the IID on all vehicles for a continuous six months and then maintaining it for a further continuous three months without violation, supported by a certified statement from the director of transportation and a certified court abstract; the court is not required to grant it if continued use would further rehabilitation or compliance. Removal is not addressed by ADLRO beyond stating that the IID is installed, serviced and charged by the sole vendor. No administrative compliance-based extension rule was found in the statutes.
Compliance period: For court early termination only: six continuous months of installation followed by three continuous months without violation (HRS § 291E-61(b)(6)); otherwise the full revocation period
“installed and maintained an ignition interlock device on all vehicles operated by the person for a continuous period of six months, after which the person maintained the ignition interlock device on all vehicles operated by the person for a continuous period of three months without violation;”
Will you have to retake the test? Re-examination in Hawaii
Some states hand the license back once the conditions are met; others treat a revoked or long-withdrawn license as expired and issue a new one only after the knowledge test, the road test or a vision screening is passed again. The rules below are the licensing agency's own, one per test.
| Knowledge (written) test | Required in some cases After an OVUII (DUI) revocation the driver is relicensed at the county driver licensing office on the ADLRO relicensing form with a $20 reinstatement fee; the Honolulu FAQ names no test for that step. The written test returns when the license has been expired more than one year: the driver starts over with the written test and the road test. What the source says“After one year past the expiration date, you must start over and take the written test as well as the road test.” |
|---|---|
| Road (driving) test | Required in some cases The road test is taken on the same condition — a license expired more than one year — and is given by appointment at the Honolulu driver licensing centers to first-time applicants and other individuals who require a driving test. What the source says“Road tests are given to first time applicants and other individuals who require a driving test.” |
| Vision screening | Required in some cases An eye test is part of a renewal at the county office; the revocation FAQ names only the relicensing form and the reinstatement fee. What the source says“You need to complete an application form (check the renewal box) and pass the eye test. The fee is $20.00 for a 4 year-license.” |
What triggers a re-test
The stated trigger is expiry: a Hawaii license expired more than one year is not renewed, and the driver starts over with the written and road tests. A license revoked for OVUII is never returned; the county issues a new license on the ADLRO relicensing form, and HRS § 291E-45 conditions relicensing on completing each requirement for obtaining a new license in the State.
“You must take the relicensing form to DMV (Driver’s Licensing) to get relicensed again. If you successfully get relicensed, DMV (Driver’s Licensing) will issue you a new driver’s license.”- Testing fee
- $8 — the road test fee at the Honolulu driver licensing centers, paid online when the appointment is booked; the written test is $2, the reinstatement fee to clear an OVUII revocation is $20, and a four-year license is $20
What the source says
“Hawaii State Driver's License Road Test $ 8 Written Test $ 2”
- Where to take it
- honolulu.gov — road test appointments are required and are booked online; the written test is given at the driver licensing centers
- Official driver manual
- Hawaii Driver's Manual
- The rule
- HRS § 291E-45(a)
“Successfully complete each requirement, including payment of all applicable fees, for: (A) Obtaining a new license in this State, pursuant to chapter 286”
Questions about re-testing in Hawaii
- Does a Hawaii OVUII revocation mean retaking the written and road tests?
- The county FAQ for clearing an OVUII revocation names the ADLRO relicensing form and a $20 reinstatement fee, not a test. Testing turns on expiry: the City and County of Honolulu states that a Hawaii license more than one year past its expiration date cannot be renewed and the driver starts over with the written test and the road test.
- Is a revoked license handed back at the end of the revocation?
- No. The ADLRO states that a license revoked in connection with OVUII is never returned; it issues a relicensing form once the revocation period is over and all requirements are complete, and the county driver licensing office issues a new license. HRS § 291E-45 requires the person to complete each requirement for obtaining a new license in the State.
- What do the tests cost?
- The Honolulu fee table lists $2 for the written test and $8 for the road test, which is paid online when the road test appointment is booked.
Reinstatement knowledge check: Hawaii
Ten questions on the rules this site cites for the state — the figures the licensing agency and the statute state, with a link to where each one is stated. The order changes every time.
This is not the agency's knowledge test and does not predict it; it checks the rules cited on this site.
Questions about reinstatement in Hawaii
- How is a Hawaii license restored after an OVUII revocation?
- According to the ADLRO FAQ, the revoked license is never returned. After the revocation period, a respondent who has completed the Driver's Education substance abuse assessment and owes no ADLRO fees requests a relicensing form from ADLRO and takes it to the county driver licensing office, which issues a new license once the period has fully expired; other stoppers must also be cleared. Honolulu charges a $20 reinstatement fee.
- What is Hawaii's ignition interlock permit?
- ADLRO states an interlock is required only to drive during the revocation period. After installing an approved IID, the respondent submits the installation agreement, proof of insurance and an IIP application to ADLRO; the permit allows driving that vehicle during the revocation period. HRS § 291E-61(i) similarly directs the court to issue an ignition interlock permit on proof of installation and compliant insurance.
- Can Hawaii's interlock revocation period end early?
- Under HRS § 291E-61(b)(6), a first offender not sentenced to an additional mandatory revocation may move for early termination after maintaining an IID on all vehicles for a continuous six months and then three further months without violation, with a certified statement from the director of transportation. The court may deny it if continued use would further rehabilitation or compliance. Otherwise the IID obligation lasts the revocation period.
Sources
- Hawaii State Judiciary — ADLRO Frequently Asked Questions (relicensing form, Driver's Education, ignition interlock permit)
- HRS § 291E-41 — Effective date, conditions, and period of administrative revocation (Hawaii State Legislature)
- HRS § 291E-61 — Operating a vehicle under the influence of an intoxicant (sentencing, early termination, ignition interlock permit) (Hawaii State Legislature)
- City and County of Honolulu, Department of Customer Services — Driver's License FAQ (OVUII/DUI clearance, $20 reinstatement fee)
- HRS § 287-20 — Proof of financial responsibility required upon conviction of certain offenses (Hawaii State Legislature)