MEDIA RELEASE

Beginning Jan. 2, 2013, the public can obtain state IDs at all drivers’ license locations in Honolulu, Maui and Kauai counties excluding satellite city halls.

In Hawaii county, state IDs will be available at the drivers’ license office locations in Hilo and Kona only. This will increase the number of locations available to obtain state IDs.

This change is the result of a state law that transfers the responsibility for the State ID program from the Department of the Attorney General to the Department of Transportation, in conjunction with the counties.

Leading up to this transition, there will be a brief period when the public will not be able to obtain a State ID:

* The Governor’s neighbor island Liaison Offices will stop issuing State ID cards as of Monday, Dec. 17, 2012

* The State ID Office at the Hawaii Criminal Justice Data Center, 465 South King Street, Room 102, will be closed to the public beginning Monday, Dec. 24, 2012, through the end of the year. Thereafter, the office will no longer be issuing State ID cards.

The consolidation of the state ID and the drivers’ license programs will afford the public more locations at which to obtain a State ID card.

This transition will also help Hawaii meet federal requirements under the REAL ID Act of 2005, which sets forth the documentation required and procedures to be followed in issuing drivers’ licenses and non-driver identification or State ID cards.

Cards that do not meet these requirements will not be recognized by federal agencies, such as the Transportation Security Administration (TSA).

To comply with federal law, state IDs are being issued as temporary cards, whether obtained now, or obtained from a drivers’ license location after Jan. 2. These temporary cards are valid for one month from issuance until the permanent ID card is subsequently sent in the mail.