Hawaii DMV Updates: Kauaʻi Offices Closed for Staff Training, Scam Warning & Free ID Replacements
As of early August 2025, several important updates from Hawai‘i’s motor vehicle offices affect customers statewide. On Kauaʻi, the Division of Motor Vehicles announced that both the main Līhu‘e DMV office and the newly opened Kapa‘a Satellite DMV office would close on Wednesday, Aug. 6 for a one-day staff training session. Regular hours resumed on Thursday, Aug. 7【161129403056406†L138-L156】. County officials reminded residents that the Kapa‘a satellite office is appointment-only and operates Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., offering services such as motor vehicle transactions, utility payments, bus passes and tipping coupons; however, driver’s license transactions are not yet available there【161129403056406†L138-L156】. The Līhu‘e DMV accepts both appointment holders and walk‑in customers; appointments are strongly recommended. The office is open weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. with a “kūpuna hour” reserved for seniors from 8 to 8:45 a.m., and walk‑ins are accepted until 2 p.m.【161129403056406†L138-L156】. Customers can check in for appointments up to fifteen minutes early or five minutes late and are encouraged to visit the county’s DMV website for more information【161129403056406†L138-L156】.
During the closure, Kauaʻi’s DMV offices also experienced a technical problem with their online road test booking system. The county reported that the system was temporarily offline and advised drivers to call 808‑241‑4268 to schedule road tests【349805503507309†L136-L151】. By Aug. 7, the online booking system was restored and all features were available【349805503507309†L136-L151】. Officials thanked customers for their patience and noted that the outage coincided with the Aug. 6 training day【349805503507309†L136-L151】. Motorists seeking appointments or additional information should continue to check Kaua‘i’s DMV website【349805503507309†L136-L151】.
On O‘ahu, the City and County of Honolulu’s Department of Customer Services issued a warning about fraudulent text and email messages impersonating the DMV. Scammers have been contacting residents with claims of unpaid tolls or outstanding tickets and threatening penalties. The department emphasized that the DMV never sends unsolicited requests for payments or personal information and urged residents to block the sender and delete the message without responding【592223760751493†L82-L99】. Honolulu officials also addressed a production issue affecting a limited number of Hawai‘i driver’s licenses and state ID cards: some cards do not scan properly at Transportation Security Administration checkpoints. The DMV will replace defective licenses or IDs at no cost. Customers needing a replacement should visit any DMV office, inform the concierge that the card failed to scan, and turn in the defective credential; no appointment is required for this service【592223760751493†L101-L118】.
Hawai‘i residents should also be aware of several service improvements. The Honolulu DMV now offers a fully online learner’s permit test, allowing applicants to take the written exam from home or any location with internet access【592223760751493†L120-L124】. For those who prefer an in‑person test, driver licensing centers offer the written test on specific days of the week, and appointments can be scheduled through the AlohaQ system【592223760751493†L120-L137】. Together, these updates—from temporary closures and system outages to new online services and fraud warnings—illustrate how Hawai‘i’s DMV offices are striving to improve customer service while keeping the public informed about potential scams and emerging issues.