Hawaii County says if you want to get a Driver’s License for the first time, or for some reason you have to take a road test, you must go to Hilo.  There are not that many appointments available, and this program only goes through September 30.

The County has developed a new plan for a two-part “modified skills testing,” which temporarily replaces in-vehicle road tests.  This modified skills test was approved by the Hawai‘i Department of Transportation to allow the examiner and the applicant to maintain six feet of physical distancing yet continue the tests during the pandemic.

The two-part test starts with a vehicle safety check.

For the vehicle safety check, the applicant is required to conduct a vehicle safety check of the vehicle he or she will be operating, and the applicant is expected to describe to the examiner each item inspected and why.  For example, “I am walking around the vehicle making sure there are no children, animals or obstacles behind or near my vehicle.” The applicant should also be familiar with all controls in the vehicle, as well as recognizing when a component is safe on the exterior of the vehicle.

The second part of the two-part test is the vehicle control skills test.

The vehicle control skills test requires the applicant to complete six maneuvering exercises – forward drive, reverse-straight line backing up, three-point turnabout, complete stop, left or right parallel park, and a forward or reverse two-point turnabout.

The County has prepared a guide called “Preparing yourself for the Modified Skills Test”, available at the County’s website https://www.hawaiicounty.gov/departments/finance/vehicle-registration-licensing/road-test-appointments

The guides are also available at the Hilo and Kona DMV offices (West Hawaii Civic Center, or Hawaii Police Dept. at 349 Kapiʻolani Street).  The modified skills test is currently only available in Hilo.

Appointments may be made on-line at https://hawaiicounty.ehawaii.gov/roadtest

Road tests are being conducted only at the Afook Chinen Civic Auditorium.  Steve Hunt, Deputy Director of Finance, says this is a pilot program, with temporary approval through September 30, 2020 only.   He said the County is working with State Department of Transportation to see if this alternative testing method might be extended as COVID-19 doesn’t seem to be going away anytime soon.  He said it’s a challenge to find somewhere to conduct such tests.

A licensed driver age 21 or older must accompany the applicant to the road test site.  A valid registration, safety check and insurance are also required.  Applicant’s under the age of 18 must provide driver education completion certificates.  Upon successful completion of the modified skills test, the applicant will be processed at the Hilo Driver’s License office, which is co-located with Hawaii Police Department at 349 Kapiʻolani Street.

General information about Driver’s Licenses, vehicle registration, and more is at the County Finance site.