Hawaii ignition interlock & DUI requirements

What Hawaii law requires

Hawaii's ignition interlock, SR-22, and reinstatement rules are set by the statute and agency rules cited below. The values in the tables on this page are taken from those sources and are not interpretations of how they apply to any particular case.

Primary source: Haw. Rev. Stat. § 291E-61

Ignition interlock requirement

HRS § 291E-61(b)(1) sentences a first offender to license revocation of one year to eighteen months and 'Installation during the revocation period of an ignition interlock device on all vehicles operated by the person.' Under § 291E-61(b)(7), a person who shows they do not own or have use of a vehicle in which an IID can be installed is instead prohibited from driving for the maximum revocation period. Administrative revocation under HRS § 291E-41(b) likewise requires the IID during a one-year first revocation. Subsection (b) of § 291E-61 is subject to repeal and reenactment on June 30, 2028 (L 2023, c 148).

Approved interlock providers

Vendors listed here appear on the Hawaii licensing agency's approved-device list. Listing order is alphabetical and is not a ranking or endorsement. Installation locations are on each vendor's own locator.

Official approved-vendor list: Hawaii agency vendor list

SR-22 requirement

An SR-22 is a certificate an insurer files with the state to confirm that a driver carries the liability coverage the state requires. Some states use an FR-44 or a different form for alcohol-related offenses; where Hawaii does, the sources below say so.

Required for repeat OVUII revocations, not for a first offense. HRS § 287-20(a) (Motor Vehicle Safety Responsibility Act) provides that whenever a license is suspended or revoked (1) under part III of chapter 291E (administrative revocation), except as provided in § 291E-41(f), or (2) upon conviction of any offense, no license may be reissued 'unless and until the person has furnished and thereafter maintains proof of financial responsibility' — but the section expressly does not apply to a revocation under § 291E-61(b)(1) (first OVUII conviction), and § 291E-41(f) excludes a first administrative revocation under § 291E-41(b)(1). § 287-20(b)(1) separately lists 'operating a vehicle while under the influence of an intoxicant' among offenses for which the administrator must suspend the license until proof is furnished when a court had discretion to suspend but did not. Under § 287-40(a)(1) the proof may be cancelled after three years if no further qualifying conviction is recorded. The statute uses the term 'proof of financial responsibility' (a certificate of insurance under § 287-22, bond, or deposit), not 'SR-22'; it is filed with the county 'administrator' (chief of police or director of finance, § 287-1). The Honolulu Department of Customer Services handles this through its Financial Responsibility Section.

Program costs

Fees set by the state are cited to the fee schedule. Vendor charges vary by vendor and are shown as published ranges with the month they were checked.

Frequently asked questions

Is an ignition interlock device required after a first OVUII conviction in Hawaii?

Yes. Under HRS § 291E-61(b)(1), a first offense carries license revocation of no less than one year and no more than eighteen months and installation during the revocation period of an ignition interlock device on all vehicles operated by the person, in addition to a 14-hour substance abuse rehabilitation program and other penalties.

Can the Hawaii IID revocation period be ended early?

Under HRS § 291E-61(b)(6), a first offender not subject to an additional mandatory revocation may move for early termination after installing and maintaining an IID for a continuous six months and then a further three months without violation, supported by a certified statement from the director of transportation; the court is not required to grant it.

How does Hawaii's administrative revocation interact with the IID?

Under HRS § 291E-41(b), a respondent must keep an ignition interlock device installed in all vehicles operated during the administrative revocation period, at the respondent's expense: one year with no prior alcohol or drug enforcement contact in ten years, two years with one prior contact, and four years with two or more.

Who installs ignition interlock devices in Hawaii?

The Hawaii Department of Transportation's Ignition Interlock page directs drivers to the vendor Smart Start, and the ADLRO FAQ states 'SmartStart is the approved IID vendor for the state of Hawai'i,' with all IID costs charged directly by the vendor.

What is needed to get a Hawaii ignition interlock permit?

Per HRS § 291E-61(i), the court issues an ignition interlock permit upon proof that the defendant installed an IID in any vehicle operated and obtained insurance complying with HRS § 431:10C-104 or § 431:10C-105. The ADLRO FAQ lists the IID installation agreement, proof of valid motor vehicle insurance, and an IIP application for administrative cases.

Sources

1. HRS § 291E-61 Operating a vehicle under the influence of an intoxicant — Hawaii State Legislature (capitol.hawaii.gov data mirror)
2. HRS § 291E-41 Effective date, conditions, and period of administrative revocation — Hawaii State Legislature
3. Hawaii DOT — Ignition Interlock In Hawaii (vendor)
4. Hawaii DOT — Ignition Interlock Installation Locations
5. Hawaii State Judiciary — ADLRO Frequently Asked Questions
6. HRS § 287-20 Proof of financial responsibility required upon conviction of certain offenses — Hawaii State Legislature
7. HRS § 287-40 Duration of proof; when proof may be canceled or returned — Hawaii State Legislature
8. HRS § 287-1 Definitions ('administrator') — Hawaii State Legislature
9. City and County of Honolulu, Department of Customer Services — Fee Table (driver's license reinstatement $20)
10. City and County of Honolulu, Department of Customer Services — Driver's License FAQ (OVUII/DUI clearance; Financial Responsibility Section)