"4" for the long line, but, a "5" for the 3 employees for their patience. I arrived at 10:30am for…read moremy 10:45am appointment to renew my driver license today. Ridiculous to find a long line that snaked out into the stairwell. This long line is for everyone with an appointment and not. This was changed from having 2 separate lines and the genius power to be decided to change to 1 line! An employee with a clipboard would come out to check everyone for their purpose of being in line. Because I had an appointment made with their online Aloha Q, he pulled me out, looked at my application and gave me a number. I then proceeded to the waiting area at 10:44am and, finally, was seen around 11:10am! Although, I brought my birth certificate, 2 proof of residency, eye check certificate from my optometrist so I don't have to get my eyes checked with their icky eyes check machine and current driver license, I was told unless I had changed my address or name, I only needed my current driver license, money to pay the fee and my eyes checked certificate! Oh, if you're already a registered voter, you do not need to re register by completing the application that's attached to the renewal driver license application! What! Grrrrr... Both the employee who took my application, current driver license and the employee who my fingerprints and photo were knowledgeable. pleasant and friendly. Now, I have to wait 6-8 weeks for my permanent driver license to arrive by mail. WOW...what an ordeal! Like having your teeth pulled and happy it was pulled...lol...

I received a notice that my driver's license was going to expire in 6 months, so I went to the…read moreAloha Q website to make an appointment. The closest satellite city hall to me had an appointment available in 4 months, so I opted for Pearlridge which was only a 2 month wait. I arrived at the mall a few minutes early and parked by Ross wanting to walk through the store to get into the mall. However, Ross wasn't open until 9am, so I waited there. When they opened, the worker let everyone know that the inside gate to the mall wouldn't be open because the mall didn't open until 10am. I thought that was strange so I checked my appointment time and verified that it was before 10am. I went to a different entrance and there was a line of people waiting too. Luckily, someone came out of the mall and someone else grabbed the door before it shut and everyone walked in and headed up to the satellite city hall. When I got to the entrance, the worker asked me if I had an appointment. I confirmed it with the info on my phone. Then she asked me if I filled out the paper application and brought it with me. I didn't know about that so she hands me a clipboard and I fill it out before heading up to the window. At least a half dozen other people behind me also did not fill out the application either. Everything else went smoothly and quickly, so yay. I asked the worker at the window how I was supposed to get in if the mall didn't open until 10am. She said I was supposed to go to the door by the monorail on the Macy's side of the mall. After hearing and experiencing all of this, I went back on the Aloha Q website to see how I missed all this information. The appointment before mall hours info was indeed there, but only a short blurb BEFORE you start getting into the appointment process. Also, I didn't go through the entire process to see where they were supposed to tell me to fill out the paper application beforehand. I do believe that the all the necessary information is there, BUT, due to the large amount of people that I saw making the same mistakes that I did, plus some reviews I've read on Yelp after the fact, I think the City needs to think of different ways to get this information across to people. I'm not sure if there was some glitch in the system when I made my appointment, but I received no email confirmation or instructions. Luckily, I had made a screenshot of my appointment date and time so I knew when to go. That, coupled with the fact that my appointment was made 2 months prior, and there was no way I'd remember anything anyways with no email confirmation close to my appointment date. Anyways, TLDR: Special entrance by monorail for appointments before 10am. Fill out your application ahead of time for driver's license renewals. Otherwise, pretty good service.

My experience here was probably the best DMV experience I've had by a long-shot. Yes, there was a…read morelittle bit of unfriendliness when I entered (it was a mismatch from what the front desk clerks want and what the security guard told me I could do in terms of where to stand). But then the person helping me with my drivers license transfer was very friendly and disarming. I was worried about hostility (we in the mainland have all experienced DMV madness), but I felt so much aloha in our interaction. There was a real sense of community here. The process was painless (I did come well-prepared with my documents). I was able to quickly take a photograph for my ID and then immediately received a temporary drivers license, while the real one arrived in the mail later.

I think a prerequisite to working at Kapalama DMV is to be unfriendly with zero previous customer…read moreservice experience. You might be prepared and have all your documents verified on the AlohaQ website yet still face in-person delays and questioning with no solution other than to reschedule your appointment. Keep in mind appointments are 90-days out all year round. Thinking about the stand-by lane to avoid making an appointment? They usually reach capacity within the first 30 minutes of normal operating hours and then close for the rest of the day. First and last time here.

***3.5 STARS*** I…read morerecently had to renew my car registration as the kiosk at Safeway in Kaneohe was giving my error messages. I decided to go to a Satellite City Hall (SCH) and chose this location that's just next door to Costco Gas Station in Iwilei. This was my first time at this location and it was sure busy just before arrival during lunchtime on a Tuesday. Lucked out with a parking stall as someone had just left the premises and I scored one that was near the entrance to SCH. As I entered the door there was a large screen TV display of numbers awaiting to be serviced and a cheerful and welcoming female staff who asked you the reason for your visit. For car registration I was advised to go to the end of the room on the right hand side where there was about 5 people in queue. While waiting patiently, I studied another large screen TV on the wall that had people who had made appointments were waiting to be serviced. NOTE: Regardless the staff is sitting down at an open window, you need to wait until you are called. Don't be like the male in front of me who walked up to the window after someone left. The staff told this male 2x he had to wait until being called. I was assisted by 2 different staff as the first one wasn't familiar with electronic vehicle license plates. She struggled and went to her superior who eventually told me to go to her window when she was available. Customer service at the counter was at a bare minimal - - robotic with no personality. I paid for my registration and received my receipt and sticker. Leaving the parking lot was a nightmare. There was only one exit and one staff who collected payment. Not to mention the heavy car traffic on Alakawa St so it took some time just to leave the lot. This explains the long line of cars waiting to leave SCH. Overall, this SCH got the job done but it was challenging with the heavy foot traffic of this convenient downtown location. May have been better if I drove to Hawaii Kai SCH as my visits there were more pleasant, less crowded and less stressful.

Customer service was bad. They had made a clerical error and put my car set as being "in storage"…read more So when I tried to pay for my registration they said I couldn't and had to get to get new license plates. No effort to help or change their error. The person just ignored what I explained and said i needed to make an appointment for later to get new plates. I needed to have friends with the right contacts send an email to the head of the dmv to change their error status back so I could finally pay. Imagine I wasn't lucky to personally know someone?!? Then you basically can only jump through their hoops.

Conveniently located in the Ala Moana Center, next to the escalators on Level One. On the side of…read moreMacy's store. Lots of free parking here. There are a few limited chairs to sit and wait after you check in with an employee. I did not have an online appointment today 03/23/26 and therefore I have at least an hour wait time. Hence, time to write my Yelp review. No public bathroom located inside the satellite city hall. However, many public restrooms are all over Ala Moana Center. Closest one is Lanai Food Court or in Macy's department I'm impressed with the efficiency and professionalism here. It's great that there are online appointments for some purposes. Check out the website @ alohaq.honolulu.gov Unfortunately, for my purpose, the next available date was March 31,2026.

They make it easy to get so Many of your city dealings…read more done. I did not have a reservation but the staff took care of me and we got everything done so quickly .

Fast and efficient service here…read more Make your appointment online (this is the longest wait lol). https://alohaq.honolulu.gov/ Show up at your selected date and time. Park in the City & County parking lot and get your parking ticket validated inside. We paid $1.50. Check in at the front reception area to verify your appointment date and time with your identification. I just needed to fill out my renewal application inside and I may have waited 10 minutes before my number was called. I went to the assigned window, presented my paperwork, paid the fee, and then I was instructed to go to another window for my photograph and parking ticket validation. There was a small line for the photos, however, the line moved quickly. In total, maybe a half hour to park, check in, and complete the process! Not bad, City & County of Honolulu DMV! Hats off to you!

The GOOD was the staff…read more I would give 1 star for the RIDICULOUS processes that were required to register my vehicle. #1: it cost money to park so choose Pearl Ridge where it is free! #2: I was told on line to bring in my DD214 to show my 20 years of honorable service and my INDEFINITE MILITARY IDENTIFICATION CARD and I would be able to get my Veteran plate (NOT TRUE) and because I am over 65 I would also get a $20 discount. (NOT TRUE) Both did not happen. The service agent said I would have to come back or go to another place to get my veterans plate. And in order to receive the $20 discount I would be required to go to the veterans building (WHEREVER THAT IS?) and get a letter stating I was honorably discharged. WHAT!!! You mean to tell me that my DD214 SHOWING EXACTLY THAT and my indefinite MILITARY IDENTIFICATION CARD is not enough??! And they require me to get a letter!! CMON!! Talk about getting the run around! Ugh! Or maybe my teller didn't know what she was doing?? But I gave her the benefit of the doubt and just stated please give me a regular plate so I don't have to come back and pay for parking again. It was frustrating for sure because I did not read anywhere that I would need a letter from the veterans organization and I didn't see anything provided on line concerning a letter from a veterans center nor did they provide an address to get the letter or phone number to contact them. And YOU NEED TO GO ON LINE TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT FOR SURE IF YOU WISH TO BE SEEN TIMELY. THAT WAS A GOOD PROCESS. AND IT WORKS. But I feel bad for the elderly and those who are not computer literate. It was a frustrating experience and at the end as you leave the parking lot you pay the parking attendant or they do not lift the gate. HERE IS A SUGGESTION ON WHAT YOU COULD DO BETTER: Let's ACCEPT DD214's especially when the person also has an INDEFINITE MILITARY IDENTIFICATION CARD! You can't posses that ID Card if you were not honorable. Or just do NOT PROVIDE VETERAN PLATES or just mail them if you are out of stock. Please do not waste our time or your time by not following through on the process.

Like, it's the DMV so you can't really say much…read more You're going to have to wait. Make sure you make an appointment with their online system prior to coming here. You will be placed in a queue when you get here, so you won't be immediately seen. You better have all your documents in order before coming here so you're not wasting anyone's time. The staff are very friendly. It will *always* take a minute but they're great once you get called up. Bonus there's a times next door so you can shop while you wait.

Been here since 630am they do not have a good system in place for walk in to appointments ratio and…read morehave no apts available for months.

Update on Satellite City Hall needed to renew my license because my Birthday is soon approaching…read more Made a reservation on Line Aloha Q @ 3:15pm I wasn't called until 3:30pm not too bad but if you're going to make a reservation online system you should get service at that time you booked . Line goes quickly so it's not that bad this location is at the corner of Hotel St . Nuuanu .

Gotta renew your driver's license?…read more I had one of the most pleasant, & easy experience renewing my Hawaii driver's license today, and I would like to share my wonderful experience with you folks. First of all, I hope you all have a "Real ID" by now, as the Federal REAL ID enforcement deadline was on May 7, 2025. If you don't have some form of "Real ID" by now, you'll basically be stuck on da rock if you try to use a regular driver's license for travel, as TSA will no longer accept a regular driver's license if you don't have the "gold star" on the top right-hand corner on your driver's license. Luckily for me, since I already upgraded my driver's license with "REAL ID" (about 7 or 8 years ago), so when I had to go back to renew my driver's license, I didn't have to go through the entire charade in providing all the legal documents to prove who I am. All I had to do was go online to the Honolulu City & County "Aloha-Q" site to set up an appointment date, location, & time for my driver's license renewal. I also had to fill out a license renewal form (that was provided to me by the staff at the Downtown Honolulu Satellite City Hall). And last of all, do the eye test. A few things you should know about the Hawaii License Renewal - 1. You can renew your driver's license 6 months before your birthday, as the expiration date will be on your birthday. 2. Most folks who renew their driver's license, the renewal fee is $40.00 for 8 years (basically $5 bucks per year, if you break it down). 3. For kapuna's (ages 72 to 79 years old) - there is a $20.00 renewal fee for 4 years for the kapuna's with no known medical issues. 4. There is also a 2 year license renewal (age 72, or Older with Medial Conditions). This requires a medical report, & $20.00 renewal fee. There are several Honolulu City & County license renewal sites, just check out the Aloha-Q website to see which site works for you. As for me, I picked the site in Downtown Honolulu, (which is located at the Chinatown Gateway Plaza), as it was the most convenient location for me. Great service, as the city & county clerks were very helpful & swift in processing my driver's license renewal.

Just wanted to share my experience…read more 1. Call the local number ahead of time. The 1-800 number is a trap, you wait for over 1 hour on hold, and then they can't help you anyways. The local folks know exactly what can be done (their services have been scaled back because of budget cuts), and if you need an appointment or a walk in is okay. If an appointment, might be ~6 weeks out because of backlog, be prepared. 2. 4 separate people will ask you why you're visiting, be super clear in what you need + if you have an appointment or were told you didn't have to make one. 3. Listen carefully for the numbers being called. Their PA system is super mid, and depending on who is calling the number from what window, it might not be clear. Lol everyone in the waiting room banded together to try discern what's being said. "You got that ticket number?" "Think it was this, who caught the window number?" 4. The employees are short staffed, but very empathetic + helpful. You just have to work together with them, have your id + documents ready for when it's your turn and they ask for stuff. Thanks to the guy that helped me (think AF vet?), got what I needed to file taxes for my mom who recently passed.

Efficient if you follow instructions and have all your documents. Security checkpoint was fine. Opt…read morefor street parking if driving - $1.50 per hour and meters take coins and cards. Structure parking is across the street but rate is $12. There is a bathroom available inside the building after you go through security.

7-7-21 Best kept secret... promise, don't tell ... sh sh sh!!!…read more If you need to renew your drivers license, seriously you MUST come here but be sure to make your appointment on line. Since hubs retired, seems he has on- line phobia and helplessly relies on me to help him. I made the appointment for hubs in April 2021 and today was the earliest I could book an appointment for him. I told hubs you're going yourself right? He said No! Geez I felt like a mommy taking their child to the dentist. We arrived 45 minutes early and checked in with the wahine at the table in front of the door. She checked that hubs had all his paperwork then said wait outside. I'm going to lunch. Someone will take my place and call you in. I could have done an imaginary hop Skotch and his name was called. Ooh yay! She said go to the last blue window(window 4) There another employee assisted. The nicest voice and smiling eyes above her mask. She double checks his paperwork and says, You're all set. Go to window 8 to have your photo taken. Wow!!! It was that fast and we were all pau in a very short time. You would never know that this office existed down here- by our fur bebe's groomer and Flo Mins. The office interior is clean, bright and so are their counters and restrooms. Fastest and friendliest government workers ever. Trust me, best service ever! As the other Yelp reviews posted, $40 for an 8 year renewal.

Got a drivers license renewed here and it was a pretty good experience…read more You need to book your appointment for renewal online. Having all the necessary documents and payment info will speed things up. Now this location is in pearl city. Drive down Lehua St. and take a left on Second St., make an immediate right into the parking lot. It's right under the freeway so that an awesome landmark. Easy to find. Plenty of parking. In and out in 15 minutes. You get a temporary card and they mail out your new one. Don't forget to smile !!! This picture will define your for the next 8 years. Price for renewal was $40.