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HRS §286-105

Who does not need a Hawaii driver's license

Read the official text at capitol.hawaii.gov ↗

This law lists people who do not need a Hawaii driver's license. It covers federal employees with a federal permit, people driving certain farm or port equipment, people with a valid out-of-state license, commercial drivers with a valid license from another state or country, and trained fire department drivers. Some age and license rules apply.

everyone

The statute, as written — - 105 What persons are exempt from license

A copy, taken August 20, 2026. The version published by the Legislature is the one that governs, and it may have changed since. Check it before relying on anything here.

The following persons are exempt from license: (1) Any person while driving or operating a motor vehicle in the service or employ of any branch or agency of the federal government; provided that the person has received a license or permit from the branch or agency to operate and drive the motor vehicle; provided further that the branch or agency has been duly authorized by the federal government to issue the license or permit; (2) Any person while driving or operating any road machine, farm tractor, or implement of husbandry temporarily operated or moved on a highway, or tractor trucks, forklifts, and top picks being used as marine terminal equipment temporarily moving in or between terminals at: (A) Sand Island and along Sand Island Parkway and Sand Island Access Road; (B) Kalanianaole Avenue between Kuhio Street and Kahanu Street, abutting Hilo Harbor; (C) Kawaihae-Mahukona Road abutting Kawaihae Harbor; (D) East Kaahumanu Avenue between Hobron Avenue and Kane Street, abutting Kahului Harbor; and (E) Waipaa Road abutting Nawiliwili Harbor; provided that no person under the age of thirteen years shall be permitted to drive or operate any such road machine, farm tractor, implement of husbandry, on a highway, or tractor trucks, forklifts, and top picks being used as marine terminal equipment temporarily moving in or between terminals identified in subparagraphs (A) through (E); (3) Any person who is at least eighteen years of age and who has in the person's possession a valid driver's license to drive the categories of motor vehicles listed in section 286-102(b), except section 286-102(b)(4), that is equivalent to a driver's license issued in this State but was issued to the person in another state of the United States, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, United States Virgin Islands, American Samoa, Guam, a province of the Dominion of Canada, or the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands for that category of motor vehicle that the person is operating; (4) Any person who has in the person's possession a valid commercial motor vehicle driver's license issued by any state of the United States, Mexico, or a province of the Dominion of Canada that issues licenses in accordance with the minimum federal standards for the issuance of commercial motor vehicle driver's licenses; and (5) Any person who drives or operates state or county motor vehicles while employed by, in the service of, or volunteering for the state or county fire departments; provided that they are trained and certified to drive category (4) motor vehicles as set forth in section 286-102(b)(4) by the state or county government, as appropriate; provided further that the person maintains a category (3) license as set forth in section 286-102(b)(3).
Read the official text at capitol.hawaii.gov ↗as published Jan 6, 2026our copy taken Aug 20, 2026

Sections this one refers to

§286-102 Who needs a driver's license and what happens before getting one

LawTrove is not legal advice. The summary above is a computer-generated restatement — the authoritative text is the official version linked above.