Department of Motor Vehicles

What a breeze!!! On a Thursday morning, no line, quiet and great customer service! Mr. Roy, road test examiner is an older, local gentleman. He was pleasant & easygoing, made me feel comfortable from beginning till end. Easy, quick route. I felt that he trusted my driving capability. Beware of the 2 local ladies in Dillingham & Kapolei, both were super nitpicky & tricky. They didn’t introduce themselves & won’t engage in any small talk. You could sense that their goal is to fail you. It was worth driving to Koolau — with magestic views plus it’s much cooler. No wonder people are a lot nicer :)

This place sucks. Some of the staff are friendly and some are just trying to upset you. I understand the rules aren’t their rules but they can be less rude, more understanding and more helpful. I had to come back at a later time and even then it took almost 30 minutes with no line just to renew a license. I would choose this dmv over the others because it’s not busy but it’s still a terrible experience. Cest la vie I suppose. One cool thing — you can check the camera feeds online to look at the line.
Remember passport, id, social security card and 2 forms proving your current address (which have to be specific). Otherwise, there’s no reason to come in since you’ll be quickly turned away or time wasted.

If I could give this place zero stars I would all the ladies up there have bad fuckin attitudes service is shitty and they don’t give a damn about there customers no sympathy nor helpful. The dark heavy set local chick that worked there was discriminating and everyway she could screw me over she did. Went to another dmv and everything worked out fine I guess either she didn’t know what she was doing or she was racist sexist and discriminating. Don’t bother wasting your time
At this place.

Best experience at a DMV. The staff is kind, and both times I went (on December 28^th and 29^th), there was barely a line!
Funny thing, I went here to take a driving test on the 28^th, but my vehicle registration was expired (thanks dad). I couldn’t take the test, but the woman who would have given me the test seemed kind. It didn’t always seem genuine, but maybe that’s because of all the stuff I’ve heard about dragon ladies at DMVs.
Anyway, I was super duper lucky and at home was able to schedule an appointment the next day (My dad and I went to the Ala Moana DMV to get the unexpired registration). Took my test on the 29^th with an old asian man. We made some small talk; nothing felt awkward. I actually hit the curb twice during parallel parking, and my road test was only around the block! I thought I had failed, but I guess I did good on everything else, because I received my license.
Straightforward test and good people! :D

If you do your RESEARCH before going to da DMV it wouldn’t be such a nightmare! EVERYTHING is listed on www
. Lucky this ain’t da mainland where u have to sit at da DMV all day!

So glad we drove to the Windward side for my son’s driver’s permit. We got there at 7:15 am and were second in line. But when you go inside, there is one line for road tests and another for everything else, and we were first in the «everything else» line. We were done in 35 minutes, the staff were pleasant, and they told my son «Congratulations!» as they gave him his permit (yay!). I will definitely be back for his road test.

This is my first review ever because I feel it deserves one. If you plan on taking the driving test, do your best to not get «dragon lady». Avoid her at all costs. She legitimately has failed every person I have seen her test (6 others, me twice). She knows the route so well because she has been working here since the establishment of the fine organization known as the DMV (just a guess due to her incompetence since the DMV obviously hires anyone) and knows exactly what she will mark you during your lovely car ride with her. I got hit on not checking over my shoulder when changing lanes which is a 5 point deduction for every infraction (FYI: according to her your mirrors are too small and should never be used). While parallel parking, I didn’t put the parking brake on when I stopped the vehicle (not necessary at all, seriously? I didn’t even turn the car off, so why???) and lastly I didn’t use my turning signals while leaving my parking spot in the parking lot (once again, seriously?) As I parked she told me I was a great driver and I was an excellent parallel parker, but I needed to come back to show I have mastered these infractions. Wait, then why you go out of your very negative DMV employee mind to commend my driving? Oh that’s right, because you have worked for the DMV forever and will likely die a DMV employee. Thanks for being the exact reason NO ONE LIKES THE DMV. I don’t know if this makes sense but overall, CRAP DMV in my opinion… Oh wait, that’s the entire DMV.

Short lines, actually no line at all when I went. Checking in, the lady was very straightforward and polite.
I had a nice man for my driving test. I did horribly on the parallel parking, but he told me I shouldn’t fail just because of that. It seemed like he wasn’t trying to trick or fail me — the route I drove was very straightforward.
Tips: If you turn right at the 4 way stop, make sure you do a head-​check because there’s a bike lane to the right. Also, use your turn signals in the parking lot and stop and head-​check even if there are no stop signs around.

Friendly staff, nearly zero line, and straightforward driving test! Don’t waste your time at Dillingham and head over to the Windward side.

This dmv… Great for services that require no skill and just paper work because of the short lines. But even then the workers make you want to crush your Adam’s apple with a drill press. For road tests however, forget it. Even if you live 2 feet away from the dmv don’t go… I don’t know who exactly the rumored dragon lady is, but I’m pretty sure there are at least 3 of them. There’s a white blonde, an old Asian, and a Semi chunky happa. Not to be sexist, but the women there are reason hatred was born. I failed my drivers test because I waved at some guy that let me through, and apparently she didn’t feel safe enough for me to take my hand off the wheel for one sec to be polite. Second time I failed again because I went 5 miles over the speed limit to switch lanes because there were oncoming cars going by that speed. I looked at her paper and she apparently marked off 20 points for that, which is an instant fail. Then she still had the audacity to tell me to drive around more and ask me where I go to school. There is no logic because they give stricter standards which I guarantee are higher than they even drive at. And that brings my piss to a boil, they just do it to make lives more difficult and get back at the world cause they worked at the dmv for 25 years. The guys on the other hand are just fine, even great. They are lenient but still make sure you are being safe, and they talk story like people with lives do. Pardon me but Fuck that place, dillingham is still much better.

This place is the worse dmv. the worker here are rude and have no personality. you come into this cold place with cold hearted worker who have no customer service skill. this is why this place has know lines and barely any people is because of the people who work in this dmv. to me all workers seem to have a high nose and think there better than anyone else just because they work here and distribute license and stuff but they all look like they hate there job. its like if you hate it here than get a new job.
tips
1. the driving instructor don’t introduce themselves or if they do they say it fast so you don’t remember them
2.they make you feel embarrass when you don’t have any of the paper work and make sure everyone in the building know
3. they don’t congratulate you for anything they all speak one tone
4.they have no lines for reason because they are known for failing mostly ten to fifteen people a day
5. yes they do have short lines but the reason is because the workers have no customer service skill and don’t know how to treat them.
if you want to take any test go someplace else and if you want nice warming worker who really look like they enjoy there job go to another dmv that why they are crowed because the workers there are nice and want things to get done
here the workers look like they only want to talk about you and make you feel shame.

No stars. 0. Do not come here. Go to satellite city hall down the street if at all possible.

Best DMV I ever set foot in! Lines weren’t long and customer service was excellent! Comfy chairs too! :)
I scheduled my road test online, checked in and not even 5 mintues later i was on my way to my car with my instructor. Walter was my instructor, he was very friendly with EXCELLENT customer service! I’ve been to other DMV’s, but in order to have this type of job you need to love what you do with great and professional service. MR. Walter was just that with a people person attitude! He’s definitely a keeper! :)
I’d recommend anyone to this DMV! I live in town and wish Dillingham’s DMV was just like this one! Keep up the good work!

These people don’t know how to answer a god damn phone. Good review? Only cuz there’s no line due to the fact that they have shitty customer service and no one wants to go here

I took my Road test at the Koolau DMV. It was the best experience ever for me at least. There was no line, it was completely empty, when I went at 2:30 on a Wednesday. The road test was so easy! I had the guy, and he was really nice! I had only one minor error and the actual road test only lasted about 10 – 15 minutes. I passed! A lot of people say that Koolau is the hardest place to past but it was really easy and i passed on my first try! Watch your speed and look out for road signs and you should be fine.

I was a little hesitant when I decided to come to this DMV. The reviews made me a little uncomfortable and I was worried that something would go wrong and/​or someone would not let me renew my license for whatever reason. I suppose if you’re here for a road test, it may be a different story.
The dilingham DMV takes FOREVER and EVER. You will waste your life standing in line, withering away to nothingness. I did not want to do that and I don’t think anyone else wants to do that either. A friend of mine suggested I make the trip out to the Kaneohe DMV because it wasn’t busy. When I got there it was like she said, NOT BUSY AT ALL. There were two people in line in front of me and the process was extremely quick. It took a little less than 30 minutes from the time I started filling out my paperwork till the moment they gave me my new license. 30 minutes! You’re telling me I didn’t need to play 472 games of sudoku before getting to the front of the line? COOL.
The workers weren’t super friendly or anything but they weren’t mean either. They did their job and they were quick and efficient. I don’t need them to be personable or anything as long as it’s quick. It was so quick, I didn’t even really have the time to notice the service.
TIME/​LIFE SAVER. Thus 5 stars. Not sure about road tests or other things. Stars just for efficiency. 5 Stars for making my life an easier place, even if just for a moment.

I have never had deal with less competent, less friendly people than at this DMV. Having moved 6 times in the last five years, I misplaced my social security card with my married name on it. Now I have lived and worked in Hawaii for three years, and my out of state license is close to expiring.
I log into the DMV website and make sure I have what I need to renew here without a social security card: my current license, 2 forms of proof of residency (I have last year’s W2 and a current bank statement with my local address) and a certified copy of my marriage certificate. Got it.
Take off work to go to DMV which stresses me out anyway because my work piles up very quickly — it’s overwhelming to miss time. When I get to the front of the line, the little man with glasses says that my certified marriage certificate is not real — he says its a license only.
Let me backtrack: I did this whole ordeal already last week when I mistakenly brought in a copy of my certificate. MY BAD. Same little man told me just to bring the certified copy of the same document.
So now I’m back. He’s refusing to take it. I am pretty desperate and I work in customer service so I never do this, but I ask if there is a manager who can look at it. He says no. THEN the auntie with the ridiculous red glasses tells him don’t worry, in his 15 yrs of experience he knows how to do his job, I’m wrong, he’s right.
I leave, go outside, call the courthouse in the state I was married and they confirm that what i have is in fact a marriage certificate. I go back in, stand in line, get the same little man. I tell him politely that I called the courthouse and this is a marriage certificate. I point to the words marriage certificate. He says ok let me review with my manager (oh REALLY? You’re going to do same thing now I asked you to do an hour ago? Thanks for that.). He comes back, said I’m good to go, apologizes and says every state is different regarding their certificates. Fine, I get that. But why didn’t your lazy a** try to figure that out the first time around instead of just saying no because you’ve never seen one from GA before?
Ok so now the mean auntie steps in — she’s not the manager btw — and says wait, she’s calling homeland security (!!!) because of all the different documents I have. They probably won’t approve me she says.
Wait — so I brought exactly the documents you specifically require, I called you out on your mistake, I was RIGHT, so now you threaten to call homeland security? Fine. I’m sure that the Koolau DMV has them on speed dial and talks to them all the time. I’m sure they are a very important customer.
Well I guess their «connection» at homeland security «approves» all of my valid and legitimate documents and she can no longer think of any reason to not let me get my license so that I can continue to work and feed my family. I understand a certain degree of confusion or the need to validate things when you have someone from the mainland, but they tried to flat out deny me without making any effort to help me. Zero professionalism, zero courtesy. I’m sorry that you have miserable jobs and probably miserable lives, but don’t take it out on everyone else. Karma is a bitch. Where is the aloha?

Q. How can you tell two Hawaii state workers are having an affair in your office after hours?
A. They leave overtime slips.

I love this Department of Motor Vehicle than the one in Kalihi. This lady that did my road test was serious but very nice. Yes, I passed!!! I guess I was one of the lucky ones because most people just hate this place. Lol
It was empty when I went in, it was empty and no lines whatsoever. They are pretty laid back and they try to help you without of the problems. I saw this guy who was getting mad at the lady and asked to speak with a manager. If it was Kalihi, they will not call the manager and would just send them home.
It was easy for me to find the location but don’t use siri cause she will take you to the neighborhood. It’s in the koolau shopping center. Lots of parkings. I’m giving 5 stars because I had the greatest experience at DMV I ever had. Lol

I recently got married a few months ago and I needed to change my last name on my license. I had been to this location in the past and it was always an in and out thing. Service was pretty fast. Well things have changed dramatically.
Gone are the days of quick service so if your looking for fast and convenient this is not the place to be. The line and wait time is absurd!
It’s so bad that I think the Dillingham DMV wait time is faster and if you’ve ever been to the Dillingham location you know that place is a bit of a nightmare. Atleast Dillingham has different lines according to what your there for.
Ever since the state I. D’s were added on to the already hectic workload of the DMV’s, it’s been chaotic! Idk wtf they were aiming for when they made the decision to do that because it just made things worse.
At Koolau it’s just one long endless line for all services. Driver’s license, testing and state I. D’s are all crammed into one line. No type of organization whatsoever. When i got there the line was not looking so bad but it moved so slow that it took two hours and 39 minutes to make it to the front. When I got there I didnt know whether to be infuriated that it took so long or to be thankful that I finally got there lol.
The workers were very nice and once they service you, things move faster which was a relief. It’s just toughing out the long wait in line that is annoying. They issued me a temporary paper license with my new name no problems. My actual license came in the mail a little under two weeks later :)
I based my rating on the lack of organization. The customer service was pretty on point now if they could just figure out how to get things running more efficiently that would be awesome.
Here’s a few tips I learned that day.
+ If you can avoid bringing your children with you then please do so. Kids dont like to wait in lines at non fun places for hours. I had my two nieces with me and thank god for the nice lady that kept them occupied the entirety of the time i was in line. I seen other kids running around, climbing things, crying etc. and grumpy parents with short fuzes caused by the wait time in line.
+ Bring all the necessary documents you need. New identification requirements went into effect on 3÷5÷2013. All documents must be originals or certified copies. Here’s an updated link to the acceptable forms of identification and what is required.

I’d suggest checking you have what you need before hand. Im sure you wouldnt be so happy waiting in line for hours only to be told you need to come back with the correct documents. I seen it happen several times that day.
+ If you are intending on taking the permit test, try to get there early. The last testing is at 330 pm prompt. If you have not been serviced by that time you will be told to come back another day.
+Prepare yourself in advance for the long wait. You can also check the live online cams for the DMV before going so you can get a general idea of what your instore for.
Thats the most helpful advice I can offer. Other than that avoid this place if you can. I love my new last name and I am super elated i wont have to do a name change again. It was so worth the time but thank god i will not be visiting this place any time soon. Hopefully things get easier in the next 5 yrs before my license is up for renewal. Crossing fingers till then lol