That's not enough; I was told I had to have a certified copy of my birth certificate from the place where I was born. That happens to be on the mainland, and it will take about $35 and four to five weeks to get it. Why do they need all these documents? Also, I found the attitude of the woman absolutely abominable. I asked to speak to a supervisor, and she came back and said she is the supervisor.
ANSWER: Even more documents are required for a state ID if you've changed your name, been adopted, married, divorced, or had a sex change.
Obtaining a state ID at the Hawaii Criminal Justice Data Center is not fast or easy. It could take from 30 minutes to three hours, said Liane Moriyama, administrator. The time required depends on the number of people waiting in line ahead of you, the number of changes you've had in your life and the number of documents you have with you.
In the past 10 days, the office has been handling about 200 cards per day as compared with the usual 150 per day, Moriyama said.
State law tells the kind of information required but not the actual documents. All applicants must have a Social Security card. U.S. citizens also must have a certified birth certificate from the appropriate office in the place where they were born. Moriyama's office has the address and phone number for the appropriate agencies in the other 49 states.
Why aren't a drivers license or passport acceptable? Moriyama says drivers licenses are issued to people who pass the tests required to drive a motor vehicle, and a passport is proof of citizenship. An ID card is different, for identity, and "we have to ensure the legal name," Moriyama said.
A person's legal name is established at birth and subsequent changes are made through legal documents.
That's why the marriage certificate, divorce decree or similar documents are needed if those situations apply.
Moriyama said the office is seeing many more impersonators or people trying to change or twist their identity than in the past.
Some are immigrants; some are in the 18-to-20 age bracket wanting an ID that will make them the age needed for some activity in another state.
"With a picture ID, we're working for the safety of everybody," she said.
If the office cuts corners, or is less stringent on checking requirements, "we're not doing anybody any favors," she said.
State IDs are issued at only one location on Oahu - Room 102 at 465 S. King St. in Honolulu (across from the state library.) The office is open from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The fee for a state ID is $10 in cash. "Our experience is that personal checks bounce," Moriyama said.
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