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GIs may keep car
registered in home state

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Question: I'm an active-duty military member born and raised in Hawaii and fortunate enough to be assigned here for a three-year tour.

I'm being reassigned to Nebraska, but I'd like to maintain my Hawaii residency by keeping my driver's license, auto registration and license plates.

I remember an old "Kokua Line" column that said vehicles domiciled in another state can continue to be registered in Hawaii, but with the safety check requirement waived.

Is this still true?

Nebraska will allow me to keep my Hawaii registration and license since, as military, I would be a nonresident of that state.

Answer: There is a specific law that covers military personnel in situations like yours.

The Soldiers and Sailors Civil Relief Act allows nonresident military personnel stationed away from their home state to keep their home state vehicle registration and driver's license, explained Dennis Kamimura, administrator for the city Motor Vehicle and Licensing Division.

But he suggested you contact Nebraska's motor vehicle division to check if it has any additional requirements.

You should submit a completed Military Resident Form DF-L (MVR)-65, along with your registration renewal and payment, to the Honolulu motor vehicle division, Kamimura said.

This form would substitute for the Hawaii safety inspection requirement.

As long as you are on active duty and stationed away from Hawaii, you may continue to renew the Hawaii registration for the vehicle, Kamimura said.

If you purchase another vehicle while away from Hawaii and want to register the vehicle in Hawaii, you should contact the Motor Vehicle Branch, P.O. Box 30330, Honolulu, HI 96820-0330 (or call 532-4324) for instructions on what to do.

To renew your license, write to the Driver License Branch, P.O. Box 30340, Honolulu 96820-0340 (phone 532-7730) within six months before the expiration of your driver's license.

Your letter should request renewal by mail and include the fact that you are a Hawaii resident on active duty and stationed away from Hawaii; your name, Social Security number or Hawaii driver's license number; and date of birth.

You will then be sent a packet with instructions on how to renew your driver's license.

"Unlike civilian residents, who may renew by mail only two times, military residents and their dependents may renew by mail for as long as they remain on active duty and stationed away from Hawaii," Kamimura said.

Q: Can you tell me what the pothole numbers are for the state and the city?

A: To report potholes on city streets, call 527-6006. For those on state roads, call either 536-7852 or 831-6714.

Legos wanted

Nico Negrette, a behavioral therapist for the state Department of Education, is looking for donations of Legos to help in group counseling sessions with public elementary school students.

She helps students in the Honolulu District develop social skills.

If you can help, call Negrette at 971-6911.

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