Kapaʻa DMV reopens Nov. 4 by appointment only; booking opens Nov. 2

Published on October 28, 2026

KAPAʻA – The County of Kauaʻi Division of Motor Vehicles will reopen at its Kapaʻa office on Wednesday, Nov. 4, offering a full range of services by appointment only. Appointment booking opens Monday, Nov. 2, at www.kauai.gov/DMV.

DMV services have been unavailable since the Sept. 9 fire at the Kapule Building at the Līhuʻe Civic Center.

“Mahalo to our community for your patience. Losing DMV services has been hard on working families, kūpuna, and our local businesses, and our team has worked hard to bring them back,” said Mayor Derek S.K. Kawakami. “I want to be upfront with everyone. We are reopening with limited capacity, and it will take time to work through the backlog. Our first priority is helping people whose licenses and IDs expired get back on the road legally. If you can renew your registrations online or at a kiosk, please do. Every transaction handled remotely frees up an appointment for someone who has no other option. We will get through this together, with patience and aloha.”

In-person DMV services will be offered only at the Kapaʻa office, which will operate with limited capacity. Space will be limited. During the first weeks, appointments are expected to fill with customers whose driver’s licenses, state IDs, or other credentials expired during the closure. The County will announce when more appointments become available.

The County is also preparing the Gather space in Līhuʻe to serve as a temporary location for DMV services. An opening date has not been set. More information will be shared when it is available.

Permit testing and road testing will be available beginning Nov. 4.

Services available by appointment at the Kapaʻa DMV include:

• Motor vehicle registration and title transactions
• Dealer and bank transactions
• Taxi permits
• Driver’s license and state ID card production
• Permit testing and road testing
• Disability parking placards (DCAB)
• Commercial driver’s license (CDL) renewals

Because the Kapaʻa office has a limited number of service counters, all services will be by appointment only, with no walk-in service or kūpuna hour. Appointments help us serve as many customers as possible and reduce long waits in a small space. DMV staff will be available to help customers book appointments, review paperwork before their visit, and answer questions. To book an appointment, visit www.kauai.gov/DMV.

The Kapaʻa DMV will not accept utility payments or sell tipping coupons or Kauaʻi Bus passes.

Credit cards will be accepted, but the Kapaʻa DMV has a limited number of card payment stations. Cash and checks are also accepted, and customers are encouraged to bring cash or a check to help keep lines moving.

To help keep appointments open for customers who need them most, residents are encouraged to use these options:

• Renew vehicle registration online at mvr.ehawaii.gov/renewals/kauai/lookup or at a self-service kiosk at Western Motors in Hanapēpē, Līhuʻe Safeway, Kapaʻa Safeway, or Princeville Foodland. The County is temporarily covering the $2.50 convenience fee for online vehicle registration renewals and sewer payments. Credit card and eCheck processing fees still apply.
• Request a duplicate driver’s license through the City and County of Honolulu’s online portal at mydmv.hnl.info/hnldl/duplicates. Only exact duplicates are available online; name, address, and other changes cannot be made.

Links to online services and kiosk locations are also available at www.kauai.gov/DMV.

For more information, please contact the Division of Motor Vehicles at 808-241-1949 or kauaidmv@kauai.gov, or visit www.kauai.gov/DMV.

###