Driving Without a License
HRS 286-136 — up to $1,000 or 30 days, and a class C felony the third time inside five years
No one operates any category of motor vehicle the section lists without first being examined and licensed as a qualified driver of that category, unless the person is exempt or holds an instruction permit, a limited purpose license or permit, a provisional license, or a commercial license or commercial instruction permit.
Who handles this in Hawaii: Hawaii State Bar Association, Lawyer Referral and Information Service; and legal aid programs and the state offices, listed in the Hawaii directory.
- The categories run from mopeds, through motorcycles and motor-driven cycles, to passenger cars, light trucks, small buses and vans, and then to the noncommercial vehicles beyond them.
| Offense | What it carries |
|---|---|
| OffenseA first offense, or one with no conviction for the same offense in the five years before | What it carriesA fine of up to $1,000, up to 30 days in jail, or both |
| OffenseOne within five years of a prior conviction | What it carriesA fine of $500 to $1,000, up to one year in jail, or both |
| OffenseOne within five years of two or more prior convictions | What it carriesA class C felony, and the court may order the vehicle forfeited |
A minor under eighteen in family court either loses the right to drive until eighteen or is fined $500. A person who cannot pay a fine on time may petition the court to show the nonpayment is not wilful; the court then assesses ability to pay and may allow more time, lower installments, revoke the fine in whole or part, or convert it to community service.
Sources for this section (2)
- HRS 286-102 — Licensing
- HRS 286-136 — Penalty
Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of October 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed Hawaii attorney.