The Hawaii permit test has 30 questions (City and County of Honolulu online permit test); Maui County publishes a pass mark of 24 correct, no more than 6 errors, and Honolulu does not publish a passing score. Official source. Page updated 2026-10-27.
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Key Hawaii DMV rules and numbers
These are key rules and numbers from the Hawaii handbook, a few per topic so they fit on one printed page. We favor rules that state a specific number. Every fact below comes from our free Hawaii DMV practice test question bank, which has 500 questions across 9 topics, checked against the Hawaii handbook (last verified 2026-09-07).
Speed limits
- The driver must use the speed limit posted for the particular roadway. (Handbook, p. 44)
- The speed rule works in both directions: the driver must not exceed the posted maximum and must not travel below the posted minimum. (Handbook, p. 28)
- The manual identifies streets near schools and playgrounds as places where reduced speed limits are required. (Handbook, p. 28)
- Hawaii lists streets in residential or business areas among the places where reduced speed limits are required. (Handbook, p. 28)
- No one can see as well at night as in daylight, and moving between light and darkness keeps a driver from reaching their best seeing ability. (Handbook, p. 77)
Right of way
- A driveway is not treated like a road with equal priority. (Handbook, p. 32)
- Crosswalk lines show pedestrians where to safely cross, and Hawaii's manual tells drivers they must stop for pedestrians in crosswalks. (Handbook, p. 36)
- An entering vehicle must yield to traffic already circulating in the roundabout. (Handbook, p. 65)
- Hawaii recognizes a funeral procession as a group that receives special treatment at intersections. (Handbook, p. 29)
- When vehicles arrive simultaneously, Hawaii's general priority rule gives way to the vehicle on the right. (Handbook, p. 32)
Alcohol and DUI
- Hawaii's alcohol chapter says that when a test shows alcohol in the driver's blood, a content of .08 percent or more means the driver may be considered under the influence of alcohol. (Handbook, p. 56)
- The administrative process described by the manual gives the driver a 30 day temporary driving permit when the BAC test reaches .08 percent or above. (Handbook, p. 55)
- The manual places refusal in the same administrative category as a BAC result of .08 percent or more. (Handbook, p. 55)
- For a driver under 21, Hawaii's Zero Tolerance law prohibits a BAC of .02 percent or more. (Handbook, p. 56)
- The use of alcohol is a factor in over 18,000, about 40 percent, of the fatal motor vehicle crashes that occur every year in the United States, and the manual calls it every driver's problem whether or not you drink. (Handbook, p. 55)
Signals and markings
- Hawaii requires a turn signal for at least 100 feet before every turn or lane change. (Handbook, p. 74)
- You must not drive on the left half of the roadway when approaching within 100 feet of, or passing through, an intersection or railroad crossing. (Handbook, p. 26)
- The manual sets the needed view at 700 to 1,000 feet, or roughly 213 to 305 meters, on a hill or curve. (Handbook, p. 30)
- The 100-foot no-passing rule covers intersections, railroad crossings and any posted narrow bridge, viaduct or tunnel. (Handbook, p. 31)
- The slow-moving vehicle emblem is a reflective triangle, 18 inches or about 46 centimeters on each side, mounted on the rear of the vehicle. (Handbook, p. 30)
Parking
- Hawaii's list of prohibited parking places includes any place where less than 10 feet of the width of the street would remain for the free movement of traffic. (Handbook, p. 28)
- After the parallel parking steps, Hawaii's manual adds a spacing rule: front and rear bumpers should not be closer than two feet from the other vehicles when in the parked position, unless the street is otherwise marked. (Handbook, p. 72)
- Where angle parking is not clearly designated, a vehicle should be parallel to the curb and pointed with traffic. (Handbook, p. 73)
- When you leave a vehicle unattended, the manual says to stop the engine, lock the ignition and remove the key, set the parking brake, and, when the vehicle is on a grade, turn the wheels toward the curb. (Handbook, p. 29)
- Hawaii bars parking within or so close to an intersection that your vehicle interferes with traffic. (Handbook, p. 28)
Safe driving
- Hawaii identifies a hill or curve with less than 700 to 1000 feet of clear distance ahead as a no-passing situation. (Handbook, p. 30)
- Hawaii's crash statistics show that the youngest drivers, under age 20, have about twice as many crashes as would be expected for the number of drivers in that group. (Handbook, p. 24)
- The manual places the possible beginning of partial hydroplaning at 35 miles per hour, with the extent increasing as speed and standing water increase. (Handbook, p. 75)
- A required railroad crossing stop must be made not less than 15 feet from the nearest rail. (Handbook, p. 27)
- You can survive a crash at speeds up to 60 miles per hour if using lap and shoulder belts, while an unbelted person can be killed at speeds as low as 12 mph. (Handbook, p. 61)
Road signs
- The slow moving vehicle emblem is a highly reflective 18 inch, or 46 centimeter, triangular emblem required on the rear of vehicles designed to operate at speeds of 25 mph or less. (Handbook, p. 30)
- A Hawaii stop sign is the 8 sided white on red sign, and its message is that other traffic has the right of way. (Handbook, p. 44)
- Hawaii requires a reduced speed near schools and playgrounds and at locations marked with a School Crossing sign when children are present. (Handbook, p. 28)
- A STOP sign requires a complete stop at the stop line, followed by yielding to approaching traffic before proceeding. (Handbook, p. 44)
- A YIELD sign means other traffic has the right-of-way, so the driver must approach prepared to stop. (Handbook, p. 44)
Laws and paperwork
- Hawaii sets the starting point for an instruction permit at 15 1/2 years. (Handbook, p. 13)
- The manual lists Honolulu written testing from 8:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. (Handbook, p. 2)
- A class 2 motorcycle applicant must pass both a special knowledge test and an off-street skills test. (Handbook, p. 12)
- If you are under age 18 you must operate on a provisional license for at least 6 months before being eligible for a class 3 driver's license, after first holding an instruction permit for 180 days. (Handbook, p. 11)
- An instruction permit allows driving only while supervised by a licensed driver who is at least 21 and qualified for that vehicle type. (Handbook, p. 11)
Emergencies
- Hawaii requires immediate police reporting when a traffic crash causes any personal injury, death, or property damage of $3,000 or more. (Handbook, p. 52)
- An automatic transmission can usually be downshifted at normal speeds by moving the selector to the next lower position, but the manual says that at high speeds of 60 miles per hour and above most automatic transmissions will not downshift. (Handbook, p. 71)
- The manual requires a stop not less than 15 feet from the nearest rail when a train approaching within 1,500 feet gives audible warning of its approach. (Handbook, p. 27)
- A siren, bell, horn, or flashing red or blue lamp from an approaching emergency vehicle requires the driver to create a clear path and stop. (Handbook, p. 29)
- A stopped emergency vehicle with flashing lights remains a roadside hazard and needs a protected space. (Handbook, p. 29)
Want the reasoning behind these rules? Study the handbook, chapter by chapter, in 23 short lessons quoted from the Hawaii manual.
Signs
Sign shape and color carry meaning before you even read the words. A red octagon always means stop, a red-bordered triangle pointing down means yield, and yellow diamonds warn of a hazard ahead. For every sign image used in our practice test, with the exact meaning and explanation, see the full road sign glossary.
Keep studying
This cheat sheet is a summary, not a substitute for practice. Test yourself with the free Hawaii DMV practice test, which explains the reasoning behind every answer, or see Hawaii DMV facts and fees before test day.