Question: Do you have to be a U.S. citizen or a permanent resident to get a Hawaii state ID?
Answer: No. To qualify for a state ID, applicants must prove their legal presence and principal residence in Hawaii, plus their legal name and date of birth.
“Documentary proof affects anyone applying for a Hawaii State Identification Card, including U.S. citizens and foreign-born applicants. The documentary proof also applies to anyone who has just moved to Hawaii from another state or country, and anyone renewing their Hawaii State Identification Card,” according to the state Department of Transportation.
Two documents are required as proof of principal Hawaii residence; acceptable documents include a residential rental or time-share agreement for six months or more, among others.
Hawaii ID cards issued to “legal non-immigrants” expire the date their documented legal stay expires. You can find more information at 808ne.ws/hiidfaq.
Q: Aren’t bicyclists required to wear helmets on Oahu?
A: No, not all of them. Helmets are required only for bicyclists under age 16, per Hawaii Revised Statutes 291C-150. The rule applies whether the youngsters pedal the bike themselves or ride as passengers in an attached safety seat or towed trailer. This law is statewide, not limited to Oahu.
Q: On the news they’ll say there’s a storm watch or a storm warning. Are those the same?
A: No. A warning is more urgent than a watch.
Hawaii Beach Safety (hawaiibeachsafety.com), which distributes information from county lifeguards throughout the state, the National Weather Service and the state Department of Health, lists the following types of alerts, in descending order of urgency.
>> Closure: Access to a beach park is temporarily denied for public safety purposes.
>> Warning: Issued when a beach event is occurring or imminent and action is needed to protect life and property.
>> Advisory: Issued when events are occurring that are not a direct threat to life or property.
>> Watch: Issued to allow time for preparation for a beach event.
>> Statement: Issued ahead of events that are scheduled or can be reasonably predicted to happen and which might affect beach or ocean usage.
You can check the Hawaii Beach Safety website for more information about Hawaii’s beaches, including storm alerts. If you are interested only in weather alerts, go to 808ne.ws/weaalerts, the National Weather Service site listing watches, warnings and advisories for Hawaii as they occur.
Auwe
Auwe to the gentleman walking his big dog on the morning of July 7 in front of the Rehabilitation Hospital of the Pacific, for not picking up his dog’s feces. His dog defecated on the grassy area by the front main entrance. He continued walking as if nothing happened, enjoying his snack. We made eye contact, and he made zero effort to clean it up. Sir, I’ve seen young kids running around and playing on this grass. Next time (and every time), please pick up after your dog. Spread da aloha — not your doggie poop! — B.C.
Mahalo
I am a member of the Celtic Pipes and Drums of Hawaii band, and we want to send a mahalo to a wonderful couple on Palapu Street in Kailua. On July 4, while we were waiting to begin marching in the Kailua parade, they brought several benches out for us to rest on and even offered to let us use their restroom. Many of us carry heavy instruments, and we are all in hot wool uniforms, so their generous and gracious hospitality was much appreciated. This thoughtful couple is again proof that aloha is alive and well in Hawaii! — Elizabeth MacNeill and Celtic Pipes and Drums of Hawaii
Write to Kokua Line at Honolulu Star-Advertiser, 500 Ala Moana Blvd., Suite 7-210, Honolulu 96813; call 529-4773; fax 529-4750; or email kokualine@staradvertiser.com.
