Honolulu today became the last major city in America to begin a driver’s relicensing program.

The year-long statewide program will include the issuing of more than 300,000 new plastic driver’s licenses.

These will allow police to throw away more than one million old records of licenses — many belonging to drivers who are dead or physically incapable of driving.

The first morning went relatively smoothly for most drivers whose last names begin with "A". About 100 went through the process in the first 2 1/2 hours at the Honolulu Police Station.

For those who didn’t come prepared — they failed to bring their old license or couldn’t provide their Social Security number — the easy procedure took longer.

Hawaii moved into the new relicensing program in order to increase safety of drivers, outdate the old files and to assure qualification for federal highway funds. …

…Police emphasized today that applicants must bring their old license, either have their Social Security card or know their zip code.

The program will extend through January 1969.

In brief, this is how the relicensing program works:

1. Applications forms are filled out at one of the relicensing centers. There are seven on Oahu.

2. The form is filled out in triplicate.

3. The form is double-checked by a City cashier.

4. A thumb print is taken and applicant may furnish a photo if he wishes. The photo is not required by law, however.

5. The proper fee is paid: $2 for a two-year license; $4 for a four-year license and $3 for a one-year chauffeur’s license.

6. The applicant receives a receipt, good for 90 days until the plastic license is mailed to him.