Vehicle registration plates of Hawaii

Last updated
Hawaii
1991 Hawaii license plate MNG 728.jpg
Current series
SloganAloha State
Size12 in × 6 in
30 cm × 15 cm
MaterialAluminum
Serial formatABC 123
Introduced1991 (1991)
Availability
Issued byCounty government offices
Manufactured byIrwin-Hodson Company, Portland, Oregon
History
First issuedJanuary 1, 1922 (1922-01-01)
(city and county plates from 1906 to December 31, 1921)

Hawaii was a sovereign constitutional monarchy until this government was overthrown in January 1893, but many of its laws were already modeled after those of the United States, including (for example) registering dogs and issuing metal tags for them since the 1870s. The Republic of Hawaii which replaced the previous government was annexed as a Territory by the United States in August 1898, and the first automobiles to be shipped to the Hawaiian Islands arrived in 1899. Each of Hawaii's four counties registered vehicles completely autonomously starting with the City & County of Honolulu in 1906, and license plates were homemade / owner-provided. The first government-issued plates were used by both Honolulu and the County of Hawaii in 1915. Maui County first issued plates in 1919, while Kauai County retained homemade plates through 1921; this was the last jurisdiction in the United States to do so. All license plates were standardized throughout the Territory of Hawaii for the first time in 1922. Despite its status as a territory, Hawaii's vehicle registration laws and license plates were the same as the rest of the United States. Hawaii was admitted to the Union as the 50th state in August 1959.

Contents

Passenger baseplates

1922 to 1952

No slogans were used on passenger plates during the period covered by this subsection.

ImageDates issuedDesignSerial formatSerials issuedNotes
1922 Hawaii license plate.jpg 1922Embossed white on dark green; vertical "HAWAII" and "1922" at right12-345Issued in blocks by countySerials started from 1-000 in Honolulu County, from 20-000 in Hawaii County, from 30-000 in Maui County, and from 40-000 in Kauai County. This continued through 1925. [1]
Blank License Plate Shape.svg 1923Embossed green on white with border line; "HAWAII 1923" at bottom12345Issued in blocks by county
Blank License Plate Shape.svg 1924Embossed red on white with border line; "HAWAII 1924" at top12345Issued in blocks by county
Blank License Plate Shape.svg 1925Embossed black on orange with border line; "HAWAII 1925" at bottom12345Issued in blocks by county
Blank License Plate Shape.svg 1926Embossed white on green with border line; vertical "HAWAII" and "1926" at left12345Issued in blocks by countySerials started from 50000 in Honolulu County; starting serials in other counties same as 1922–25. This continued through 1939. [1]
Blank License Plate Shape.svg 1927Embossed black on silver with border line; "HAWAII 1927" centered at bottom12-345Issued in blocks by county
Blank License Plate Shape.svg 1928Embossed orange on black with border line; "HAWAII 1928" centered at bottom12-345Issued in blocks by county
Blank License Plate Shape.svg 1929Embossed golden yellow on blue with border line; "HAWAII 1929" centered at top12-345Issued in blocks by county
Blank License Plate Shape.svg 1930Embossed white on red with border line; "HAWAII 1930" centered at bottom12-345Issued in blocks by county
Blank License Plate Shape.svg 1931Embossed white on black with border line; "HAWAII 1931" centered at top12-345Issued in blocks by county
Blank License Plate Shape.svg 1932Embossed yellow on green with border line; "HAWAII 1932" centered at bottom12-345Issued in blocks by county
1933 HI license plate.jpg 1933Embossed red on orange; "HAWAII 1933" centered at top12-345Issued in blocks by county
Blank License Plate Shape.svg 1934Embossed white on blue; "HAWAII 1934" centered at bottom12-345Issued in blocks by county
Blank License Plate Shape.svg 1935Embossed black on golden yellow; "HAWAII 1935" centered at top12-345Issued in blocks by county
Blank License Plate Shape.svg 1936Embossed white on green; "HAWAII 1936" centered at bottom12-345Issued in blocks by county
Blank License Plate Shape.svg 1937Embossed blue on white; "HAWAII 1937" centered at top12-345Issued in blocks by county
1938 Hawaii license plate.jpg 1938Embossed yellow on black; "HAWAII 1938" centered at bottom12-345Issued in blocks by county
Blank License Plate Shape.svg 1939Embossed white on blue; "HAWAII 1939" centered at top12-345Issued in blocks by county
Blank License Plate Shape.svg 1940Embossed black on yellow; "HAWAII 1940" at bottom, offset to rightA/A1234County-coded (see right)Honolulu County used O as the second letter and numbers 5000–9999; Hawaii County used H and numbers 2000–2999; Maui County used M and numbers 3000–3999; and Kauai County used K and numbers 4000–4999. The number allocations were used through 1950. [1]
Blank License Plate Shape.svg 1941Embossed red on gray; "HAWAII 1941" centered at topA1234County-coded
1942 Hawaii license plate.jpg 1942–45Embossed white on black; "HAWAII 1942" centered at bottomA1234County-codedRevalidated for 1943, 1944 and 1945 with windshield stickers, due to metal conservation for World War II.
Blank License Plate Shape.svg 1946Embossed black on white; "HAWAII 1946" centered at topA1234County-coded
Blank License Plate Shape.svg 1947Embossed white on green; "HAWAII 1947" centered at bottomA1234County-coded
Blank License Plate Shape.svg 1948Embossed black on golden yellow; "HAWAII 1948" centered at topA1234County-coded
Blank License Plate Shape.svg 1949Embossed golden yellow on black; "HAWAII 1949" centered at bottomA1234County-coded
Blank License Plate Shape.svg 1950As 1948 base, but with "HAWAII 1950" at top1A1234
A1234
County-coded1A1234 serial format used in Honolulu County, with the prefix progressing 1A-5A, 1B-5B, etc. [1]
Blank License Plate Shape.svg 1951As 1949 base, but with "HAWAII 51" at bottom1A-123
A 123
A-1234
County-codedHonolulu County used letters A, B, C, E, F, N, T, W and X; Hawaii County used H and Z; Maui County used M and L; and Kauai County used K. This continued through 1980. [1]
Blank License Plate Shape.svg 1952As 1948 base, but with "HAWAII 52" at top1A-123
A-123
A-1234
County-coded

1953 to present

In 1956, the United States, Canada, and Mexico came to an agreement with the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators, the Automobile Manufacturers Association and the National Safety Council that standardized the size for license plates for vehicles (except those for motorcycles) at 6 inches (15 cm) in height by 12 inches (30 cm) in width, with standardized mounting holes. [2] The first Hawaii license plate that complied with these standards was a modification of the 1953 plate, introduced in 1956. [3]

Since 1969, all Hawaii passenger plates have featured a round mounting hole at the top right and horizontal slots in the other three corners. This irregularity is to accommodate the yearly registration sticker in the upper right corner of the rear plate.

ImageDates issuedDesignSloganSerial formatSerials issuedNotes
Hawaii 1953 license plate.jpg
Hawaii 1954 license plate.jpg
Blank License Plate Shape.svg
Blank License Plate Shape.svg
1953–56Embossed golden yellow on black; "HAWAII" at bottom, offset to leftnone1A-123
A-123
A-1234
1A-1234
County-codedValidated annually with one metal tab attached to the lower right corner of the front license plate: 1953 - plain aluminum, 1954 - black on yellow, 1955 - red on white, and 1956 - black on deep yellow.
1957-8-9 Hawaii license plate.jpg 1957–60Embossed white on red with border line; "HAWAII" centered at bottom"ALOHA" centered at top1A-123
A-123
A-1234
1A-1234
County-codedValidated annually with windshield stickers: 1957 - red on white, 1958 - gold on green, 1959 - black on yellow, 1960 - white on blue.
1961 Hawaii license plate 9E-2334.jpg 1961–68Embossed white on green with border line; "HAWAII" centered at top"ALOHA STATE" centered at bottom1A-1234
A-1234
K-12345
County-codedValidated annually with windshield stickers: 1961- white on green, 1962 - red on yellow with Hawaii Visitors Bureau Hawaiian warrior logo, 1963 - yellow on red with Hawaii Visitors Bureau Hawaiian warrior logo, 1964 - black on gold, 1965 - white on blue, 1966 - white on green, 1967 - yellow on red, 1968 - black on gold.
1969 Hawaii license plate 9B-90.jpg 1969–75Embossed black on reflective yellow with border line; "HAWAII" centered at top; "69" etched at top right"ALOHA STATE" centered at bottom1A-1234
A-1234
K-12345
County-coded
1976 Hawaii license plate 565-895.jpg 1976–80Embossed blue on reflective white with border line; "HAWAII" centered at top; pink graphics of King Kamehameha I and Diamond Head screened in background; red hibiscus screened at top left and "76" at top right"ALOHA STATE" centered at bottom1A-1234
A-12345
County-coded
Hawaii license plate, 1981-1990.png 1981–90Embossed brown on reflective white; orange warrior head graphic screened in center; "HAWAII" screened in brown centered at top; "81" screened at top right"ALOHA STATE" screened in brown centered at bottomABC 123County-coded (see right)Honolulu County used A, B, C and D as the first letter; Hawaii County used H; Maui County used M; and Kauai County used K. Letters I, O and Q not used, and H, K, L and M not used in Honolulu County; these practices continue today. [1] [4] [5]
1991 Hawaii license plate MNG 728.jpg 1991–presentEmbossed black on reflective white; rainbow graphic screened in background; "HAWAII" screened in black centered at top"ALOHA STATE" screened in black centered at bottomABC 123County-codedHonolulu County has used E, F, G, J, N, P, R, S, T, and W as the first letter; Hawaii County has used H and Z; Maui County has used M and L; and Kauai County has used K. [1] [4] The design was set to run out in Honolulu County mid 2024 with the letter W however it was announced in late 2023 that the letters Y, A, B, C, and D have been added to Honolulu County. It is estimated that this will keep the Rainbow series in production for the next 15 years. [6]

Non-passenger types

1981 base

ImageTypeSerial formatSerials issuedNotes
Blank License Plate Shape.svg City and County GovernmentCity and County of Honolulu: C&C ####

City and County Of Honolulu: 3 Numbers: ###

County of Hawaii: CofH ###

County of Maui: CofM ###

County of Kauai: CofK ###

County of Kauai: 1981 Vehicles: 2 Numbers: CofK ##

City and County of Honolulu: C&C 1700-3199

County Of Hawaii: CofH 430-999

County Of Maui: CofM 100-799

County Of Kauai: CofK 130-599

County Of Kauai: 1981-1982: 2 Numbers: CofK 10-99

County and State Governments have a history of renewing their old vehicles, so some vehicles that have fairly new license plates may be an old vehicle. Also, the state/county tends to reuse numbers, so it may not be accurate, this data has been reported and estimated based on remaining renewed state/county vehicle title information.
Blank License Plate Shape.svg Motorcycle 123 ABCCounty-codedHonolulu County used X as the first letter; Hawaii County used H (starting from HMC); Maui County used M (starting from MMC); and Kauai County used K (starting from KMC). [7]
Blank License Plate Shape.svg State Government1981-1990: State ####

Some Older Vehicles: (such as 1970, 1960, etc or some vehicles) State ###

1981-1990: State 2600-5699

Airport Division: Older Vehicles: State 2100-2599

Early 1981: State 200-299 - State 300-399 - State 400-499 - State 500-599 - State 700-799 - State 800-899 - State 900-999 - State 1000-1099 - State 1100-1199 - State 1200-1299 - State 1500-1599 - State 1600-1699 - State 1700-1799 - State 1800-1899 - State 1900-1999 - State 2000-2099 - State 2600-2699

County and State Governments have a history of renewing their old vehicles, so some vehicles that have fairly new license plates may be an old vehicle. Also, the state/county tends to reuse numbers, so it may not be accurate, this data has been reported and estimated based on remaining renewed state/county vehicle title information.
Modern Hawaii truck license plate 970 MDR.jpg Truck 123 ABCCounty-codedHonolulu County used T as the first letter; Hawaii County used H; Maui County used M; and Kauai County used K.

1991 base

ImageTypeSerial formatSerials issuedNotes
County of Maui, Hawaii license plate CofM2180.jpg City and County GovernmentCity and County of Honolulu: C&C ####

County of Hawaii: CofH ####

County of Maui: CofM ####

County of Kauai: Older Plates: CK ####

County of Kauai: Newer Plates: CofK/Or CK ####

City and County of Honolulu:

1991-1992: C&C 3000-3499/5000-5499

1993-present: C&C 4000-9444

County Of Hawaii: CofH 1000-3775

County Of Maui: CofM 1000-2728

County Of Kauai: Older Plates: CK 1000-1999

County of Kauai: Newer Plates: CofK/Or CK 2000-2528

County and State Governments have a history of renewing their old vehicles, so some vehicles that have fairly new license plates may be an old vehicle.
Honolulu Police Department HPD1234Numeric portion of serial is the unit number of the plated vehicle.
Motorcycle 123 XBCFirst letter is X. [4]
Blank License Plate Shape.svg State Government1991-2001: State ####

2001-present: State A###

1991-1992: State 5500-6499

1993-2001: State 4000-9999

2001-present: State A101-H788

County and State Governments have a history of renewing their old vehicles, so some vehicles that have fairly new license plates may be an old vehicle.
Blank License Plate Shape.svg TheBus BUS123Numeric portion of serial is the unit number of the plated vehicle.
Blank License Plate Shape.svg Trailer123 WBCFirst letter is W. [4]
Blank License Plate Shape.svg Truck 123 TBCFirst letter is T. [4]

Optional types

1991 base

ImageTypeDesignSerial format
America United (issued 2 weeks after 9/11/01)Sticker at leftAB123
Bishop Museum (first optional plate, issued 2000)Sticker at leftAB123
Hawaii Arts Council (2 sticker designs used)Sticker at leftAB123
Hawaiian Humane Society (2 sticker designs used)Sticker at leftAB123
Honolulu ZooSticker at leftAB123
Honolulu Police Relief AssociationSticker at leftAB123
Hawaii FirefightersSticker at leftAB123
Maui Fire Dept.Sticker at leftAB123
Protect Our Native SpeciesSticker at leftAB123
University of HawaiiSticker at leftAB123
Kamehameha SchoolsSticker at leftAB123
Hawaii Lions ClubsSticker at leftAB123
Mighty Mo (Battleship Missouri)Sticker at leftAB123
National Marine SanctuariesSticker at leftAB123
Olelo Hawaii (Hawaiian language)Sticker at leftAB123
Respect ChoiceSticker at leftAB123
Choose LifeSticker at leftAB123
VeteranText and American flag on left1-9999; 001A-999Z
Combat VeteranText on left1-9999; 001A-999Z
Combat WoundedText and Purple Heart design on left1-9999; 001A-999Z
World War II VeteranText on left1-9999
Korea VeteranText on left1-9999
Vietnam VeteranText on left1-9999
Persian Gulf VeteranText on left1-9999
1991 Hawaii license plate Pearl Harbor survivor.jpg Pearl Harbor SurvivorText on left1-9999
Electric VehicleText on left1-9999; 001A-999Z
DisabledWheelchair logo on left1-9999; 001-999Z
Honorary ConsulText on left1-9999

Unique base

ImageTypeDesignSerial formatSerials issuedNotes
Haleakalā National Park AB12A
Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park AB123
Polynesian Voyaging SocietyAB12AAwarded "Plate of the Year" for best new license plate of 2022 by the Automobile License Plate Collectors Association, the first time Hawaii was so honored.

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Tanner, Eric N. "Hawaii Passenger License Plates". allaboutlicenseplates.com. Retrieved July 5, 2021.
  2. Garrish, Christopher (October 2016). "Reconsidering the Standard Plate Size". Plates. Vol. 62, no. 5. Automobile License Plate Collectors Association.
  3. "Hawai'i Y2K".
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 Watanabe, June (February 19, 2010). "Kokua Line: Alphabet soup". Honolulu Star-Bulletin . Retrieved January 23, 2011.
  5. Watanabe, June (March 2, 2010). "Kokua Line: Some letters exclusive to neighbor island plates". Honolulu Star-Bulletin. Retrieved January 23, 2011.
  6. "Hawaii's rainbow license plate is not retiring after all". KHON2 News. Retrieved 23 April 2024.
  7. Tanner, Eric N. "Hawaii Motorcycle License Plates". allaboutlicenseplates.com. Retrieved April 5, 2020.