No need to read unless you need to renew your driver's license in Honolulu.

Each driver in Honolulu receives a postcard from the city and county about what he needs to bring (3-4 documents to prove you are a legal resident) to get his license renewed. You know it’s going to take more time/effort to get this done now (because the government wants to make sure you are not in this country illegally), and you have no choice but to face it (unless you don’t want to drive anymore).

I knew someone walked in last December and spent THREE hours to get his license renewed. I was not looking forward to such a drag myself. Then, a girlfriend of mine said she had no problem by getting appointment online in advance. I was encouraged and signed up online for 12:15 pm on Feb 28th.

Here is the link for getting appointment online:

https://alohaq.honolulu.gov/?0

I wanted to be 120% sure I didn’t screw things up and arrived at the site one hour before my appointment time. The parking was nearly full, a sign for trouble but I didn’t know. I walked in and there was a machine for people to check in, just like a self-check-in machine at the airport. I had some trouble, and the security guy was NO help. (In fact, I don’t think he could help anything at all, except for taking up a tiny space in the room. The county could have paid someone a little more so the person can actually be of some use. I am being mean here, but you will agree with me if you were there.) I eventually checked in by watching other people.

The room was clean but super cold. I regretted not having a sweater. I patiently waited for my number to appear on the big screen. I got text message to remind me my appointment was on time, but my number was NOT on the big screen! As the clock ticked toward 12, I became nervous. There was NO ONE to ask. I went to the counter and waited for a chance to ask a staff. She said: “Things get delayed.” I waited and waited, my text message asked me if I wanted to reply “E” to extend my appointment by 20 mins. I begged the woman to help me. She finally asked: “What are you here for?” I said: “To renew my license.” She said:” WRONG place!” My heart skipped a beat! I waited for an hour at a WRONG place??? How was this possible?

Of course, I panicked! I was told to turn right after I walked out of the (current) office, I didn’t know there was another office! Sure enough, there was, and almost like a twin. How was I supposed to KNOW I was in the wrong office? After all, I checked in, didn’t I?

The receptionist there was old and not friendly. She said: “Your time is up.” She didn’t want to take my application. I showed her my cell: “Look, I replied ‘E’ for extension.” She kept her long face, but eventually took my application. “WRONG form!” she said coldly. My heart sank: “What?” She did give me a new form, and sent to the wall where people were filling in forms. I could barely read as I was in a state of total confusion by then. I found the form poorly designed: it asks me for my old driver’s license number twice, and there was not enough room to put down an answer, etc. As I struggled, I heard my number being called: “#3386? #3386?” I hurried toward the voice: “I am sorry. I had an old form, and am in the middle of filling in the new one.” This lady turned out to be God-sent. She was very friendly: “Don’t worry. The new from only started last month. Just finish it.” (I had the old form, because I had it printed out in December 2017! Almost two months ago.) I was very grateful, because her voice calmed me down. Then, it was vision test. There, I tripped again! I wear progressive glasses that have powers in the middle 1/3. To see anything 90 degrees on both sides, I was told to turn my head (or I would get dizzy). Now, for peripheral vision test, I was NOT allowed to turn my head. I saw NO blinking lights! The lady asked me to look at her as she demoed where the blinking lights would be, nearly 90 degrees from the forward vision. I tried again, and pointed to my right ear. She tested me again, and I saw NOTHING! She gave me another chance, and I again pointed to my right ear. I passed! (I am not sure I actually have any peripheral vision on the left, and I should get my vision checked soon.) Thank goodness, the ordeal was nearly over. The rest (paying for the new license, getting photo taken) was easy. Yes, my friend was right, the whole thing took about 45 mins. I still had no idea how I walked into the wrong office, and why the machine there let me check in without telling me to go to next door…

Clearly, MOST people didn’t know they could get appointment time online (as if making an appointment to see a doctor). The city and county could have done a better job by educating the public; for example, on the postcard to remind people what documents to bring for license renewal, add a suggestion to sign up online (to shorten wait time and reduce parking lot congestion).

When I told my yoga classmates about my ordeal, someone said: “My friend spent FIVE hours to get hers renewed. She complained about it on her FaceBook page.” I don’t like FB, but I think I should write it done to warn my friends not to repeat my mistakes.

Thank goodness, I don't have to do this for the next eight years!

The end.