How to Get a Handicap Placard in Hawaii: County Application Guide for Honolulu, Maui, Kauai, and Hawaii County

Hawaii’s disability parking placard program helps residents with qualifying conditions access designated accessible parking spaces across all four counties—Honolulu, Hawaii, Maui, and Kauai. The program is uniquely administered: the state’s Disability and Communication Access Board (DCAB) manages the overarching rules, but initial applications are processed locally through your county issuing sites. Here is what you need to know to apply, renew, or replace your placard.

Who Qualifies for a Hawaii Handicap Placard?

Hawaii law outlines the conditions that make a person eligible for a disability parking permit. You qualify if you meet at least one of the following criteria:

• Cannot walk 200 feet without stopping to rest.
• Cannot walk safely without the use of, or assistance from, a brace, cane, crutch, another person, prosthetic device, wheelchair, or other assistive device.
• Are restricted by severe lung disease (e.g., forced expiratory volume for one second is less than 1 liter, or arterial oxygen tension is less than 60 mm/hg on room air at rest).
• Use portable oxygen.
• Have a cardiac condition classified as Class III or IV by the American Heart Association.
• Are severely limited in walking due to an arthritic, neurological, or orthopedic condition.

The qualifying condition must be certified by an authorized medical professional. In Hawaii, only a licensed physician (MD or DO) or an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) can certify your form. (Note: Physician Assistants are not currently authorized to sign the form).

Types of Hawaii Disability Parking Placards

Placard Type	Color	Validity	Fee
Long Term (Permanent)	Blue	6 years	Free
Temporary	Red	Up to 6 months	$12.00
DPPEP (Meter Exempt)	Green	6 years	Free
Special License Plates	N/A	Annual (with registration)	~$5.50 – $6.25*

Note: Special license plate fees vary slightly by county.

What is the DPPEP?

In 2021, Hawaii changed its laws so that standard blue and red placards no longer provide free metered parking. Instead, the state created the Disabled Paid Parking Exemption Permit (DPPEP). To qualify for this green placard, you must have a valid driver’s license, a qualifying mobility disability, AND a condition that prevents you from operating a parking meter (e.g., you cannot reach above 42 inches, use a wheelchair, or lack fine motor control in both hands). It grants up to 2.5 hours of free metered parking.

Hawaii Handicap Placard Application Process

Step 1: Get the Application Form

Obtain Form PA-3 (Person with a Disability Parking Permit Application) from your county motor vehicle office, or download it directly from the Hawaii State Department of Health (DCAB) website.

Step 2: Complete the Medical Certification

Have your licensed physician or APRN complete and sign Side 2 of the form. They must include their name, professional license number, and signature.

• Timing: The doctor’s signature is only valid for 60 days for a temporary placard application, and 180 days for a long-term placard application. Do not delay submitting your form once it is signed.

Step 3: Submit to Your County Issuing Site

You must submit your completed PA-3 form, a copy of your valid ID, and the $12 fee (if applying for a temporary placard) to your local county issuing site.

• City & County of Honolulu: Satellite City Halls (appointments via AlohaQ are highly recommended).
• Hawaii County: Office of Aging locations (Hilo or Kailua-Kona).
• Maui County: Maui Vehicle Registration & Licensing in Kahului.
• Kauai County: Driver License Division in Lihue.

How to Renew a Hawaii Handicap Placard (New Medical Certification Required Every 4 Years)

• Long-Term Placards (Blue): Valid for 6 years. To renew a long-term placard, you must mail your application directly to the state DCAB office, NOT your county. Mail your newly completed Form PA-3 (with a fresh doctor’s signature) and a copy of your ID to: DCAB, P.O. Box 3377, Honolulu, HI 96801.
• Temporary Placards (Red): Valid for up to 6 months. If your condition continues, you must submit a new PA-3 form (with a new doctor’s signature) and a new $12 fee to your local county issuing site.

How to Replace a Lost or Stolen Hawaii Handicap Placard at No Cost

If your Hawaii handicap placard is lost, stolen, or confiscated, you must complete Side 1 of Form PA-3. No new medical certification is required if your current placard is still within its valid timeframe.

• Submit the form to your county issuing site along with a $12 replacement fee.
• If your placard is simply mutilated or damaged, you can exchange the damaged placard for a replacement at your county site completely free of charge.

Hawaii Disability Parking Rules: Display Requirements, Misuse Laws, and Visitor Placard Recognition

• Display: Hang the placard from the rearview mirror so it is visible from outside the vehicle. Remove it while driving to avoid obstructing your vision.
• Authorized Use: The placard is issued to you as an individual—it may be used in any vehicle you are riding in. Using another person’s placard when they are not present is illegal and subject to heavy fines.
• Reciprocity: Hawaii recognizes valid disability parking credentials issued by all other U.S. states and most foreign countries. Visitors can use their home placard in Hawaii’s accessible parking spaces (though they do not grant meter fee exemptions).

Frequently Asked Questions

Conclusion:

Getting a Hawaii handicap placard is free and straightforward. Once you have your medical certification completed on Form CS-L (MVR) 55, a visit to your county motor vehicle office is all it takes to secure your parking privileges across the islands.