The Hawaii Revised Statutes provide for distinctive license plates for amateur radio operators. Any licensed amateur (except Novices) may obtain their call letters on special plates. Currently, there is a one time fee of $13.00 for obtaining these plates.

 

On Oahu, you may obtain these special plates from the Department of Emergency Management (DEM) by bringing a copy of your amateur radio license and $13.00 (cash only) to our office, located in the basement, 650 South King Street. The clerk will fill out the application, and you will have to initial the receipt to indicate that the call sign on the order is correct.

 

State Civil Defense requires that we accumulate a minimum of ten orders before forwarding to them. When they receive our order, they will combine it with orders from other counties and make a blanket order.

 

After a suitable manufacturing time (generally a minimum of 8 weeks), State Civil Defense will return the order to DEM, and you will be notified that the plates are in our office and may be picked up.

We will notify you when the plates are here. Return to DEM, this time bringing the regular plates and registration for the car that you want the amateur plates on. The clerk will fill out a temporary registration for you, and you will have to get a new registration decal and certificate from a full service satellite city hall. Information on satellite city hall hours and locations are on the web or call 527-6695 for more information. We will retain your regular plates in our files to return to you when needed.

 

You should remember that like any registration, your new plates are for your personal use on that one car, and they cannot be transferred to another owner or another vehicle. When you decide to sell or abandon your vehicle, you must go through the same procedure -- bring the plates in, we issue a temporary registration which you then take back to the satellite city hall to get your new decal and registration certificate for the original plates. We will retain the amateur plates for you until you get your new car and the plates can be reissued to you.