Each of Hawaii's four counties register vehicles autonomously, starting with the City and County of Honolulu in 1906, when license plates were homemade or 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 Kauaʻi 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 at the time as a territory, Hawaii's vehicle registration laws and license plates were the same as the rest of the United States until the State of Hawaii was admitted to the U.S. as the 50th state in August 1959.
Background Hawaiʻi was a sovereign constitutional monarchy until its 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.
Passenger baseplates
1922 to 1952 No slogans were used on passenger plates during the period covered by this subsection. ImageDates issuedDesignSerial formatSerials issuedNotes1922Embossed white on dark green; vertical "HAWAII" and "1922" at right12-345Issued in blocks by countySerials started from 1–000 in Honolulu County, from 20 to 000 in Hawaii County, from 30 to 000 in Maui County, and from 40 to 000 in Kauaʻi County. This continued through 1925.1923Embossed green on white with border line; "HAWAII 1923" at bottom12345Issued in blocks by county1924Embossed red on white with border line; "HAWAII 1924" at topIssued in blocks by county1925Embossed black on orange with border line; "HAWAII 1925" at bottomIssued in blocks by county1926Embossed white on green with border line; vertical "HAWAII" and "1926" at leftIssued in blocks by countySerials started from 50000 in Honolulu County; starting serials in other counties same as 1922–25. This continued through 1939.1927Embossed black on silver with border line; "HAWAII 1927" centered at bottom12-345Issued in blocks by county1928Embossed orange on black with border line; "HAWAII 1928" centered at bottomIssued in blocks by county1929Embossed golden yellow on blue with border line; "HAWAII 1929" centered at topIssued in blocks by county1930Embossed white on red with border line; "HAWAII 1930" centered at bottomIssued in blocks by county1931Embossed white on black with border line; "HAWAII 1931" centered at topIssued in blocks by county1932Embossed yellow on green with border line; "HAWAII 1932" centered at bottomIssued in blocks by county1933Embossed red on orange; "HAWAII 1933" centered at topIssued in blocks by county1934Embossed white on blue; "HAWAII 1934" centered at bottomIssued in blocks by county1935Embossed black on golden yellow; "HAWAII 1935" centered at topIssued in blocks by county1936Embossed white on green; "HAWAII 1936" centered at bottomIssued in blocks by county1937Embossed blue on white; "HAWAII 1937" centered at topIssued in blocks by county1938Embossed yellow on black; "HAWAII 1938" centered at bottomIssued in blocks by county1939Embossed white on blue; "HAWAII 1939" centered at topIssued in blocks by county1940Embossed black on yellow; "HAWAII 1940" at bottom, offset to right1234County-coded (see right)Honolulu County used O as the second letter and numbers 5000–9999; Hawaiʻi County used H and numbers 2000–2999; Maui County used M and numbers 3000–3999; and Kauaʻi County used K and numbers 4000–4999. The number allocations were used through 1950.1941Embossed red on gray; "HAWAII 1941" centered at topA1234County-codedEmbossed white on black; "HAWAII 1942" centered at bottomRevalidated for 1943, 1944 and 1945 with windshield stickers, due to metal conservation for World War II.1946Embossed black on white; "HAWAII 1946" centered at top1947Embossed white on green; "HAWAII 1947" centered at bottom1948Embossed black on golden yellow; "HAWAII 1948" centered at top1949Embossed golden yellow on black; "HAWAII 1949" centered at bottom1950As 1948 base, but with "HAWAII 1950" at top1A1234A12341A1234 serial format used in Honolulu County, with the prefix progressing 1A-5A, 1B-5B, etc.1951As 1949 base, but with "HAWAII 51" at bottom1A-123A 123A-1234Honolulu County used letters A, B, C, E, F, N, T, W and X; Hawaiʻi County used H and Z; Maui County used M and L; and Kauaʻi County used K. This continued through 1980.1952As 1948 base, but with "HAWAII 52" at top1A-123A-123A-1234
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 in height by in width, with standardized mounting holes. The first Hawaii license plate that complied with these standards was a modification of the 1953 plate, introduced in 1956.
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 issuedNotesEmbossed golden yellow on black; "HAWAII" at bottom, offset to leftnone1A-123A-123A-12341A-1234County-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.1957–60Embossed white on red with border line; "HAWAII" centered at bottom"ALOHA" centered in white at top1A-123A-123A-12341A-1234Validated annually with windshield stickers: 1957 - red on white, 1958 - gold on green, 1959 - black on yellow, 1960 - white on blue.1961–68Embossed white on green with border line; "HAWAII" centered at top"ALOHA STATE" centered in white at bottom1A-1234A-1234K-12345Validated 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.1969–75Embossed black on reflective yellow with border line; "HAWAII" centered at top; "69" etched at top right"ALOHA STATE" centered in black at bottom1A-1234A-1234K-123451976–80Embossed 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 in blue at bottom1A-1234A-123451981–90Embossed 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; Hawaiʻi County used H; Maui County used M; and Kauaʻi 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.1991–2025Embossed 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 uses E, F, G, J, N, P, R, S, T, W and Y as the first letter; Hawaiʻi County uses H and Z; Maui County uses M and L; and Kauaʻi County uses K. The design was set to run out in Honolulu County mid-2024 with the letter W, but it was announced in late 2023 that the letters Y, A, B, C, and D had been added to Honolulu County. It is estimated that this will keep the Rainbow series in production for the next 15 years.2025–presentEmbossed black on reflective white; rainbow graphic screened in background; "" screened in black centered at top
Non-passenger types 1981 base ImageTypeSerial formatSerials issuedNotesCity and County GovernmentCity and County of Honolulu: C&C ####
City and County Of Honolulu: 3 Numbers: ###
County of Hawaiʻi: CofH ###
County of Maui: CofM ###
County of Kauaʻi: CofK ###
County of Hawai’i/Maui/Kaua’i: 1981 Vehicles: 2 Numbers: CofH/CofM/CofK ##City and County of Honolulu: C&C 1000–3199 (pre-1981 are before 1600 to 1700) City and County of Honolulu (1981 & TheBUS): C&C 100-999
County Of Hawaiʻi: CofH 100–999 (pre-1981 are before 420 to 435)
County Of Hawaiʻi: 2 Numbers: CofH 10-99
County Of Maui: CofM 100–799 (pre-1981 are before 400 to 420)
County Of Maui: 2 Numbers: (may have been used): CofM 10-99
County Of Kauaʻi: CofK 100–599 (pre-1981 likely before 180 to 200
County Of Kauaʻi: 1981-1982:
County of Kaua’i: 2 Numbers: CofK 10–99County 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, newspaper archives, and auction records. Water Supply in Hawaii County used County of Hawaii plates and Board of Water Supply used their own BWS plates, unknown if they used City and County of Honolulu plates pre-80s. As of 1990 Water Supply in Hawaii County started from DWS 1 with the rainbow plates up to 99 before using triple numbers. Fire Departments in Hawaii have their own plates except Kauai and Honolulu City and County fire engines which only has identification through VIN and heavy-duty commercial safety check. Hawaii County used HFD 100 to 199, pre-80s they used HFD 1 to/10 to 70/75 sharing the numbers with Honolulu Fire administrative/transport vehicles, Maui County used MFD 1 to 49.Honolulu Police DepartmentHPD 123HPD 200 - HPD 850 (estimated)Motorcycle123 ABCCounty-codedHonolulu County used X as the first letter; Hawaiʻi County used H (starting from HMC); Maui County used M (starting from MMC); and Kauaʻi County used K (starting from KMC).State Government1981-1990: State #### 1981-1982 old vehicles: (such as 1970, 1960, etc. or some vehicles) State ###1981-1990: State 2570–5699 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 2100-2550 - State 2600–2680County 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. State in 1981 to 1982 used 200 to 1299 to 1500 to up to 2700 to 2850 for their pre-1981 vehicles mostly, some were 1981 acquisitions. State might have used 1300 to 1499 for temporary numbers for new acquisitions which is a practice along with some numbers in State 1200 that continues today. Before 1980, State used 1300 to 1499 for older vehicles only. 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, old DOT aviation pictures, and newspaper archives.Truck123 ABCCounty-codedHonolulu County used T as the first letter; Hawaiʻi County used H; Maui County used M; and Kauaʻi County used K.
1991 base ImageTypeSerial formatSerials issuedNotesCity and County GovernmentCity and County of Honolulu: C&C ####
County of Hawaiʻi: CofH ####
County of Maui: CofM ####
County of Kauaʻi: Older Plates: CK ####