Drive Time
Driver test available in several languages
By Scott Ishikawa
Advertiser Transporation Writer
By the end of this month, the Hawai'i driver's license written exam will be available in eight different languages.
Aside from English, the written tests now are available in Japanese, Korean, Mandarin, Samoan, Tagalog and Vietnamese.
"We're awaiting verification of the Tongan version of the exams, and that will cover all of them," said city Motor Vehicle & Licensing Division administrator Dennis Kamimura. "The Tongan-language version should be ready by the end of August."
City officials began the written translations earlier this year, saying the new service targets mainly experienced drivers licensed to operate vehicles in other countries who are unable to get Hawai'i licenses because of language barriers. The city stopped providing written tests in certain languages in the late 1980s because of budget constraints.
Members of an interfaith community organization called Faith Action for Community Equity also pushed for the translations.
Total costs to translate and print the foreign language driver exams was kept to $2,040, thanks in part to university professors and consulates who helped translate the tests at no cost.
Kamimura said the professors and staff at the University of Hawai'i translated the 30-question driver's test into Mandarin, Tagalog and Vietnamese. American Samoa Community College handled the Samoan and Tongan versions, and the Japanese and Korean Consulate offices in Hawai'i did the translations for their respective languages.
"Without their help, creating the tests would have cost a lot more," Kamimura said.
Q. Is foreign language testing available at all of O'ahu's driver license testing stations?
A. Yes, they are available at all of the city's driver testing stations on the island: in Kalihi-Kapalama at 1199 Dillingham Blvd.; Kane'ohe at 46-024 Kamehameha Highway.; Kapolei at 1000 Uluohia St. off Kamokila Boulevard; Pearl City at 1100 Waimano Home Road; Wahiawa at 330 N. Cane St.; and Wai'anae at 85-670 Farrington Highway.
The foreign language tests are also available at all Neighbor Island county driver testing stations.
Q. Are the questions in the foreign language tests basically the same as in the English version?
A. With some small changes due to language translations, they are the same questions. Unfortunately, there are currently no Hawai'i driver exam textbooks in languages other than English for drivers to study.
Q. Can the foreign language driver's exam be taken orally?
A. No. The oral driver exams are available only in English.
Reach Scott Ishikawa at 525-8070 or sishikawa@honoluluadvertiser.com
