Hawai'i men lag in draft sign-up

By Curtis Lum
Advertiser Staff Writer

For the third straight year, Hawai'i ranked last among the 50 states in Selective Service registration compliance.

The Selective Service System yesterday released its annual compliance report and only 75 percent of the men required to register in Hawai'i last year did so. Only the Virgin Islands and Mariana Islands ranked lower.

In 2000, Hawai'i was tied with Louisiana for last place at 75 percent, the report said.

National Guard Lt. Jill Trahan, spokeswoman for the Selective Service System, said the problem here is more of awareness than apathy.

"All we can surmise is awareness perhaps is always an issue, getting young men to realize that they have to register," Trahan said.

The law requires all male U.S. citizens and immigrants with permanent resident status to register with the Selective Service System within 30 days of their 18th birthday. Men can register after that, but must do so before their 26th birthday.

Failure to register is a felony and punishable by up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Those who do not register also will not be eligible for federal employment or aid, Trahan said.

"After they turn 26 there are a lot of things that you are no longer eligible for, and that's sad because unfortunately a lot of people might not know that," Trahan said.

Trahan said the state also requires registration before they can receive or renew a driver's license. She said this should help to increase Hawai'i's compliance rate.

Registration forms are available at any post office. Men also can register online.