CPD’s state partner in Hawaii, Faith Action for Community Equity (FACE), scored a major victory this month in persuading Governor Abercrombie and the Department of Transportation to offer drivers tests in additional languages.  

Beginning March 17, all island DMVs will offer the written test in 12 additional languages besides English: Spanish, Tongan, Samoan, Japanese, Mandarin, Hawaiian, Korean, Vietnamese, Tagalog, Ilocano, Chuukese and Marshallese.

This is a huge victory for Hawaii's families who have faced hardships for years due to Hawaii's previous "English-Only" policy.

Hundreds of people helped win this policy including petition gatherers, members of the clergy who advocated to the Dept. of Transportation, and legal advocates who pursued judicial remedies.

Hawaii was one of the only states in the nation that did not offer the written drivers’ test in Spanish, and Hawaii will be the first state to offer the test in Chuukese and Marshallese. FACE has been leading the fight to secure these translations for more than a year, and it has finally paid off!