Handicap Placard Application in Honolulu: Form PA-3, Submission, and Fees

To get a handicap placard in Honolulu, you file Form PA-3 with the Disability and Communication Access Board (DCAB). You complete the personal information on Side 1, a licensed physician, physician assistant, or advanced practice registered nurse completes the medical certification on Side 2, and you submit the form at any Satellite City Hall or by mail. A first-time long-term (blue) placard is free. A temporary (red) placard costs $12.

Who Qualifies

Hawaii law sets a specific threshold. You must have a disability that limits your ability to walk, and your certifying provider must confirm you cannot walk 200 feet without stopping to rest.¹ On top of that walking limitation, you must also meet at least one of these conditions:

You cannot walk without a brace, cane, crutch, prosthetic device, wheelchair, or help from another person.
You rely on portable oxygen to move through public spaces.
You have severe lung disease, measured as a forced expiratory volume in one second of less than one liter on spirometry, or an arterial oxygen tension below 60 mm/Hg on room air at rest.
You have a serious cardiac condition classified as Class III or Class IV under American Heart Association standards.

Both parts matter. A qualifying diagnosis alone is not enough if you can still walk 200 feet without stopping.¹

Choose Your Placard Type

Hawaii issues two removable windshield placards, and your provider’s assessment of how long your disability will last decides which one you get.

A long-term blue placard is issued when your condition is expected to last at least six years. It expires six years after the date of issuance.² A temporary red placard is issued when your condition is expected to last less than six years, and its expiration matches the period your provider specifies, up to a maximum of six months.³

If you’d prefer a permanent license plate instead of a hanging placard, you can request special disability plates on the same PA-3 form. The medical qualifications are identical.

Fill Out Form PA-3

Form PA-3 is the single application for every option. Download it from the DCAB website or pick up a copy at any Satellite City Hall.⁴ The form has two sides.

Side 1: Your Information

You fill in your full name, phone number, email, date of birth, height, weight, gender, and mailing address. You indicate which county you live in and check the placard type you want (temporary, long-term, or special plates). You sign a declaration at the bottom authorizing the release of your medical information. The form does not ask for a Social Security number.

Side 2: Medical Certification

A licensed physician, physician assistant, or APRN completes this section. The provider confirms your qualifying condition, identifies the functional limitation that applies, and specifies how long the disability is expected to last.⁵ The provider must hold a Hawaii medical license, unless they are military personnel stationed in Hawaii.

Where to Submit It in Honolulu

You have two options for submitting the completed PA-3.⁴

In person at a Satellite City Hall. Oahu has nine locations: Ala Moana, Downtown, Hawaii Kai, Kapalama, Kapolei, Pearlridge, Wahiawa, Waianae, and Windward City in Kaneohe.⁶ Bring the completed form and a valid photo ID. A Hawaii driver’s license, state ID card, or U.S. passport is accepted.⁷

By mail. Send the completed form and a copy of your valid ID to DCAB, P.O. Box 3377, Honolulu, HI 96801. Include a self-addressed, stamped envelope so DCAB can return your placard and identification card.⁴

In person is faster. Mailed applications take longer to process, which matters if you need a temporary placard quickly. Make sure every field is legible and matches your ID. Incomplete or mismatched applications get delayed.

Fees

A first-time long-term blue placard is free. A temporary red placard costs $12, whether it is your first one or a renewal. A second temporary placard (a companion placard with the same expiration date as your first) also costs $12.⁷ Satellite City Halls accept cash, credit cards, and checks payable to the City and County of Honolulu.

What the Placard Does Not Cover: Metered Parking

This surprises people. Since July 2021, a standard blue or red placard no longer exempts you from paying at parking meters in Honolulu. All placard and special plate holders must pay normal meter rates.⁸

A separate green placard, the Disabled Paid Parking Exemption Permit (DPPEP), exists for people who physically cannot operate a meter. It lets you park at a meter without paying for up to 2.5 hours or the maximum time the meter allows, whichever is longer. To qualify you must hold a valid driver’s license and meet one of these conditions:

You cannot reach above your head to a height of 42 inches from the ground because of limited hand, arm, or upper body strength or mobility.
You cannot approach a parking meter because you use a wheelchair or other mobility device.
You cannot manage, manipulate, or insert coins, bills, or cards into a meter because of limited fine motor control in both hands.

DPPEP certification is built into the same PA-3 form. Your provider fills out an optional section on Side 2 if you qualify, and you can apply for the DPPEP at the same time as your regular placard.⁵

Displaying the Placard and Carrying the ID Card

Hang the placard from the front windshield rearview mirror so it is visible from both the front and rear of the vehicle. If it will not hang securely from the mirror, place it on the dashboard.³ Remove it from the mirror before driving, since it can obstruct your view.

Along with the placard, DCAB issues a Disabled Person Parking Identification Card. You are required to carry this card whenever the placard is in use and to present it to any enforcement officer who asks for it.³ The placard also may only be used when the person with the disability is the driver or is being transported in the vehicle.

Renewing Later

Renewal is not automatic. You submit a new PA-3 with fresh medical certification, even if nothing about your condition has changed.

For a temporary red placard, renewal must be done in person at a Satellite City Hall. Bring the completed PA-3, your valid ID, and a $12 check payable to the City and County of Honolulu.⁴

For a long-term blue placard, renewal can be done by mail. Send the completed PA-3 and a copy of your valid ID to DCAB at P.O. Box 3377, Honolulu, HI 96801. There is no fee to renew a long-term placard.⁴

1
Justia. Hawaii Code 291-51 – Definitions
2
Justia. Hawaii Code 291-52 – Issuance of Removable Windshield Placard
3
Hawaii Department of Health. Hawaii Administrative Rules Title 11 Chapter 219 – Parking for Persons With Disabilities
4
Disability and Communication Access Board. City and County of Honolulu Disability Parking Permit Information
5
Hawaii State Department of Health. Disability and Communication Access Board – Parking Permit Application Form PA-3
6
Department of Customer Services. The Satellite City Hall Division
7
Disability and Communication Access Board. Disability Parking Permits – Frequently Asked Questions
8
Disability and Communication Access Board. Disabled Paid Parking Exemption Permit