The ACLU champions the rights of transgender people to live their lives freely and with respect.  We fight for protections against discrimination in employment, housing, public accommodations (including schools) and health care.  We also challenge barriers to transgender parents seeking continuing relationships with their children as well as obstacles to people obtaining government identity documents respectful of their gender identity.

Printer-friendly guide: How to Correct the Sex Designation On Your ID (1 page, PDF format, published 8/30/12, updated 10/21/12)

Birth Certificate

To apply to correct the sex designation on your birth certificate, you must already have a birth certificate filed with the Department of Health (“DOH”), or have been legally adopted in the state of Hawaii.

You must supply an affidavit signed by a physician stating that the physician has examined you and determined that the sex designation was entered incorrectly at birth, or that you have had a sex change operation and the sex designation on the birth certificate is no longer correct.  The director of health may require additional information.

Hawaii State Identification Card

To add or correct the sex designation on a State ID card, you must visit the State ID Office on Oahu or at the Governor’s Liaison Offices on Maui, Kauai, or Hawaii Island.  As of October 4, 2012, the State ID Office and the Governor's Liaison Offices will accept a Gender Designation Form to add or correct the sex designation on State ID cards (while administrative rule changes are pending).  Note that you need not have undergone surgery.   Please note that these regulations will be amended shortly.  Check back for updates to the status of administrative rule changes.

Gender Designation Form

Driver's License (Counties of Hawaii, Honolulu, Kauai and Maui)

Apply for a new or duplicate license at the nearest driver license station or satellite city hall.  As of August 21, 2012, the counties of Hawaii, Honolulu, Kauai and Maui will accept a Gender Designation Form to add or correct the sex designation on driver’s licenses (while administrative rule changes are pending).  A medical or social authority must certify your gender on the Gender Designation Form.  Note that you need not have undergone surgery.  Check back for updates to the status of the counties’ administrative rule changes.

Gender Designation Form

If you have difficulties correcting the sex designation on your government-issued identification card, or have questions or concerns about the information contained herein, please contact:


ACLU of Hawaii
P.O. Box 3410, Honolulu, HI 96801
office@acluhawaii.org

Office of the Ombudsman
465 South King Street, 4th Floor, Honolulu, HI 96813
(808) 587-0770
complaints@ombudsman.hawaii.gov

Date of publication, 8/30/12.  These documents are provided as a public service, and are currently under review and change.  The ACLU of Hawaii will always try to make sure this section is up-to-date.  When in doubt, you may wish to request the most recent information from the government agencies responsible for issuing the identification document.