Kokua Line: Is TSA rejecting new Hawaii licenses?

Question: The last few months had me traveling for work to the neighbor islands. On a few occasions, at the Honolulu, Kahului and Kona airports, I experienced difficulties with my REAL ID Hawaii driver’s license at the Transportation Security Administration checkpoint. My license was new, issued in January 2026, but from what I understood from the TSA agent, was not being read by their machine. When this happened the first time, I was required to go back to the Hawaiian Airlines check-in counter and then had to get back in the TSA line in order to be allowed passage — with the comment from the TSA officer and the ticket agent that this seemed to be happening with the newer driver’s licenses. After that, I now always travel with a passport as back-up identification. I have since received a new Hawaii driver’s license (the new “pastel” version, with the many security features). However, on Sept. 9 at Los Angeles International Airport, I experienced the same issue at the TSA checkpoint, with the comment from the TSA officer that “all the Hawaii IDs are having the same problem today.”

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