Pass Your Hawaii Permit Test: 15 Practice Questions You'll Actually See

The written knowledge test is your first official hurdle on the path to a Hawaii driver's license. It's a 30-question, multiple-choice exam designed to ensure you have a solid grasp of the state's traffic laws, road signs, and safety rules before you start practicing on the road. To pass, you must answer at least 24 questions correctly.

Confidence comes from preparation. All questions are pulled directly from the Hawaii Driver's Manual. To help you study, we have created this list of 15 practice questions that mirror the topics and format you'll find on the real exam.

Hawaii Permit Practice Test

Read each question carefully and select the best answer. The correct answers and detailed explanations follow below.

1. A driver with a provisional license is restricted from driving between what hours? a) 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. b) Midnight and 5 a.m. c) 11 p.m. and 5 a.m. d) 9 p.m. and 6 a.m.

2. Unless otherwise posted, what is the maximum speed limit in a residential area in Hawaii? a) 20 mph b) 25 mph c) 30 mph d) 35 mph

3. A driver with a provisional license can transport how many passengers under the age of 18 who are not family members? a) Zero b) One c) Two d) Any number, as long as they wear seat belts.

4. A solid yellow line on your side of the road means: a) Passing is permitted with caution. b) You are in a passing zone. c) No passing is allowed from your lane. d) The lane is for right turns only.

5. A flashing red traffic light at an intersection should be treated as: a) A yield sign. b) A stop sign. c) A warning that the light will turn green soon. d) A signal to proceed with caution.

6. An eight-sided (octagon) sign always indicates: a) Yield b) A railroad crossing c) Stop d) A school zone

7. In Hawaii, you must signal your intention to turn at least how many feet before turning? a) 50 feet b) 100 feet c) 200 feet d) 300 feet

8. When parking your vehicle UPHILL on a street with a curb, you should turn your front wheels: a) Straight ahead. b) Away from the curb (left). c) Toward the curb (right). d) It doesn't matter.

9. In Hawaii, when must you have your headlights on? a) Only when it is completely dark. b) From 30 minutes after sunset to 30 minutes before sunrise. c) Any time conditions make it difficult to see 1,000 feet ahead. d) Both B and C.

10. What does a triangular sign with a red border and white center mean? a) Stop b) Do Not Enter c) Yield d) No Passing Zone

11. A teen driver must hold their instruction permit for a minimum of how long before taking a road test? a) 90 days b) 120 days c) 180 days d) One year.

12. When you see a stopped school bus with its red lights flashing on a two-lane road, you must: a) Stop, regardless of your direction of travel. b) Slow down to 10 mph and pass with caution. c) Stop only if you are traveling in the same direction. d) Honk to alert children you are approaching.

13. A round, yellow sign with a black "X" and "RR" is an advance warning for a: a) Hospital ahead b) An intersection ahead c) A railroad crossing d) A dead-end street.

14. What is the minimum age to obtain an instruction permit in Hawaii? a) 15 years old b) 15 years and 6 months c) 16 years old d) 16 years and 6 months

15. What is the legal Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) limit for a driver 21 years or older in Hawaii? a) 0.10% b) 0.05% c) 0.08% d) 0.02%

Answer Key and Explanations

1. c) 11 p.m. and 5 a.m. This is the mandatory driving curfew for provisional license holders, with limited exceptions for work or school activities.

2. b) 25 mph. This is the standard speed limit for residential areas unless a different limit is posted.

3. b) One. This strict passenger restriction is a key part of Hawaii's GDL law, unless a parent or guardian is in the vehicle.

4. c) No passing is allowed from your lane. A solid yellow line on your side of the road indicates a no-passing zone for traffic on your side.

5. b) A stop sign. You must come to a complete stop, yield to all traffic and pedestrians, and then proceed when it is safe to do so.

6. c) Stop. The unique octagon shape is reserved exclusively for stop signs to make them easily recognizable.

7. b) 100 feet. Signaling your intention well in advance is crucial for communicating with other drivers.

8. b) Away from the curb (left). This ensures that if the car's brakes fail, it will roll back into the curb and stop, rather than rolling into traffic.

9. d) Both B and C. Hawaii law requires headlights to be on from a half-hour after sunset to a half-hour before sunrise, and at any other time when visibility is low.

10. c) Yield. The inverted triangle shape is the universal symbol for a yield sign, requiring you to slow down and give the right-of-way.

11. c) 180 days. A teen must hold their instruction permit for at least six months before being eligible to take the road test for a provisional license.

12. a) Stop, regardless of your direction of travel. On a two-lane road, all traffic in both directions must stop for a school bus with flashing red lights.

13. c) A railroad crossing. This round sign is the advance warning sign placed before a railroad crossing.

14. b) 15 years and 6 months. This is the minimum age to begin the GDL process in Hawaii.

15. c) 0.08%. It is illegal to operate a motor vehicle with a BAC of 0.08% or higher if you are 21 or over. For drivers under 21, Hawaii has a zero-tolerance policy.

How to Guarantee a Passing Score

Your best study tool is the Hawaii Driver's Manual. Read it thoroughly, paying special attention to GDL restrictions, right-of-way rules, and traffic signs. By combining diligent study with practice tests, you'll be well-prepared to ace your written exam.