KAPAA — Four individuals who retired from the Division of Motor Vehicles were given positions of honor on Thursday during the blessing of the Kapaa Satellite DMV office.
Retirees Natalie Konishi, Annette Baptiste, Elena Gillespie and Callie Gandeza joined Mayor Derek S.K. Kawakami and Managing Director Reiko Matsuyama in undoing the lei lai that substituted for the endangered and highly unavailable maile.
“When we came into office, we recognized that the DMV is the face of the County of Kauai,” Kawakami said in a release announcing the blessing for the facility. It opened on Jan. 6 in the former Kapaa Armory that the DMV shares with the Kauai Police Department.
“This is the one place where there is constant traffic all day long,” Kawakami said. “Most importantly, we have chosen to invest in our people. The DMV staff is focused on our customers, and we look forward to serving our community in Kapaa.”
Because the DMV was partially closed for staff training, a lot of the DMV employees were able to participate in the blessing officiated by Kahu Sean Chun.
In answer to a kupuna’s question of the availability of Kupuna Hours, that service, as well as walk-in service, is available at the Lihue DMV.
The Kapaa Satellite DMV only offers limited services at this time, and is open to appointment holders from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Monday through Friday. The office is closed on state, county and federal holidays.
Patrons using the Kapaa Satellite DMV can expect to accomplish motor vehicle transactions and transactions for utility payments, bus passes and tipping coupons. Kapaa services are by appointments only.
Customers of the Kapaa Satellite DMV must check in for their scheduled appointment using their mobile device. When a representative is ready, the system notifies customers on their mobile device and will direct them to one of three service windows.
Appointment holders may check in for a scheduled appointment up to 15 minutes before their appointment time. The appointment will be canceled if the customer is more than five minutes late.
Customers requiring other services should visit the Lihue DMV location. These services include driver’s license, state ID or CDL services, driver’s permit and road testing, dealer/bank services, financial responsibility, and periodic motor vehicle inspection support.
To schedule an appointment at the Kapaa or Lihue DMV, visit the Kauai.gov website, www.kauai.gov/DMV, and click “Book Your DMV appointments” for a single transaction. If a customer requires multiple transactions, they will need to book multiple appointments.
For more information, or with questions about the DMV, visit the Kauai.Gov website at www.kauai.gov/DMV, or emaiol kauaidmv@kauai.gov.
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Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, can be reached at 808-245-0453 or dfujimoto@thegardenisland.com.
