One frequently asked question by first time visitors to the Hawaiian islands is, do I need a passport to go to Hawaii?
Fortunately, if you are a United States citizen you do not need a passport to travel to Hawaii, although when you arrive it may feel like you are in a different country due to Hawaii’s strong culture and diverse demographics. A federal or state photo I.D. proving you are an American citizen will do, such as a drivers license or birth certificate. You may want to consider getting or bringing your passport if you are moving to Hawaii because Japan, New Zealand, and Australia are really just a hop and a skip away compared to other places in the United States.
The reason you do not need a passport if you are traveling to Hawaii as a United States citizen is because Hawaii is the United State’s 50th state, and by law any United States citizen does not require a passport to pass through or reside in any of the united territories. Although, sometimes we do feel like we are traveling to different countries like diversified states Vermont or Texas who have tried to succeed numerous times, they are still a part of the United States of America.
If you are traveling from any other nation besides the United States, yes you do require a passport to go to Hawaii. The only reason foreign travelers are required to enter the United States via passport is not to deter visitors or make it difficult to travel or even necessarily prevent terrorist attacks, it is simply a unification process making it easy to identify who is legally, not illegally, passing through.
If you are in need of a passport or a driver’s license be sure to contact your nearest embassy or Department of Motor Vehicles.