Hawaii DOT begins clearing disabled-driver license backlog

HONOLULU — Hawaii transportation officials have begun clearing a backlog of license applications from disabled and elderly drivers whose paperwork could not be reviewed by a state-mandated board of doctors because the panel lacks a quorum.

The Honolulu Star-Advertiser newspaper reports Honolulu has begun approving a handful of applications on its own after reviewing doctors’ notes from drivers, including 16-year-old Case McKinley.

The Pupukea teen, who has cerebral palsy, got his learner’s permit Wednesday.

Hawaii Department of Transportation spokesman Tim Sakahara says the agency assembled a working group of non-doctors to approve about 40 obvious cases. Sakahara says another 30 or so will be cleared in the next few weeks.

Meanwhile, Gov. David Ige has submitted five doctors’ names to state senators for confirmation to the understaffed state Medical Advisory Board.