What's the Passing Score on the Hawaii Permit Test?
24 out of 30 questions correct — 80% — passes Hawaii's instruction permit knowledge test.
Six questions of room, no more
Passing at 80% on a 30-question test leaves exactly six questions you're free to miss — a slightly wider cushion than the tighter 25-question format some states use, but not one worth relying on.
A single confused topic cluster can still burn through six questions faster than it feels like it should.
The one hour where a regular supervisor isn't enough
Most of the day, a Hawaii instruction permit holder can drive with any qualifying supervisor 21 or older holding a Class 3 license — but between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m., it has to specifically be a parent or guardian, not just any qualifying adult.
That narrower requirement during late-night hours is exactly the kind of detail the exam is built to test.
A term you won't see on any other state's exam
Hawaii doesn't call impaired driving "DUI" — it's officially OVUII, Operating a Vehicle Under the Influence of an Intoxicant, a term unique to Hawaii among all 50 states.
Read the explanation on every practice question, correct or not — it's what actually closes these gaps, not just re-answering until you get lucky.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the passing score on Hawaii's permit test?
24 of 30 questions correct — 80%.
How many questions can I miss and still pass?
At most 6 of the 30 questions, keeping you at 24 correct (80%).
What does Hawaii call its impaired-driving offense?
OVUII — Operating a Vehicle Under the Influence of an Intoxicant — rather than "DUI."
Ready to put this into practice?
Start a free Hawaii permit practice testLast reviewed: 2026-07-24