As first reported by 9to5Mac, Hawaii residents can now add a digital version of their driver’s license or state ID to the Wallet app on the iPhone and Apple Watch. This offers a convenient, contactless method of displaying proof of identity or age at select airports, businesses, and venues.
Apple first announced this feature in September 2021 and the rollout of digital IDs in the Wallet app has been slow as poi and Hawaii is just the seventh U.S. state to add support for this feature so far, joining Arizona, Maryland, Colorado, Georgia, Ohio, and just recently, California.
iPhone and Apple Watch users in the above states can add a driver’s license or state ID to the Wallet app, tap on the plus sign in the top-right corner, select Driver’s License or State ID, and follow the on-screen prompts. Hawaii is not yet showing up as an option for all iPhone users, so be patient.
Users with an ID in Apple Wallet can use their iPhone or Apple Watch to present their ID in person at select TSA security checkpoints and businesses, as well as in select apps to verify their age or identity.
Apple’s website says that the digital IDs in the Wallet app can also be used to show proof of age or identity at “select bars, concerts, festivals, and more,” but the company does not list any specific locations, and adoption is far from widespread.
A user’s ID information is encrypted and stored only on their device, so others, including Apple, cannot access it unless a user chooses to present it. Apple and the state-issuing authority do not know when or where or with whom a user presents their driver’s license or state ID, and Apple doesn’t see or retain any presentment information that can be tied back to a user. If a user misplaces their iPhone or Apple Watch, they can use the Find My app to lock their device and help locate it, or remotely erase it.
For more details about digital IDs on your iPhone or Apple Watch, visit Apple’s website.
As the Beatles used to sing: “You say Aloha and I say Aloha! Aloha! Aloha! I don’t know why you say Aloha I say Aloha!”