Gen5 SoCal --> Hawaii!

[sn1cko]

So I just picked up my car a few days ago at the port in Honolulu...

(taken with my phone)
Bummer I never made it out to any photoshoots in Socal
So I have 30 days to get a HI registration, and they want me to get a "safety inspection" sticker "immediately." Two safety inspection stations turned me away telling me I need a "recon" sticker first for the car being lowered, and referred me to the (there's only one) "recon" (for 'reconstructed car', I presume) inspection station; this "recon" station is only open until 3pm and inspections are by appointment only. So I give them a call and the next available appointment is on July 27. This isn't looking good for "immediately."

There are several threads on the internet expressing the absurdity of Hawaii's laws on safety inspections; there are only periodic smog inspections in CA.

For those that have followed my few posts, I have relatively mild modifications to my car: TRD suspension (springs, RSB, front strut brace), TRD exhaust, and retrofitted HIDs. I don't remember what my tint was, but it was 20-something% all around (minus windshield); never had a problem in CA with this. I believe Hawaii allows 35% (light transmission) tint, all around. So I'm looking at pulling out my tint and swapping my headlights in the meantime (anyone local have a donor pair I could borrow?).

Anyone with suggestions? Undoing all my elbow grease is going to be a total time-sponge and waste

[CTMike]

dude that sucks. i would wait on the tints though... they might not even test them but it would suck if they do and then you have to make another appt. to get those tints inspected

[bandit]

If the lights are retrofitted, they should pass and no need for a donor pair. If you had plug and plays its a no-no depending on state and the officer. The problem is that the reflectors and lenses on your vehicle are designed for halogen bulbs. If you replace those with HID plug and play kits, you will dramatically increase your headlight's glare, which is blinding and dangerous to oncoming traffic. That is why we tell people to cover the squirrel spotters. Some people have driven for years and not get pulled over while some have.

http://www.danielsternlighting.com/t...nversions.html

What about the law, what does it have to say on the matter? In virtually every first-world country, HID "retrofits" into halogen headlamps are illegal. They're illegal clear across Europe and in all of the many countries that use European ECE headlight regulations. They're illegal in the US and Canada. Some people dismiss this because North American regulations, in particular, are written in such a manner as to reject a great many genuinely good headlamps. Nevertheless, on the particular count of HID "retrofits" into halogen headlamps, the world's regulators and engineers all say DON'T!

The only safe and legitimate HID retrofit is one that replaces the entire headlamp—that is lens, reflector, bulb...the whole system—with optics designed for HID usage.

Also resize your picture. Its too big

[TOYO-ED]

yes, Hawaii Recon laws are a pain. All of us here hate the law because the law was written back in the days, and it doesnt make sense now.

Also, check out a local Hawaii forum, www.forumshawaii.net and look for the Automotive:Recon & ticket advice section. That section is really helpful in terms of getting advice how to get your recon and safety check

Good Luck.

[sn1cko]

Great, appreciate the feedback and info, guys!