Kokua Line: What will new TSA screening be at Honolulu airport?

Christine Donnelly, The Honolulu Star-Advertiser

Wed, December 17, 2025 at 5:09 PM UTC

4 min read

Question : Starting in February, the Transportation Security Administration says it will let airline passengers who don’t have acceptable ID pay $45 to use a “modernized alternative identity verification system ” to confirm their identity so they can get on the plane. The TSA says the verification process will differ from airport to airport. What will it be like at the Honolulu airport ?

Answer : The federal agency hasn’t yet spelled out the exact process for the new program, called TSA ConfirmID, at any airport, and a spokesperson for Hawaii’s Department of Transportation said the DOT awaits more information from the TSA about how TSA ConfirmID will be implemented at Hawaii airports with TSA operations. However, it’s clear from a TSA notice in the Federal Register that this will be a technology-enabled alternative that uses a passenger’s biographic and /or biometric data to verify identity.

In general, biographic information includes details such as name, date of birth, address, contact information and Social Security number, while biometrics can include facial-recognition scanning, fingerprints and iris scans. The TSA already uses facial scans at some airports, although passengers can opt out. Read more about the TSA’s use of biometrics at.

TSA ConfirmID will be for passengers who don’t have a federally compliant ID, such as a U.S. passport or a REAL ID (gold-star ) Hawaii driver’s license or state ID, which since May 7 has been required of adults to board U.S. commercial aircraft. The vast majority of passengers have an acceptable form of ID, but the few who don’t can take up staff time at busy airport security checkpoints, as they must undergo additional screening, for which they have not been charged—that’s changing in February, according to the TSA.

“All travelers without an acceptable ID, including those who present a non-REAL ID-compliant state driver’s license or ID, will be referred to the optional TSA ConfirmID process for identity verification upon TSA check-in and prior to entering the security line. This process will differ airport to airport, and TSA is working with private industry to proactively offer online payment options prior to arrival at the airport, ” according to a TSA news release issued Dec. 1, which said the process will be for passengers lacking acceptable ID who “still want to fly.”

The TSA website () says that once ConfirmID launches, a passenger lacking an acceptable ID will go to the TSA website to access ConfirmID, follow instructions to verify their identity and pay the fee, which will be good for a 10-day travel period. “The identification process takes an average of 10-15 minutes ; however, it could take 30 minutes or more, ” the website says.

The agency continues to urge all eligible passengers to obtain a federally compliant ID, which is more cost effective than the ConfirmID process. A U.S. passport, for example, is good for 10 years, while a Hawaii driver’s license or state ID is good for eight years, for adults ages 25 through 71 at the time they apply.

Q : Regarding the SNAP restriction that takes effect Aug. 1, what will count as soft drinks ?

A : As of that date, SNAP beneficiaries will be unable to use their EBT cards to buy soft drinks, which are defined in Hawaii’s waiver with the federal government as “any nonalcoholic beverage that is made with carbonated water and is sweetened with more than 10 grams of sugar per serving. ‘Soft drinks’ do not include a beverage that contains milk, milk products, soy, rice, or other milk substitutes, or that is greater than 50 % vegetable or fruit juice by volume.”

SNAP, formerly known as food stamps, stands for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. Taxpayer -funded benefits are loaded monthly onto participants’ Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT ) cards, which they use as debit cards to buy groceries.

Mahalo A big Mahalo to the Board of Water Supply workers who take good care of the Carlos Long Street station in Palolo. The grass, kukui nut trees and the sidewalks are always trimmed so nicely. Thanks for the great job.—Gratefully, Carlos Long resident------------Write to Kokua Line at Honolulu Star-Advertiser, 500 Ala Moana Blvd., Suite 2-200, Honolulu, HI 96813 ; call 808-529-4773 ; or email.------------

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