Don't Laugh: Hawaiian Woman Sues Authorities Over Her 35 Letter Surname [PHOTOS]

«§» 18 September 2013

A woman in Hawaii with a 35 letter surname has persuaded the island's authorities to change their ID card and driving licence formats because her long name will not fit.

Janice "Lokelani" Keihanaikukauakahihuliheekahaunaele said she would never consider using a shortened version, and so used the media to urge officials to take action.

For years she has carried two forms of ID: her driving licence, which has room for 34 characters, and her official Hawaii state ID card which in the past had room for all 35 letters.


Long: Janice Keihanaikukauakahihuliheekahaunaele's name is so long, government computer systems couldn't process it and she had to use a shortened version on ID

But the problem arose after her state ID was renewed in May - and came back the same as her driver's licence, with the last letter 'e' missing, and with no first name.

She said she felt compelled to raise the issue with officials after a policeman questioned her about her licence when he pulled her over.

"I said wait a minute, this is not my fault. This is the county's fault that I don't have an ID that has my name correctly," she told Honolulu television station KHON.

The police officer suggested she could use her maiden name.

"I said, how disrespectful to the Hawaiian people because there's a lot of meaning behind this name.

"I've had this name for over 20 years. I had to grow into this name. It's very deep spiritual path."

She said her last name means: "When there is chaos and confusion, you are one that will stand up and get people to focus in one direction and come out of the chaos."


Victory: After 21 years, the 54-year-old will have her 35-letter surname on her licence as well as her first name

The 54-year-old Big Island resident took her case to KHON, who publicised the problem, putting pressure on the Hawaii Department of Transportation.

Within days, authorities, who had previously told her it would take two years to change and the surname character limit would remain at 35, had decided they could act more quickly.

Caroline Sluyter, from the Hawaiian Department of Transportation, said the state was working to increase the number of characters on driver's licences and ID cards.

By the end of the year, the cards will allow 40 letters for first and last names and 35 characters for middle names, she said.

Ms Keihanaikukauakahihuliheekahaunaele started using the name when she married her Hawaiian husband in 1992.

He used only the one name but had similar problems before he died in 2008.


Marriage: Janice 'Lokelani' took the name of her late husband, pictured, in 1992

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Posted: at 18-09-2013 03:22 PM (10 years ago) | Hero

who carez???

Posted: at 18-09-2013 04:13 PM (10 years ago) | Gistmaniac

Family names must be respected - they identify who you are and where you come from.

Why should her local authorities disrespect her by misspelling her name - because this is what they have done by leaving out the last letter 'e!'

I personally feel disrespected when my name is pronounced wrongly. So consistently having it spelt wrongly is upsetting. Its only in cultures where names have no genuine meaning that people do not care how they are spelt or pronounced!

So good for her.

Posted: at 18-09-2013 04:21 PM (10 years ago) | Gistmaniac

Posted: at 18-09-2013 04:56 PM (10 years ago) | Gistmaniac

Even if u pick some letter words there, e go produce.. AJANNI.

Posted: at 18-09-2013 05:06 PM (10 years ago) | Hero

Posted: at 18-09-2013 05:55 PM (10 years ago) | Hero

 

Posted: at 18-09-2013 07:13 PM (10 years ago) | Hero

So

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Posted: at 18-09-2013 07:21 PM (10 years ago) | Gistmaniac

What a heck. Was the late husband from another planet with that kind of name?

Posted: at 18-09-2013 07:47 PM (10 years ago) | Gistmaniac

JOJOJIJIJIJJOJOJIO--.LAFFING  IN HAWAII

Posted: at 18-09-2013 09:31 PM (10 years ago) | Gistmaniac