1981 Hawaii License Plate Value Guide

The 1981 Hawaii license plate marked a significant design shift, introducing the orange profile of King Kamehameha the Great against a crisp white background. This specific example is highly collectible as it retains the original '81' validation sticker from its debut year before the transition to rainbow plates.

What affects the value of 1981 Hawaii License Plate?

• Presence and condition of the original 1981 registration decal significantly impacts collector interest.
• Overall state of the reflective coating, specifically looking for minimal fading or 'crazing' of the white paint.
• Physical condition of the aluminum, where lack of bolt hole wear or bending preserves the $25-$30 value range.
• Clarity and vibrancy of the orange King Kamehameha graphic, which can fade if exposed to prolonged Pacific sunlight.

How to Identify 1981 Hawaii License Plate?

• Look for the distinct orange silhouette of King Kamehameha located on the left side of the plate.
• Verify the presence of the original 1981 validation sticker which confirms its first-year issue status.
• Check for the specific brown alphanumeric lettering set against the reflective white aluminum base.
• Confirm the 'Hawaii' state name is printed in a matching brown serif font at the top center.

History of 1981 Hawaii License Plate

Introduced in 1981, this design featured the profile of King Kamehameha the Great in orange against a white background with brown lettering. It replaced the previous diamond-head design and was used until the iconic rainbow plates were introduced in the early 1990s. This specific plate includes the '81' validation sticker, indicating it was issued during the first year of this graphic style.