Silencers and rifles with barrels under 16 inches are both prohibited outright as class C felonies, with no federal-registration exception.
HRS § 134-8(a) (automatic firearms, silencers, short rifles and short shotguns prohibited)
Hawaii Gun Laws
Hawaii is among the most heavily regulated firearm jurisdictions in the United States, with a Permit to Acquire required before any handgun or long-gun acquisition, mandatory registration of all firearms, and a 10-round limit on pistol magazines. Following the U.S. Supreme Court's 2022 Bruen decision, Hawaii enacted Act 52 of 2023 (SB 1230), which restructured the License to Carry framework into a shall-issue regime administered by each county chief of police but imposed an extensive list of statutory 'sensitive places' where licensees cannot carry. The Hawaii Supreme Court's 2024 ruling in State v. Wilson held that Hawaii's state constitution does not confer an independent individual right to carry firearms in public, leaving carry rights to be tested solely under the federal Second Amendment.
Sourced from official state legislature, AG, and ATF documents. Last verified October 16, 2026.
At a Glance
In a Vehicle
Common Questions
Can I carry a handgun without a permit in Hawaii?
No. Hawaii is not a permitless-carry state. Without a Hawaii License to Carry issued under HRS § 134-9, a pistol or revolver must be confined to your home, business, or sojourn; carrying it elsewhere is a class B felony under § 134-25 (a class B felony in Hawaii carries up to ten years' imprisonment).
What did Bruen change for Hawaii?
Before the U.S. Supreme Court's 2022 Bruen decision, Hawaii was effectively a no-issue state — public concealed-carry licenses were almost never granted. In response, Hawaii enacted Act 52 of 2023, restructuring HRS § 134-9 into a shall-issue framework while simultaneously creating an extensive 'sensitive places' list (§ 134-9.1) and a private-property default rule (§ 134-9.5). As of December 31, 2025, 3,764 Hawaii residents held a valid License to Carry — 0.34% of the adult population, up 70% from 2024.
Does Hawaii honor my out-of-state concealed-carry permit?
No. Hawaii does not recognize any other state's permit and issues a License to Carry only to Hawaii residents (HRS § 134-9(a)(5)). There is no reciprocity. If you are visiting Hawaii from the mainland and want to carry, you cannot do so on your home-state permit.
Can I keep a loaded handgun in my glove box or trunk in Hawaii?
No — unless you hold a Hawaii License to Carry. Without an LTC, you may transport a pistol or revolver only when unloaded, in an enclosed container, and only between your home/business and a target range, dealer, gun show, training, or police station (HRS § 134-25). Carrying a loaded handgun in your vehicle without an LTC is a class B felony. Even with an LTC, when you leave the vehicle unattended HRS § 134-C requires the firearm to be locked in a safe storage depository — and the statute expressly states that a glove box or trunk alone, even if locked, is NOT a safe storage depository.
Where are the 'sensitive places' I can't carry even with an LTC?
HRS § 134-9.1 prohibits carry — even by license holders — in 15 categories: government buildings, hospitals and medical facilities, jails, bars and restaurants serving alcohol, stadiums and theaters, public libraries, colleges, K-12 schools and preschools, beaches and parks, shelters, polling places, banks (currently enjoined per Wolford v. Lopez), public transportation, amusement parks and zoos, and permitted public gatherings. Each category extends to adjacent parking areas. The Ninth Circuit in Wolford v. Lopez (Sept. 2024) blocked enforcement at financial institutions and certain shared parking lots but allowed Hawaii to enforce the rest, including bars and beaches.
Is Hawaii a stand-your-ground state?
No. Hawaii imposes a duty to retreat in public under HRS § 703-304(5)(b): deadly force is not justified if the defender knows they can avoid using it with complete safety by retreating, surrendering possession, or complying with a lawful demand. The only retreat exception is the actor's own dwelling or place of work — a limited castle doctrine. Hawaii is one of the few remaining duty-to-retreat states.
What is the difference between Hawaii's Permit to Acquire and License to Carry?
Hawaii has two separate permits. The Permit to Acquire (PA) under HRS § 134-2 is required to take ownership of any firearm — by purchase, gift, or inheritance — and is issued after a 14-day waiting period; a handgun PA is good for 30 days and a single transaction, while a long-gun PA is good for one year of acquisitions. The License to Carry (LTC) under HRS § 134-9 is a separate, four-year permit authorizing concealed carry of a registered pistol or revolver in public. Both are administered by the chief of police in your county of residence; both require minimum age 21, U.S. citizenship/national/LPR status, and a Hawaii residence.
Do I have to register my firearms in Hawaii?
Yes. HRS § 134-3 requires every firearm — pistol, rifle, shotgun, modern or antique — to be registered with the county police chief. New residents and arriving travelers must register and physically present each firearm within five days; firearms acquired under a § 134-2 permit must be registered within five days of acquisition. Fingerprinting and photographing are required at registration.
What's the magazine limit in Hawaii?
Ten rounds, but only for pistol magazines. HRS § 134-8(c) bans 'detachable ammunition magazines with a capacity in excess of ten rounds that are designed for or capable of use with a pistol.' The statute does not impose a magazine limit on rifle or shotgun magazines. Possession of a banned magazine while inserted in a pistol is a class C felony.
Are suppressors, SBRs, and SBSs legal in Hawaii?
No. HRS § 134-8(a) independently bans suppressors/silencers, rifles with barrels under 16 inches, shotguns with barrels under 18 inches, automatic firearms, 'assault pistols,' and ghost guns at the state level. Federal NFA registration is not a defense. Violation is a class C felony with a mandatory five-year term without probation.
Does Hawaii require a background check for private gun sales?
Effectively yes. HRS § 134-2 prohibits any person from acquiring ownership of a firearm — by purchase, gift, inheritance, or otherwise — without first obtaining a Permit to Acquire from the county police chief, who runs NCIC, NICS, and ICE checks. There is no 'private sale' exception; the buyer must obtain a PA before transfer.
Do I have to tell the police I'm armed during a traffic stop?
Yes. Under HRS § 134-B (enacted by Act 52 of 2023), a Hawaii LTC holder who is stopped by law enforcement — or is a driver or passenger in a stopped vehicle — must immediately disclose to the officer that they are carrying a firearm, and on request must identify the firearm's location and present the license plus government-issued photo ID. Failure to disclose is a petty misdemeanor.
Does Hawaii have a red flag law?
Yes. Act 150 of 2019 created Gun Violence Protective Orders, codified at HRS § 134-61 through § 134-74. A family court may issue an ex parte order pending a hearing, and a one-year order after hearing, prohibiting a respondent from owning, possessing, receiving, or controlling firearms or ammunition. Petitioners include law enforcement, family or household members, medical professionals, educators, and colleagues.
How old do I have to be to buy a gun in Hawaii?
21 for both handguns and long guns. HRS § 134-2(d)(1) requires a Permit to Acquire applicant to be a U.S. citizen, national, or lawful permanent resident 21 or older. Because a PA is required for every firearm acquisition in Hawaii — long guns included — the practical state minimum is 21 across the board, higher than the federal 18-year-old long-gun floor.
Can I carry on private property if I have a Hawaii LTC?
Only with the property owner's permission. HRS § 134-9.5 establishes a 'default-no' rule for private property: licensees may not enter private property while carrying unless given express written or verbal authorization, or unless clear and conspicuous signage at the entrance indicates carry is allowed. The Ninth Circuit upheld this default rule in Wolford v. Lopez (Sept. 6, 2024).
Are Hawaii's gun laws preempted by state law from local variation?
Largely yes for sensitive-place locations. HRS § 134-9.1(g) voids any county ordinance establishing carry-prohibited locations that is inconsistent with the statutory sensitive-place list or the private-property default rule. Counties still administer the Permit to Acquire and License to Carry programs through their police chiefs, and each chief sets administrative procedures and training course details by 'Rules of the Chief.'
Suppressors and Short-Barreled Rifles
Since October 9, 2026, ATF does not require federal registration or a tax stamp for suppressors or short-barreled rifles (what changed and what didn't). Hawaii's own law still applies, and it is set out below.
Owning a Suppressor
Banned
Hawaii Revised Statutes § 134-8(a) bans the manufacture, possession, sale, transfer and acquisition of mufflers, silencers and devices for deadening or muffling the sound of a discharged firearm, as a class C felony. There is no federal-registration exception.
Hunting With a Suppressor
Not allowed
There is no lawful possession, so there is no hunting use.
Short-Barreled Rifles
Banned
The same subsection bans rifles with barrels under 16 inches and shotguns under 18 inches, also a class C felony, and there is no federal-registration exception.
ATF stopped requiring NFA approval and registration for suppressors, short-barreled rifles, short-barreled shotguns and AOWs on October 9, 2026, but says the policy does not affect state or local law and that it cannot say whether an unregistered item counts as lawfully held under federal law for state-law purposes. Hawaii's bans are absolute, so the enforcement-discretion question does not arise.
"ATF cannot opine on whether holding an unregistered firearm or silencer pursuant to ATF's enforcement discretion will qualify for state-law purposes as lawfully held (or registered) under federal law."
Checked against the statutes on October 11, 2026.
Permitless / Constitutional Carry
Hawaii does not authorize permitless carry. All firearms must be confined to the possessor's place of business, residence, or sojourn, except as provided in §§ 134-5 (hunting) and 134-9 (License to Carry). Carrying a loaded or unloaded pistol or revolver outside those parameters without a license is a class B felony.
"Except as provided in sections 134-5 and 134-9, all firearms shall be confined to the possessor's place of business, residence, or sojourn... Any person violating this section by carrying or possessing a loaded or unloaded pistol or revolver shall be guilty of a class B felony."
HRS § 134-5 is the hunting and target-shooting exception named in the § 134-25 and § 134-27 'place to keep' rules. A person 16 or older, or under 16 while accompanied by an adult, may carry and use a lawfully acquired rifle or shotgun while actually hunting or target shooting or going to and from the place of hunting or target shooting, with a chapter 183D hunting license (no license needed for target shooting). A licensed hunter may carry a pistol or revolver unconcealed only while actually hunting game mammals, and must transport it in an enclosed container to and from the hunt. Corrected 2026-10-16: the earlier summary also placed travel to a place of repair in § 134-5; that transport rule is in §§ 134-23 to 134-25, not here.
"Any person of the age of sixteen years, or over or any person under the age of sixteen years while accompanied by an adult, may carry and use any lawfully acquired rifle or shotgun and suitable ammunition while actually engaged in hunting or target shooting or while going to and from the place of hunting or target shooting"
HRS § 134-5 (Possession by licensed hunters and minors; target shooting; game hunting) statute
Concealed Carry Permit
HRS § 134-7 is Hawaii's prohibited-persons statute, which § 134-9(a)(2) makes an eligibility bar for a License to Carry. It bars firearm and ammunition ownership, possession, or control by fugitives and anyone federally prohibited; anyone being prosecuted for, or convicted of, a felony, crime of violence, firearms offense, or illegal drug sale; anyone who is or has been treated or counseled for drug or alcohol addiction, acquitted by reason of mental disease, or diagnosed or treated for a mental condition that impairs judgment or impulse control; and anyone subject to a restraining or protective order, including a gun violence protective order. Violating (a) or (b) is a class C felony (class B for a felon); violating (c) through (h) is a misdemeanor.
"No person who is being prosecuted for one or more charges for a felony, a crime of violence, a criminal offense relating to firearms, or an illegal sale or distribution of any drug in a court in this State or elsewhere, or who has been convicted ... shall own, possess, or control any firearm or ammunition."
HRS § 134-7 (Ownership or possession prohibited, when; penalty) statute
After Act 52 of 2023 (SB 1230), Hawaii operates a shall-issue concealed License to Carry. The chief of police of each county 'shall' grant a concealed-carry license to an applicant who is at least 21, a state resident, a U.S. citizen/national/lawful permanent resident, is not prohibited under § 134-7, is not lacking essential character/temperament under subsection (h), is the registered owner of the firearm(s), completes a certified course with live-fire proficiency and a 70% written examination, and signs a statutory affidavit acknowledging the laws on prohibited locations, duty to disclose, and use of deadly force. License is valid four years; nonrefundable application fee is $150 and renewal fee is $50.
"The chief of police of a county shall grant a license to an applicant to carry a pistol or revolver and ammunition concealed on the licensee's person within the State, if the applicant: (1) Satisfies each of the criteria established by or pursuant to subsection (d); (2) Is not prohibited under section 134-7 from the ownership, possession, or control of a firearm and ammunition; (3) Is not found to be lacking the essential character or temperament... (5) Is a resident of the State; and (6) Is of the age of twenty-one years or more."
HRS § 134-9 (Licenses to carry), as amended by Act 52, SLH 2023 statute
Act 52 of 2023 (SB 1230), approved June 2, 2023 and effective July 1, 2023 (Section 18; Sections 4 and 7 effective January 1, 2024), responded to the Supreme Court's Bruen decision by rewriting § 134-9 to remove the prior 'may issue' standard, adopt shall-issue criteria for concealed licenses, set a four-year license validity period, prescribe statutory course requirements, raise the application fee to $150, add a $50 renewal fee, and create the § 134-A 'sensitive places' framework (codified as § 134-9.1), the § 134-B duty-to-disclose, the § 134-C unattended-vehicle storage requirement, the § 134-D no-alcohol/no-controlled-substance-while-carrying rule, and the § 134-E private-property default-no rule (codified as § 134-9.5).
"The purpose of this Act is to clarify, revise, and update Hawaii's firearms laws to mitigate the serious hazards to public health, safety, and welfare associated with firearms and gun violence, while respecting and protecting the lawful exercise of individual rights."
Act 52, SLH 2023 (SB 1230) — License to Carry restructuring statute
Each Hawaii county police department administers the License to Carry. Honolulu PD requires in-person application at HPD Firearms Unit, a $150 fee, completion of a certified handgun safety training course, the affidavit of acknowledgment, mental health and HIPAA waivers, and a non-PO Box mailing address. Specific classroom-hour and live-fire round-count requirements are set by the chief of police 'Rules of the Chief,' not by statute.
"You must be 21 years or older to purchase a firearm... Statutory Reference: HRS 134-9 governs carry licenses; ACT 52 amended affidavit criteria."
As of December 31, 2025, 3,764 Hawaii residents held a valid concealed License to Carry — 0.34% of the state's age-21-plus population. Honolulu issued 2,576 licenses, Hawai`i County 656, Kaua`i 293, Maui 239. In 2025, 1,994 new applications were received, 1,968 issued, 38 denied, and 8 revoked statewide. Total licensees grew 70.5% over 2024 (2,207).
"on December 31, 2025, a statewide total of 3,764 private persons possessed a valid license to carry (LTC) a concealed handgun, comprising 0.34% of the state's resident population of persons age 21 or older."
Hawaii AG — 2025 Annual License to Carry Statistics (News Release 2026-27) ag
Open Carry
Unconcealed (open) carry of a pistol or revolver requires a separate Hawaii License to Carry issued under § 134-9(b). The county chief of police 'may' grant an unconcealed-carry license only to an applicant who 'sufficiently establishes the urgency or need to carry a firearm unconcealed' and is engaged in protection of life and property — a discretionary, may-issue standard for the open-carry license type. Unconcealed carry under § 134-9(b) is geographically limited to the issuing county.
"The chief of police of a county may grant to an applicant a license to carry a pistol or revolver and ammunition unconcealed on the licensee's person within the county where the license is granted, if the applicant: (1) Sufficiently establishes the urgency or need to carry a firearm unconcealed; (2) Is engaged in the protection of life and property..."
Vehicle Carry
HRS § 134-23 is the 'place to keep' statute for loaded long guns. Except as provided in § 134-5, firearms must be confined to the possessor's place of business, residence, or sojourn; unloaded firearms may be carried in an enclosed container from the place of purchase, on a change of residence or business, or between those places and a place of repair, target range, licensed dealer, organized firearms show, hunter or firearm training, or police station. Carrying or possessing a loaded rifle or shotgun in violation is a class B felony. The parallel rule for unloaded long guns, a class C felony, is the separate § 134-24.
"Any person violating this section by carrying or possessing a loaded firearm other than a pistol or revolver shall be guilty of a class B felony."
Without a License to Carry, Hawaii law confines pistols and revolvers to the possessor's home, business, or sojourn. The only lawful vehicle transport is in an unloaded condition, in an enclosed container, between those places and a place of repair, target range, licensed dealer, scheduled gun show, formal training, or police station. Loaded vehicle carry without an LTC is a class B felony. Long-gun rules in § 134-23 are parallel.
"all firearms shall be confined to the possessor's place of business, residence, or sojourn; provided that it shall be lawful to carry unloaded firearms in an enclosed container from the place of purchase to the purchaser's place of business, residence, or sojourn... Any person violating this section by carrying or possessing a loaded or unloaded pistol or revolver shall be guilty of a class B felony."
HRS § 134-25 (Place to keep pistol or revolver — vehicle transport) statute
A licensee leaving a vehicle unattended must securely lock the firearm in a safe storage depository — a 'safe or other secure impact- and tamper-resistant container that, when locked, is incapable of being opened without a key, keypad, combination, or other unlocking mechanism' — that is out of sight from outside the vehicle. A vehicle's trunk or glove box alone, even if locked, is statutorily declared NOT a safe storage depository. Violation is a petty misdemeanor.
"A vehicle's trunk or glove box alone, even if locked, is not a safe storage depository."
HRS § 134-C (Leaving unsecured firearm in vehicle unattended), as enacted by Act 52, SLH 2023 statute
Employer Parking-Lot Protection
Hawaii has not enacted an employer parking-lot ('guns in trunks') statute protecting employees who store firearms in their personal vehicles at work. Employers may lawfully prohibit firearms on their property, including parking lots, and § 134-9.5 reinforces that a license holder may not enter private property with a firearm without express authorization from the owner, lessee, operator, or manager.
"A person carrying a firearm pursuant to a license issued under section 134-9 shall not intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly enter or remain on private property of another person while carrying a loaded or unloaded firearm... unless the person has been given express authorization to carry a firearm on the property by the owner, lessee, operator, or manager of the property."
Reciprocity
HRS § 134-11(a) exempts listed persons from §§ 134-7 to 134-9 and 134-21 to 134-27. Paragraph (a)(6) covers police officers on official assignment in Hawaii from a state that, by compact, lets Hawaii officers carry while on assignment there; the governor may enter such compacts. Other paragraphs cover in-state law enforcement, on-duty military and mail carriers, and government employees whose duties require them to be armed. None of these is a general path for an ordinary non-resident visitor; Hawaii's concealed License to Carry under § 134-9(a) requires Hawaii residency, and Hawaii honors no other state's permit. Corrected 2026-10-16: removed the earlier claim that (a)(6) is the only statutory route for a non-resident, since federal LEOSA and the other § 134-11 exemptions also apply.
"To police officers on official assignment in Hawaii from any state which by compact permits police officers from Hawaii while on official assignment in that state to carry firearms without registration."
HRS § 134-11 (Exemptions; subsection (a)(6) interstate law enforcement compact) statute
Hawaii does not recognize any out-of-state concealed-carry permit and issues a License to Carry only to Hawaii residents. There is no reciprocity statute and no reciprocity matrix published by the AG; non-residents cannot carry concealed in Hawaii on the strength of any other state's permit. The only carve-out for out-of-state law enforcement is the narrow compact provision in § 134-11(a)(6).
"The chief of police of a county shall grant a license to an applicant to carry a pistol or revolver and ammunition concealed on the licensee's person within the State, if the applicant: ... (5) Is a resident of the State."
HRS § 134-9(a) and § 134-9(d) — Hawaii residency requirement statute
Castle Doctrine
Hawaii recognizes a limited castle doctrine through the dwelling/place-of-work exception to its general duty-to-retreat rule: a defender is not obliged to retreat from the defender's own dwelling or place of work before using deadly force in justified self-defense, unless the defender was the initial aggressor (or, for the workplace exception, the assailant's workplace is also the defender's).
"The actor is not obliged to retreat from his dwelling or place of work, unless he was the initial aggressor or is assailed in his place of work by another person whose place of work the actor knows it to be."
HRS § 703-304(5)(b)(i) statute
Stand Your Ground
Hawaii is NOT a stand-your-ground state. Outside the home or workplace, deadly force is not justified if the actor knows that the actor can avoid the necessity of using deadly force with complete safety by retreating, surrendering possession to a person asserting a claim of right, or complying with a demand to abstain from an action that the actor has no duty to take. Hawaii imposes a duty to retreat in public.
"The use of deadly force is not justifiable under this section if: ... (b) The actor knows that he can avoid the necessity of using such force with complete safety by retreating or by surrendering possession of a thing to a person asserting a claim of right thereto or by complying with a demand that he abstain from any action which he has no duty to take, except that: (i) The actor is not obliged to retreat from his dwelling or place of work."
HRS § 703-304(5)(b) (Use of force in self-protection — retreat required) statute
Duty to Disclose
A person carrying a firearm under a § 134-9 license who is stopped by a law enforcement officer — or is a driver or passenger in a vehicle stopped by an officer — shall immediately disclose to the officer that the person is carrying a firearm and, upon request, identify the firearm's location and present the license and government-issued photo ID. Violation is a petty misdemeanor.
"When a person carrying a firearm... is stopped by a law enforcement officer or is a driver or passenger in a vehicle stopped by a law enforcement officer, the person carrying a firearm shall immediately disclose to the law enforcement officer that the person is carrying a firearm."
Prohibited Places
Even with a License to Carry, a person may not carry a loaded or unloaded firearm in 15 categories of sensitive locations, including government buildings; hospitals and medical facilities; detention facilities; bars and restaurants serving alcohol; stadiums, movie theaters, concert halls, and sporting events; public libraries; colleges and universities; K-12 schools, preschools, summer camps, and child-care facilities; beaches, playgrounds, parks, and state/county recreation property; shelters; voter service centers and polling places; banks and financial institutions; public transportation; amusement parks, aquariums, museums, water parks, and zoos; and permitted public gatherings, marches, rallies, and assemblies. Each category extends to adjacent parking areas. Violation is a misdemeanor.
"A person with a license issued under section 134-9... shall not intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly carry or possess a loaded or unloaded firearm, whether the firearm is operable or not, and whether the firearm is concealed or unconcealed, while in any of the following locations and premises within the State: (1) Any building or office owned, leased, or used by the State or a county..."
HRS § 134-9.1 (Sensitive places), as enacted by Act 52, SLH 2023 statute
Hawaii uses a 'default-no' rule for private property: a licensee may not carry on another person's private property without express written or verbal authorization, or clear and conspicuous signage at the entrance indicating that carry is authorized. The 9th Circuit upheld this default rule in Wolford v. Lopez (Sept. 6, 2024). Violation is a misdemeanor.
"A person carrying a firearm pursuant to a license issued under section 134-9 shall not intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly enter or remain on private property of another person while carrying a loaded or unloaded firearm... unless the person has been given express authorization to carry a firearm on the property by the owner, lessee, operator, or manager of the property."
In a published opinion filed September 6, 2024, the Ninth Circuit (Graber, J.) largely reversed the district court's preliminary injunction against Act 52's sensitive-place provisions. The court affirmed the injunction only as to financial institutions, parking lots adjacent to financial institutions, and parking lots shared by government and non-government buildings; it reversed the injunction for bars and restaurants serving alcohol, beaches and parks, and parking adjacent to those places, and it reversed the injunction against the private-property default-no rule. Hawaii therefore may currently enforce most § 134-9.1 sensitive-place restrictions but cannot enforce the financial-institution restriction.
"Applying these principles to the Hawaii statute, the panel affirmed the district court's preliminary injunction to the extent that it enjoins restrictions on firearms at financial institutions, parking lots adjacent to financial institutions, and parking lots shared by government buildings and non-governmental buildings. The panel reversed the preliminary injunction to the extent that it enjoins restrictions on firearms at bars and restaurants that serve alcohol; at beaches, parks, and similar areas; and in parking areas adjacent to all of those places."
Background Checks
Hawaii effectively requires a universal background check on all firearm acquisitions because no person — whether buying from an FFL, a private party, by inheritance, or otherwise — may acquire ownership of a firearm without first obtaining a Permit to Acquire from the county chief of police. The chief runs the applicant through NCIC, NICS, and Immigration and Customs Enforcement databases, with a 14-day minimum wait between application and issuance.
"No person shall acquire the ownership of a firearm... until the person has first procured from the chief of police... a permit to acquire the ownership of a firearm... no permit shall be issued to an applicant earlier than fourteen calendar days after the date of the application; provided that a permit shall be issued or the application denied before the fortieth day from the date of application."
HRS § 134-2 (Permit to Acquire) — universal in-state requirement statute
Minimum Purchase Age
Hawaii requires applicants for a Permit to Acquire any firearm (handgun, rifle, or shotgun) to be U.S. citizens, nationals, or lawful permanent residents 21 years of age or older. Because a Permit to Acquire is required for ALL acquisitions in Hawaii, the practical minimum purchase age in Hawaii is 21 for both handguns and long guns — higher than the federal long-gun minimum.
"The chief of police of the respective counties shall issue permits to acquire firearms to: (1) Citizens, nationals, or lawful permanent residents of the United States of the age of twenty-one years or more."
HRS § 134-2(d)(1) (Minimum age 21 for Permit to Acquire) statute
Federal law requires a federally licensed dealer to sell handguns only to buyers 21 and older and long guns to buyers 18 and older. Hawaii's § 134-2 Permit to Acquire raises the long-gun age floor to 21 by requiring a state permit before any acquisition.
"A licensee may not sell a handgun to anyone under the age of 21. A licensee may not sell a long gun to anyone under the age of 18."
Firearm Registration
Hawaii requires every firearm — modern or antique, usable or not — to be registered with the chief of police of the county of business, residence, or sojourn. New residents and persons arriving from out of state must register and physically present every firearm within five days of arrival. Persons who acquire a firearm under § 134-2 must register the firearm within five days of acquisition. Fingerprinting and photographing are required.
"Every resident or other person arriving in the State who brings or by any other manner causes to be brought into the State a firearm of any description... shall register and submit to physical inspection the firearm within five days after arrival of the person or of the firearm, whichever arrives later, with the chief of police of the county."
Red Flag / ERPO
HRS § 134-65 governs the one-year gun violence protective order issued after notice and a hearing in family court. If the court finds by a preponderance of the evidence that the respondent poses a significant danger of causing bodily injury to self or another by owning, purchasing, possessing, receiving, or controlling a firearm or ammunition, it must issue the order. Companion sections cover the ex parte order (§ 134-64), termination and renewal (§ 134-66), and relinquishment of firearms and ammunition (§ 134-67). Corrected 2026-10-16: the standard is preponderance of the evidence, not clear and convincing, and the ex parte order is § 134-64, not § 134-63.
"If the court finds by a preponderance of the evidence at the hearing that the respondent poses a significant danger of causing bodily injury to the respondent's self or another person by owning, purchasing, possessing, receiving, or having in the respondent's custody or control any firearm or ammunition, the court shall issue a one-year gun violence protective order."
HRS § 134-65 (Issuance of one-year gun violence protective order) statute
Hawaii has an extreme risk / red flag law. HRS Chapter 134, Part IV authorizes the family court to issue ex parte and one-year gun violence protective orders prohibiting the respondent from owning, purchasing, possessing, receiving, or controlling firearms or ammunition. Petitioners include law enforcement, family or household members, medical professionals, educators, and colleagues. Enacted as Act 150, Session Laws of Hawaii 2019.
"'One-year gun violence protective order' means an order issued by the family court, pursuant to section 134-65, prohibiting the respondent from owning, purchasing, possessing, receiving, or having in the respondent's custody or control any firearm or ammunition for a period of one year."
HRS § 134-61 et seq. (Gun Violence Protective Orders), enacted by Act 150, SLH 2019 statute
Assault Weapon Ban
Hawaii bans 'assault pistols' — defined in HRS § 134-1 as a semiautomatic pistol that accepts a detachable magazine and has two or more enumerated features (external magazine, threaded barrel, barrel shroud, unloaded weight of 50 ounces or more, centerfire pistol 12+ inches overall length, or a semiautomatic version of an automatic firearm). Hawaii does NOT impose a state-level assault-rifle or assault-shotgun ban, but rifles with barrels under 16 inches and shotguns with barrels under 18 inches are independently banned under § 134-8(a).
"'Assault pistol' means a semiautomatic pistol that accepts a detachable magazine and has two or more of the following characteristics: (1) An ammunition magazine that attaches to the pistol outside of the pistol grip; (2) A threaded barrel capable of accepting a barrel extender, flash suppressor, forward hand grip, or silencer..."
HRS § 134-1 and HRS § 134-8(a) ('Assault pistol' definition and ban) statute
Magazine Capacity
Hawaii prohibits manufacture, possession, sale, or transfer of any detachable ammunition magazine with a capacity over ten rounds that is 'designed for or capable of use with a pistol.' The statute does not impose a magazine limit on rifle or shotgun magazines. Violation is generally a misdemeanor, but a class C felony if the over-ten-round pistol magazine is inserted into a pistol.
"The manufacture, possession, sale, barter, trade, gift, transfer, or acquisition of detachable ammunition magazines with a capacity in excess of ten rounds that are designed for or capable of use with a pistol shall be prohibited."
NFA Items
HRS § 134-4(e) is the provision § 134-8(a) points to when it bans assault pistols 'except as provided by section 134-4(e)'. It bars bringing any assault pistol into Hawaii after July 1, 1992 and allows an assault pistol to be sold or transferred only to a licensed dealer or a county chief of police; a person who inherits an assault pistol registered in Hawaii must, within 90 days, render it permanently inoperable, transfer it to a dealer or chief of police, or remove it from the State. The effect is that only assault pistols already registered in Hawaii before the 1992 cutoff can remain.
"After July 1, 1992, no person shall bring or cause to be brought into the State an assault pistol. No assault pistol may be sold or transferred on or after July 1, 1992, to anyone within the State other than to a dealer licensed under section 134-32 or the chief of police of any county"
HRS § 134-4 (Transfer, possession of firearms; exceptions; subsection (e) grandfather clause) statute
Hawaii independently prohibits possession of automatic firearms, assault pistols (except as grandfathered in § 134-4(e)), rifles with barrels less than 16 inches, shotguns with barrels less than 18 inches, silencers/suppressors, cannons, ghost guns, hand grenades, and Teflon-coated or explosive ammunition. Violation is a class C felony with a mandatory five-year term without probation. Federal NFA registration is not a defense at the state level — these items remain banned in Hawaii regardless of federal compliance.
"The manufacture, possession, sale, barter, trade, gift, transfer, or acquisition of any of the following shall be prohibited: assault pistols, except as provided by section 134-4(e); automatic firearms; rifles with barrel lengths less than sixteen inches; ghost guns; shotguns with barrel lengths less than eighteen inches; cannons; mufflers, silencers, or devices for deadening or muffling the sound of discharged firearms..."
HRS § 134-8(a) (Automatic firearms, silencers, short-barreled rifles/shotguns prohibited) statute
Suppressors, short-barreled rifles, short-barreled shotguns, and machine guns are regulated federally under the NFA. Hawaii's independent state-level prohibition in HRS § 134-8(a) means these items are banned in Hawaii even if a Hawaii resident were to obtain federal ATF approval.
"The National Firearms Act (NFA) imposes a statutory excise tax on the manufacture and transfer of certain firearms and mandates the registration of those firearms."
State Preemption
Hawaii preempts county ordinances that establish locations where the carrying of firearms is prohibited if inconsistent with HRS §§ 134-9.1 or 134-9.5; such ordinances are void to the extent of the inconsistency. Counties retain authority to administer the LTC and PA permit programs.
"If any ordinance of any county of the State establishing locations where the carrying of firearms is prohibited is inconsistent with this section or with section 134-9.5, the ordinance shall be void to the extent of the inconsistency."
HRS § 134-9.1(g) (Preemption of inconsistent county ordinances) statute
Recent Changes
HRS § 134-27 is the companion 'place to keep' statute for ammunition, paired with § 134-25 in the State v. Wilson discussion. Except as provided in § 134-5 (hunting and target shooting) and § 134-9 (License to Carry), ammunition must be kept at the possessor's place of business, residence, or sojourn, and may be carried in an enclosed container between those places and a place of repair, target range, licensed dealer, firearms show, training, or police station. Violation is a misdemeanor. Corrected 2026-10-16: the earlier summary said a first offense is a class C felony; the statute makes it a misdemeanor.
"Except as provided in sections 134-5 and 134-9, all ammunition shall be confined to the possessor's place of business, residence, or sojourn ... (b) Any person violating this section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor."
Effective July 1, 2023 (with §§ 4 and 7 effective January 1, 2024), Act 52 rewrote § 134-9 to make Hawaii a shall-issue jurisdiction for concealed carry, enumerated 15 categories of statutory sensitive places (§ 134-A, codified as § 134-9.1), set the default rule that licensees may not carry on private property without express authorization (§ 134-E, codified as § 134-9.5), imposed an immediate duty to disclose carry to law enforcement during a stop (§ 134-B), prohibited carrying while consuming or under the influence of alcohol or controlled substances (§ 134-D), and required licensees to use a safe storage depository — not a glove box or trunk alone — when leaving firearms unattended in a vehicle (§ 134-C).
"This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2023; provided that: (1) Sections 4 and 7 shall take effect on January 1, 2024."
Act 52, SLH 2023 (SB 1230) — Bruen-response License to Carry overhaul statute
The Hawai`i Supreme Court held on February 7, 2024 that Article I, § 17 of the Hawai`i Constitution does NOT confer an independent state constitutional right to carry a firearm in public, even though its text mirrors the federal Second Amendment. The court reversed the trial court's dismissal of place-to-keep firearm and ammunition charges, finding that Hawai`i's historical tradition of firearm regulation rules out an individual carry right under the state constitution; federal Bruen-based challenges to §§ 134-25 and 134-27 were also rejected on the facts presented.
"We hold that in Hawai`i there is no state constitutional right to carry a firearm in public... Conventional interpretive modalities and Hawai`i's historical tradition of firearm regulation rule out an individual right to keep and bear arms under the Hawai`i Constitution."
On September 6, 2024 the Ninth Circuit reversed in large part the district court's preliminary injunction against Act 52's sensitive-place restrictions. Hawai`i may currently enforce the bans at bars and restaurants, beaches, parks, and adjacent parking areas, and the private-property default rule. The injunction stands only for financial institutions, parking lots adjacent to financial institutions, and parking lots shared by government and non-government buildings.
"the panel affirmed the district court's preliminary injunction to the extent that it enjoins restrictions on firearms at financial institutions, parking lots adjacent to financial institutions, and parking lots shared by government buildings and non-governmental buildings. The panel reversed the preliminary injunction to the extent that it enjoins restrictions on firearms at bars and restaurants that serve alcohol; at beaches, parks, and similar areas; and in parking areas adjacent to all of those places. The panel also reversed the preliminary injunction with respect to the new default rule prohibiting the carry of firearms onto private property without consent."
Wolford v. Lopez, 116 F.4th 959 (9th Cir. Sept. 6, 2024) court
Act 150 of 2019 created Hawai`i's Gun Violence Protective Order ('red flag') framework in HRS Chapter 134, Part IV, authorizing the family court to bar a respondent from owning, possessing, receiving, or controlling firearms or ammunition for one year (with ex parte orders pending hearing) on petition by law enforcement, family or household members, medical professionals, educators, or colleagues.
"[L 2019, c 150, pt of §2]"
Recent Law Changes
Ghost gun and assault pistol amendments (Act 18 of 2025)
effective July 1, 2025Act 18 of 2025 amended HRS § 134-1 and § 134-8 to add 'ghost gun' to Hawaii's banned list (firearms or frames/receivers not imprinted with a serial number registered with a federally licensed manufacturer), and tightened the assault-pistol definition. Possession of a ghost gun is a class C felony with a five-year mandatory term, subject to an affirmative defense for licensed manufacturers/dealers and firearms not required to bear a serial number under federal law.
Ninth Circuit largely upholds Act 52 sensitive-place provisions (Wolford v. Lopez)
effective September 6, 2024The Ninth Circuit reversed in large part the district court's preliminary injunction against Act 52's sensitive-place restrictions. Hawaii may now enforce carry bans at bars and restaurants serving alcohol, beaches and parks, and adjacent parking areas, as well as the private-property default-no rule. The preliminary injunction stands only as to financial institutions, parking lots adjacent to financial institutions, and parking lots shared by government and non-government buildings.
Hawaii Supreme Court holds no state right to carry (State v. Wilson)
effective February 7, 2024In State v. Wilson, SCAP-22-0000561, the Hawaii Supreme Court held that Article I, § 17 of the Hawaii Constitution does not confer an independent state constitutional right to carry a firearm in public, despite mirroring the federal Second Amendment. State-law challenges to Hawaii's place-to-keep statutes (HRS §§ 134-25 and 134-27) thus fail under state constitutional grounds; federal Second Amendment challenges proceed under Bruen.
Bruen-response License to Carry overhaul (Act 52 of 2023)
effective July 1, 2023Act 52 of 2023 (SB 1230) rewrote HRS § 134-9 to make Hawaii a shall-issue jurisdiction for concealed carry while simultaneously enacting an extensive 'sensitive places' list (§ 134-A, codified as § 134-9.1), a private-property default-no-carry rule (§ 134-E, codified as § 134-9.5), a statutory duty for license holders to disclose carry to police during stops (§ 134-B), a no-alcohol/no-controlled-substance rule while carrying (§ 134-D), and a vehicle safe-storage requirement when leaving a firearm unattended (§ 134-C). LTC validity set to four years; application fee raised to $150.
Gun Violence Protective Orders enacted (Act 150 of 2019)
effective June 25, 2019Act 150 of 2019 created Hawaii's red-flag framework in HRS Chapter 134, Part IV (§§ 134-61 to 134-74), authorizing the family court to issue ex parte and one-year gun violence protective orders prohibiting the respondent from owning, possessing, receiving, or controlling firearms or ammunition. Petitioners include law enforcement, family or household members, medical professionals, educators, and colleagues.
Where Carry Is Prohibited
Government Building
Carry is prohibited in any building or office owned, leased, or used by the State or a county, and adjacent grounds and parking areas, including portions used for court proceedings, legislative business, contested case hearings, or agency rulemaking. Violation is a misdemeanor under HRS § 134-9.1.
Hospital Or Medical Facility
Carry is prohibited in any public or private hospital, mental health facility, nursing home, clinic, medical office, urgent care facility, or other place at which medical or health services are customarily provided, including adjacent parking areas.
Bar Or Restaurant Serving Alcohol
Carry is prohibited in any bar or restaurant serving alcohol or intoxicating liquor for on-premises consumption, including adjacent parking areas. The Ninth Circuit upheld Hawaii's enforcement of this restriction in Wolford v. Lopez (Sept. 6, 2024).
School
Carry is prohibited on the campus or premises of any public or private community college, college, or university, and any public school, charter school, private school, preschool, summer camp, or licensed child-care facility, including adjacent parking areas. Narrow exceptions exist for private residences providing education to children all related by blood, marriage, or adoption, and for dwellings not in use as a child-care facility.
Beach Park Or Recreation Area
Carry is prohibited at any beach, playground, park, or adjacent parking area, including state parks, state monuments, county parks, tennis courts, golf courses, swimming pools, or other state or county recreation facilities — but not at an authorized target range or shooting complex. The Ninth Circuit upheld Hawaii's enforcement of this restriction in Wolford v. Lopez.
Polling Place
Carry is prohibited at any voter service center (as defined in HRS § 11-1) or other polling place, including adjacent parking areas.
Financial Institution
Hawaii's statute bans carry at bank and financial-institution premises and adjacent parking, but as of Wolford v. Lopez (9th Cir. Sept. 6, 2024) the Ninth Circuit affirmed the preliminary injunction against this restriction; Hawaii currently cannot enforce the financial-institution sensitive-place provision pending further proceedings.
HRS § 134-9.1(a)(12); enforcement enjoined per Wolford v. Lopez
Public Transportation
Carry is prohibited at any place, facility, or vehicle used for public transportation or public transit, and adjacent parking areas, including buses, paratransit vans, bus shelters and terminals (but not bus stops on public sidewalks), trains, rail stations, and airports — except an unloaded firearm in a locked hard-sided container for transport.
Posted Private Property
Under HRS § 134-9.5 Hawaii uses a 'default-no' rule for private property: licensees may not carry on the private property of another person without express written or verbal authorization from the owner, lessee, operator, or manager, or clear and conspicuous signage at the entrance indicating that carry is authorized. The Ninth Circuit upheld this default rule in Wolford v. Lopez.
Stadium Or Assembly
Carry is prohibited at any stadium, movie theater, concert hall, or place at which a professional, collegiate, high school, amateur, or student sporting event is held, and at any permitted public gathering, assembly, march, rally, protest, or special event on property open to the public, including the immediately adjacent sidewalk or street. The assembly category requires clearly posted perimeter signs.
Sources & Methodology
Every fact on this page is paired with a citation to the underlying statute, attorney general guidance, court opinion, or ATF document. We do not rely on summaries from advocacy organizations as primary sources. Last verified October 16, 2026 against the official sources.
Legal Disclaimer — Please Read
This page is for informational purposes only and is not legal advice. We are not attorneys and nothing here creates an attorney-client relationship. Gun laws are complex, change frequently, and are interpreted differently across jurisdictions and individual fact patterns.
Before relying on any information on this page — to carry a firearm, purchase a firearm, travel across state lines, or respond to a self-defense situation — you should:
- Verify the current text of any cited statute directly with the official state legislature, attorney general, or state police website.
- Check for amendments, pending litigation, or recent court rulings that may have changed the law since this page was last verified.
- Consult a licensed attorney in Hawaii for advice on your specific situation.
The controlling document is the statute or court ruling, not this page. We make no warranty as to the accuracy, completeness, or timeliness of this information, and we disclaim all liability for any reliance placed upon it.