Carrying a firearm for self-defense comes with a lot of responsibility. Knowing the laws where you carry is just one important task armed Americans must undertake. To help with that, we will be providing you with a summary of basic carry laws for several states. Learn the most important things to know when carrying in Hawaii, the Aloha state, below.

How to Get a Permit in Hawaii

Hawaii is a may-issue state. The county chief of police may grant a license “in an exceptional case, when an applicant shows reason to fear injury to the applicant’s person or property.”  However, with the exception of security personnel, no carry licenses have been issued. The state has been sued due to Hawaii’s restrictive handgun permitting policies.

Hawaii permits open carry and concealed carry of handguns with a Hawaii license to carry (LTC), which is only valid in the county of issue. The minimum age is 21 years old. Concealed carry licenses require a firearms training course that has been state-approved. Carrying a loaded firearm without a license to carry, whether openly or concealed, including in a vehicle, is a class B felony. Hawaii does not issue non-resident licenses, nor does it honor CCW licenses from any other state.

More About Hawaii Permits

Stun guns and Tasers are illegal in Hawaii. While there is no statute prohibiting the purchase or use of pepper spray in Hawaii, the city/county of Honolulu has ordinances restricting types of pepper spray containers and prohibiting minors from purchasing or possessing pepper spray. A permit to purchase, a background check and firearms registration are required to buy a handgun from a private individual. There is a minimum 14-day wait when applying for a purchase permit. All firearms and ammunition must be registered with the chief of police of the county of one’s place of business, one’s residence or one’s place of sojourn (temporary place of lodging). There is a duty to inform a law enforcement officer that you’re carrying a concealed firearm in Hawaii.

Locations where concealed handgun may be carried include:

  • In a vehicle with a Hawaii LTC
  • Roadside rest areas, but not in buildings, with a Hawaii LTC
  • Restaurants with a Hawaii LTC, unless posted

Locations where carry is prohibited even for permit holders include:

  • Secured areas of airports and airplanes
  • State/national parks
  • State/national forests
  • State game refuges or state game management areas
  • Any place where the carrying of firearms is prohibited by federal law

Visit the USCCA Hawaii gun laws page now…

 

The information contained on this website is provided as a service to USCCA, Inc. members and the concealed carry community, and does not constitute legal advice. Although we attempt to address all areas of concealed carry laws in all states, we make no claims, representations, warranties, promises or guarantees as to the accuracy, completeness or adequacy of the information disclosed. Legal advice must always be tailored to the individual facts and circumstances of each individual case. Laws are constantly changing, and as such, nothing contained on this website should be used as a substitute for the advice of a lawyer.