Concealed Carry in Hawaii
Whether you need a permit to carry concealed in Hawaii, how to get one, which states' permits Hawaii honors, and where carrying is banned.
Short answer: No. Outside the possessor's place of business, residence or sojourn, firearms must be kept confined there and may be carried only unloaded in an enclosed container for listed trips, unless the person holds a license to carry under § 134-9. HRS §§ 134-25, 134-9
| Permitless (constitutional) carry | No. Outside the possessor's place of business, residence or sojourn, firearms must be kept confined there and may be carried only unloaded in an enclosed container for listed trips, unless the person holds a license to carry under § 134-9. Carrying or possessing a pistol or revolver in violation of this rule is a class B felony. Source: HRS §§ 134-25, 134-9 |
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| Concealed carry permit | License to carry a concealed pistol or revolver, issued by the chief of police of the county; the chief 'shall grant' a concealed carry license to an applicant who qualifies (shall-issue), including being a U.S. citizen, national or lawful permanent resident, a resident of Hawaii, at least 21, not prohibited from possessing firearms, and not lacking the character or temperament to be trusted with a firearm. The applicant must be the registered owner of the firearm and complete a training course with in-person instruction on firearm safety, handling and shooting technique, a written exam (score of at least 70%), and live-fire shooting exercises on a range. Fees: $150 nonrefundable application fee; $50 renewal fee. The license expires four years from the date of issue unless renewed and is valid statewide. |
| Other states' permits (reciprocity) | None. Hawaii has no state law that honors carry licenses issued by other states, and a concealed carry license under § 134-9 requires the applicant to be a Hawaii resident. Reviewed HRS chapter 134 (all section headings, Parts I-VI) on 2026-10-27; no provision honoring other states' licenses found. Exceptions for federally qualified law enforcement officers (18 U.S.C. §§ 926B, 926C) appear in § 134-9.1(b)(10). |
| Where guns are banned | Licensees may not carry in: state or county buildings and grounds; hospitals, mental health facilities, nursing homes, clinics and medical offices; jails and correctional facilities; bars and restaurants serving alcohol for on-site consumption; stadiums, movie theaters, concert halls and sports venues during events; public libraries; college and university campuses; schools, preschools, summer camps and child care facilities; beaches, playgrounds, parks, pools, golf courses, tennis courts and other public recreation areas (target ranges excepted); shelters for unhoused people, domestic violence victims or children; voter service centers and polling places; banks and financial institutions; public transit vehicles and facilities including airports (unloaded firearms in locked hard-sided cases excepted); amusement parks, aquariums, fairs, museums, water parks and zoos; and posted permitted public gatherings such as rallies. Most items include adjacent parking areas. Private property rule: § 134-9.5 bars licensees from private property without the owner's express authorization, but on June 25, 2026 the U.S. Supreme Court held in Wolford v. Lopez that Hawaii's law prohibiting licensees from carrying handguns on private property open to the public without the owner's express authorization violates the Second and Fourteenth Amendments. Supreme Court slip opinion: https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/25pdf/24-1046_nmio.pdf. The Court reversed the Ninth Circuit and remanded; the remaining sensitive-place rules in § 134-9.1 were not at issue in that holding. |
| Guns in your car | Without a carry license, firearms may be carried only unloaded in an enclosed container (a rigidly constructed receptacle or commercially manufactured gun case that completely encloses the firearm) between the possessor's place of purchase, business, residence or sojourn, or to and from a place of repair, target range, licensed dealer, firearms show, hunter or firearm training, or police station. Licensees may carry in the immediate area around their vehicle in a parking area to store or retrieve the firearm. § 134-25 covers pistols and revolvers; the matching rule for rifles and shotguns (§ 134-27) was not read. Source: HRS §§ 134-25, 134-9.1(b)(7) |
More Hawaii gun laws
- Open Carry in Hawaii
- Buying a Gun in Hawaii
- Red Flag Law and Weapon Limits in Hawaii
- All Hawaii gun laws rules
FAQ
Is Hawaii a constitutional carry state?
No. Outside the possessor's place of business, residence or sojourn, firearms must be kept confined there and may be carried only unloaded in an enclosed container for listed trips, unless the person holds a license to carry under § 134-9. Carrying or possessing a pistol or revolver in violation of this rule is a class B felony.
How do you get a concealed carry permit in Hawaii?
License to carry a concealed pistol or revolver, issued by the chief of police of the county; the chief 'shall grant' a concealed carry license to an applicant who qualifies (shall-issue), including being a U.S. citizen, national or lawful permanent resident, a resident of Hawaii, at least 21, not prohibited from possessing firearms, and not lacking the character or temperament to be trusted with a firearm. The applicant must be the registered owner of the firearm and complete a training course with in-person instruction on firearm safety, handling and shooting technique, a written exam (score of at least 70%), and live-fire shooting exercises on a range. Fees: $150 nonrefundable application fee; $50 renewal fee. The license expires four years from the date of issue unless renewed and is valid statewide.
Which states' carry permits does Hawaii honor?
None. Hawaii has no state law that honors carry licenses issued by other states, and a concealed carry license under § 134-9 requires the applicant to be a Hawaii resident.
Where can't you carry a gun in Hawaii?
Licensees may not carry in: state or county buildings and grounds; hospitals, mental health facilities, nursing homes, clinics and medical offices; jails and correctional facilities; bars and restaurants serving alcohol for on-site consumption; stadiums, movie theaters, concert halls and sports venues during events; public libraries; college and university campuses; schools, preschools, summer camps and child care facilities; beaches, playgrounds, parks, pools, golf courses, tennis courts and other public recreation areas (target ranges excepted); shelters for unhoused people, domestic violence victims or children; voter service centers and polling places; banks and financial institutions; public transit vehicles and facilities including airports (unloaded firearms in locked hard-sided cases excepted); amusement parks, aquariums, fairs, museums, water parks and zoos; and posted permitted public gatherings such as rallies. Most items include adjacent parking areas. Private property rule: § 134-9.5 bars licensees from private property without the owner's express authorization, but on June 25, 2026 the U.S. Supreme Court held in Wolford v. Lopez that Hawaii's law prohibiting licensees from carrying handguns on private property open to the public without the owner's express authorization violates the Second and Fourteenth Amendments.
Can you keep a gun in your car in Hawaii without a permit?
Without a carry license, firearms may be carried only unloaded in an enclosed container (a rigidly constructed receptacle or commercially manufactured gun case that completely encloses the firearm) between the possessor's place of purchase, business, residence or sojourn, or to and from a place of repair, target range, licensed dealer, firearms show, hunter or firearm training, or police station. Licensees may carry in the immediate area around their vehicle in a parking area to store or retrieve the firearm.
General legal information, not legal advice. Laws change and local rules can differ; check the linked official source or talk to a lawyer about your situation.