Hawaii State Law Summary

Last updated October 6, 2011

In its publication Gun Laws Matter: A Comparison of State Firearms Laws and Statistics, LCAV ranked each state based on a review of state laws in 25 different firearms-related policy areas.  Hawaii ranked 4th out of 50 – having enacted some of the strongest gun violence prevention laws in the nation.  Among other things, Hawaii:

• Requires any person who is in the business of selling or manufacturing firearms to obtain a state dealer license, which must be renewed annually;

• Bans most assault weapons and large capacity ammunition magazines;

• Requires all firearm purchasers to obtain a license;

• Imposes child access prevention requirements upon gun owners;

• Requires the registration of most firearms;

• Prohibits the sale of “unsafe handguns;”

• Regulates the possession and sale of ammunition; and

• Restricts the open carrying of handguns and long guns.

Hawaii does not, however:

• Limit the number of firearms that may be purchased at one time;

• Regulate 50 caliber rifles;

• Require unlicensed firearm sellers to conduct a background check on a purchaser; or

• Require the permanent maintenance of records of firearm sales.

Local governments in Hawaii retain authority to regulate firearms and ammunition, and local licensing authorities in Hawaii have discretion in determining whether to issue a license to carry a firearm.

Hawaii ranks 50th among the states in number of gun deaths per capita.  In 2007, 36 people died from firearm-related injuries in Hawaii. In 2009, Hawaii supplied the lowest number of crime guns to other states per capita. Hawaii exports more crime guns than it imports, however.

For details about specific firearms laws in Hawaii, choose a topic below.

Overview State "Right to Bear Arms" Statistics Local Authority to Regulate Firearms
State Firearms Policies Persons Prohibited from Firearm Possession Prohibited Purchasers Generally Minimum Age to Purchase / Possess Domestic Violence & Firearms Disarming Prohibited Persons Sales & Transfers Background Checks Mental Health Reporting Multiple Purchases / Sales of Firearms Retention of Sales / Background Check Records Waiting Periods Gun Dealers & Other Sellers Dealer Regulations Private Sales Gun Shows Immunity Statutes Gun Owner Responsibilities Licensing of Gun Owners / Purchasers Registration of Firearms Reporting Lost or Stolen Firearms	Firearms in Public Places Concealed Weapons Permitting Open Carrying Location Restrictions Guns in Vehicles Guns in Schools Other Location Restrictions Consumer & Child Safety Design Safety Standards for Handguns Locking Devices Personalized / Owner-Authorized Firearms Child Access Prevention Classes of Weapons / Ammunition Assault Weapons Large Capacity Ammunition Magazines Fifty Caliber Rifles Machine Guns / Automatic Firearms Non-Powder Guns Ammunition Regulation Investigating Gun Crimes Microstamping / Ballistic Identification Trafficking
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