State Regulations

Subject Matter

Rifle / Shotgun

Handgun

Relevant Statute

General Description

State Permit Required to Purchase

Yes

Yes

HRS §134-2

A person who wants to purchase a handgun or long gun must obtain a permit to acquire the ownership of a firearm, which requires a background check of the applicant.

State Firearm Registration

Yes

Yes

HRS §134-2, HRS §134-3

Must be registered with county police chief within 5 days of purchase or arrival to Hawaii. Registration not required for black powder and pre-1899 firearms.

Assault Weapon Restrictions

No

Yes

HRS §134-1

Law bans assault pistols with two or more banned features. This DOES NOT apply to rifles or shotguns with a barrel length greater than 16 inches

Magazine Capacity Restrictions

No

Yes

HRS134-8(c)

HRS134-11(3)

Any magazine with a capacity of more than 10 rounds that can be inserted into a pistol is prohibited. Members of organizations are exempt from the pistol magazine limit at places of target shooting.

State Preemption of Local Restrictions

Yes

Yes

HRS §46-1.5(13)

Municipalities may enact and enforce local regulations only if they are identical to, and provide the same penalty as, state law.

NFA Weapon Restrictions

Yes

Yes

HRS §134-8

Machine guns, short barreled rifles, short barreled shotguns, and silencers/suppressors are prohibited from the average citizen. Certain Destructive Devices and AOWs are allowed with proper tax stamp and NFA paperwork from the ATF

Prohibited Items

Rifles

Rifles with barrel lengths less than sixteen inches

Shotguns

shotguns with barrel lengths less than eighteen inches

Handguns

Handguns with a capacity exceeding 10 rounds.

Any pistol or revolver, the frame or receiver of which is a die casting of zinc alloy, which has a melting temperature of less than 800 degrees F.

Semiautomatic handguns which accept a detachable magazine and have TWO or more of the following features: 1. Magazine that attaches to the pistol outside of the pistol grip; 2. Threaded barrel capable of accepting a barrel extender, flash suppressor, forward hand grip or silencer; 3. Barrel shroud; 4. Manufactured weight of 50 oz or more (unloaded); 5. Center fire pistol with an overall length of 12 inches or more; 7. Semiautomatic version of an automatic firearm (not to include a firearm with a barrel 16” or more in length)

Accessories / Ammunition

Silencers, or devices for deadening or muffling the sound of discharged firearms.