Can a Non-Resident Carry a Firearm in Hawaii? (2026 Guide)

The April 15, 2026 Solinsky v. Lopez injunction protects the named plaintiff and HRA members from denial solely for non-residency; how it applies to others is unresolved.

HRA membership is not on HPD's October 2026 civilian checklist, but it may matter to a non-resident's eligibility under the injunction.

Hawaii does NOT honor Arizona, California, Utah, Florida, or any other out-of-state permit. A Hawaii-issued permit is the only lawful concealed-carry credential in the islands.

Expect statutory fees around $150 for the application and $50 per four-year renewal, plus training, the shooting test, firearm registration, and travel. HPD currently accepts cash only for the $150 fee.

Total timeline varies by county workload; no official processing time is published, so confirm current estimates with the county firearms unit.

HawaiiCCWOnline.com (a Safehouse Defense, LLC educational service) provides the online course, nationwide live-fire coordination, and concierge packet review that most out-of-state applicants need.

Until 2026, Hawaii's concealed carry statute was interpreted to bar non-residents entirely. That is no longer the case. The federal court in Solinsky v. Lopez entered an injunction barring enforcement of Hawaii's residency restriction against the named plaintiff and members of the Hawaii Rifle Association.

The practical result: if you are 21 or older, lawfully able to possess a firearm, and covered by the injunction, you may file a non-resident application with a county police department. If you are unsure whether you are covered, get legal advice before you invest in training or travel.

This is a real, working pathway — but it is narrow, procedural, and unforgiving of paperwork mistakes. That's why we built HawaiiCCWOnline.com around it.

Solinsky v. Lopez is the federal court decision that dismantled Hawaii's non-resident carry ban. The court found that categorically denying concealed carry licenses to law-abiding non-residents could not survive the text-history-tradition test set out by the Supreme Court in NYSRPA v. Bruen.

The court's remedy did not open Hawaii to every out-of-state applicant automatically. Instead, it granted relief to the named plaintiffs — the Hawaii Rifle Association and its dues-paying members. That is why HRA membership may be relevant to a non-resident's eligibility — though it is not listed on HPD's October 2026 civilian checklist and should not be treated as a universal requirement.

Each county (Honolulu, Hawaii, Maui, and Kauai) sets its own procedures. Honolulu published an updated LTC checklist in October 2026; confirm the other counties' requirements directly. The scope of non-resident eligibility is still evolving.

NO. Hawaii does not recognize any other state's concealed carry permit. Zero reciprocity — not with Arizona, not with Utah, not with Florida, not with California, not with your home-state resident permit.

If you carry concealed in Hawaii on an out-of-state permit, you are treated as an unlicensed carrier under Hawaii law. That is a serious criminal offense with steep penalties. A Hawaii-issued Non-Resident CCW is the only lawful concealed-carry credential in the islands.

The good news: your existing training history and clean record from other permits still help. A documented training history may be useful context, even though out-of-state permits grant you nothing in Hawaii.

1. Confirm your eligibility, including how the Solinsky v. Lopez injunction applies to you.

2. Complete HRS §134-9 LTC training (four-hour lecture and written exam within four years) and HRS §134-2(g) safety training, documented by notarized affidavits from a verified instructor.

3. Take the shooting proficiency test — in Honolulu, dated within 90 days of your application.

4. Register each firearm in person with the county police department when you arrive.

5. Complete the HIPAA waiver, Adult Mental Health Division form, Permit to Acquire questionnaire, and Affidavit of Acknowledgment.

6. Gather photo ID and one passport-sized photo.

7. File the HPD-150B/150C application in person with the supporting documents and the $150 fee (cash only at HPD for now).

8. Receive your permit after the background investigation concludes — processing times vary by county and are not officially published.

Four counties, four permit units, and potentially different checklists. Honolulu's October 2026 checklist does not automatically apply to Hawaii, Maui, or Kauai counties.

Firearm registration in Hawaii is separate from — and required before — you can carry that handgun under your permit. Every handgun you intend to carry must be registered with the county where you'll be carrying.

Documentation formatting matters. HPD asks for notarized instructor affidavits, forms printed single-sided and completed in black ink, and dated on the day of application.

Travel logistics compound the difficulty: in-person firearm registration and application filing require presence in Hawaii, and Honolulu's 90-day shooting-test window affects when you train.

Procedures are still evolving. Counties are updating intake standards as the post-Solinsky caseload grows. What was true six months ago may not be true today.

We built HawaiiCCWOnline.com specifically for the non-resident pathway. Everything is designed so an applicants nationwide, whether in Los Angeles, Phoenix, Dallas, or New York can complete the classroom and live-fire portions from anywhere in the U.S.A. without wasted time, travel or expense.

Our online course covers Hawaii statutes, sensitive places, transport rules, the 'vampire rule' on private property, the duty to inform, and the state's use-of-force framework. Our program is being developed to address these requirements, pending any necessary approvals; it has not been approved by HPD, and instructor verification is a separate requirement.

Our nationwide instructor network coordinates shooting sessions; whether a given instructor is verified by your county must be confirmed separately.

Our concierge team handles packet review, per-county checklists, appointment coordination, and status follow-up. This is the single highest-value service for out-of-state applicants — a returned packet can add 60+ days.

Student support runs seven days a week, 9 AM–9 PM Pacific. Call 1-623-850-4134 or email support@safehousedefense.com anytime.

Business travelers who visit the islands for conferences, client meetings, or extended project work.

Vacation-home owners with a second residence on Oahu, Maui, the Big Island, or Kauai.

Active-duty military, reservists, and veterans stationed at or transiting through Hawaii's bases.

Retirees splitting time between the mainland and the islands.

Frequent visitors — anyone who makes multiple Hawaii trips per year and wants lawful carry between hotel, rental, and range.

Hunters and outdoor enthusiasts who take advantage of Hawaii's public hunting areas.

Competitive shooters attending Hawaii matches or clinics.

RV and long-stay travelers integrating Hawaii into a broader multi-state itinerary.

HawaiiCCWOnline.com is operated by Safehouse Defense, LLC — the same team behind AZCCWOnline.com, CaliforniaCCWOnline.com, UtahCCWOnline.com, and MultiStateCarry.com. Combined, our instructor network holds decades of firearms training experience and has guided tens of thousands of permit applicants across the United States.

We offer: Hawaii-specific online training, concierge application support, nationwide live-fire qualification referrals, seven-day student support, and continuously updated educational resources.

This article is educational and is not legal advice. Concealed carry statutes and county procedures change. Verify current requirements with the appropriate Hawaii county Chief of Police, and consult a licensed Hawaii attorney for any question specific to your situation.

Ready to start? Enroll in our online course, or call the concierge line at 1-623-850-4134 to talk through your timeline with a real person.