Moving from WA to HI - what do i need to know?

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R.Greene

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Hi,

What do i need yo know if making the move from Washington State to Hawaii (Oahu)? Moving guns there, permits, restrictions on standard capacity magazines, etc.
 
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Good luck. I made the move there many years ago, (fortunately, returned to Washington) and it hasn't gotten any better.

On a positive note, you will find out where the main police station is in Honolulu and get to know some officers right away.
 
Just read on the Wiki site that as of July, 2014, there were 183 active concealed carry permits out of a population of 1.4 million. The license is good only for the issuing county.

The 9th Circuit has ruled that Hawaii's rules on firearms are Unconstitutional. The State has been given time to respond.

In the meantime, the Draconian rules remain in effect.
 
I was stationed there between 2004-2007. No hicap pistol mags or assault pistols. Most NFA weapons are banned. Some destructive devices like grenade launchers and large bore rifles are ok per the law, but I didn't hear of anyone with them. Registration is required for all firearms and is only open from 0745 until 1630, Monday - Friday. It will take about two weeks to get your long gun purchase permit and it's good for a year.

For handguns, you'll need a separate permit each time you want to buy a pistol. It takes three trips to the police department and two trips to the store to do everything. You go to the store and buy the gun, take the serial number and other info the police department. Wait two weeks. Go back to the police department and get your permit. Go to the gun store to pick up your pistol. Take the pistol to the police department to register it. Luckily, I never had to buy a pistol from a store. Having a C&R license, I would just take C&R pistols that I had shipped in over to the police station to register it and saved all kinds of waiting and back and forth.
 
They are difficult also for officers carrying under HR218-LEOSA. They say you are required to register with them within 5 days of entering HI. Federal guidelines call for no such registration under HR218-LEOSA.

To do the yearly requalification required under HR218, they stipulate you can only go to one private company to do so. Again, no such stipulation in the law, just a qualified police instructor.

I don't know if what they require is actually legal, but I wouldn't want to be the test case. As strict as they are, I'm sure their judiciary would roast you.
 
Be aware that there is a 14 day waiting period for permits.

So how can you register them in 5 days if a permit to acquire is required and that takes a minimum of 14 calendar days?

Excerpts from http://www.hawaiipolice.com/services/firearm-registration

"There is a minimum waiting period of 14 calendar days between the time you apply for a permit and the time you may be granted the permit. This waiting period gives the Police Department time to conduct a background check to make sure you are eligible for a permit to acquire."

From what I am reading here (and someone please correct me). You need a 'permit to acquire' before you can register your guns.


"Registration of Firearms

Once you receive a permit to acquire a firearm, you must register all firearms with the Hawaiʻi Police Department within five days of purchase or acquisition.

If you move to Hawaii and bring in a firearm of any description, you must register the firearm within five days after the firearm enters the state. "

But if you already own them and bring them in from the mainland is a permit to acquire still needed?

Is a permit to acquire before registration?

Or after?

So can you register them without a permit to acquire?

If not...what do you do with the guns in the meantime?
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If you bring them in, you go directly to registration within 5 days.

I believe they also have a 10 rd. max magazine law, don't know how they deal with one brought in that exceeds 10.

From what I understand, there were lots of guns left there after WWII, and many of the long term residents/families have never registered them.

The other thing left there, lots and lots of Spam to the point where it's ingrained in the culture. :eek:

No direct shipping of ammo, and it's limited and expensive. Walmart doesn't carry it there. Bring all you can afford with you.
 
Speedo66 said:
I believe they also have a 10 rd. max magazine law, don't know how they deal with one brought in that exceeds 10.
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Hawaii prohibits the importation/manufacture/transfer/possession of 11+ round pistol magazines.

It's a misdemeanor per magazine and a felony, if the magazine is with a pistol that can use the magazine.

Some HI law enforcement agencies also classify "pistol" magazines as any magazine that can be used in a pistol.
So, they also include AR/AK magazines because there are AR/AK pistols.
 
By the way, if flying, FAA regs say it's legal to carry ammo in your checked luggage. Must be in suitable container, which original packaging qualifies for.

I've brought shotgun shells to HI several times.
 
I lived in Hawaii for 23 years and bought many, many firearms while there. As others have stated, if you're moving into the state you don't need any permits to register handguns, rifles or shotguns. You will need to apply for a long gun permit (14 day wait) to buy additional rifles or shotguns once there. The permit is good for a year. A "permit to acquire" is required for handguns (also 14 days) but you can buy as many handguns on one permit as you want. High capacity AR magazines are legal for anyone that doesn't own a machine pistol that accepts those magazines. When the state banned any handgun whose magazine is outside of the grip when inserted, some owners were grandfathered and therefore could be committing a misdemeanor or fellony if in possesion of a high capacity AR magazine. Suppressors are illegal as are SBRs.
 
Moving from WA to HI - what do i need to know?
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Honestly? :scrutiny: Choose another state.

The only state I know that's worse for law-abiding gun owners is New Jersey ... But then at least you're close to Pennsylvania for storing or shooting any of your firearms that N.J. otherwise bans and will confiscate.

In HI, you've got no such nearby "safe-harbor" state. You're surrounded by water. :eek:
 
agtman said:
Honestly? :scrutiny: Choose another state.

The only state I know that's worse for law-abiding gun owners is New Jersey ... But then at least you're close to Pennsylvania for storing or shooting any of your firearms that N.J. otherwise bans and will confiscate.

In HI, you've got no such nearby "safe-harbor" state. You're surrounded by water. :eek:
Click to expand...
Not only law-abiding gun owners have it bad in New Jersey. But even retired NJ police officers (in good standing) have it bad too. They were were denied carry permits.
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