[Gun Quest] Acquiring a firearm in Hawaii

Dec 6th 2016 EDIT: There are now more forms and an additional fee. I have not acquired any more firearms since the new laws came in to effect, so I don't have insight into the new process steps. 

So I went shooting a couple of months ago and decided that I needed yet another expensive hobby. As information can be a little sparse, here's what you need to do.

To get a rifle or shotgun:

You'll need to file for a permit to acquire. If this is your first time, there's a fee of $16.50 for a background check. Annoyingly, this needs to be paid with a money order or cashier's check. If you've never needed either, you can get a money order from any 7-11, and cashier's checks can be acquired from your bank. Either way, it should be made out to Hawaii Criminal Justice Data Center. This is a one time fee, and is not required for subsequent permits to acquire (More on that later).

You'll need to file this at your local police station. I did it over my lunch hour in Hilo (office hours are 9am-3pm, M-F), and it was totally painless. You'll then need to wait two weeks for an answer. Assuming you're not a felon, an alcoholic, on the run from the law, being treated for serious mental health issues, etc. you should be approved.

The permit to acquire is a little less impressive that I imagined. I thought I'd get a card or something but it's just a notarized print out. You might want to bring along a manila folder or something, as it's valid for a year.

Once you have this magical piece of paper, you can acquire as many long arms as you like/can afford. I was so excited, I ran out an bought a Sig M400. You'll need to register any guns that you buy within five calendar days . I'm heading to the same office where I filed my permit to acquire today.

To get a pistol:

Here's where it starts to get a little tricky. First off, you'll need to complete either an NRA certified handgun course, or the Hunter Education Course provided free by the state. In Hilo, both North Pacific Firearms and Stuebs' Guns & Ammo offer the NRA course. NPF's class is two days, while Stubes' is one. Both courses include both classroom and range time. I opted for the one day course, as I already have some notion of what I'm doing when it comes to firearms. If you've never shot anything, NPF's class might be a better fit.

Upon completion of the class, you'll receive an affidavit that you'll need for yet another permit to acquire. If it's your first time acquiring a firearm in Hawaii, you'll need to go through the same background check that I outlined in the rifle or shotgun section, so make sure to have that check or money order for $16.50.

Although the permit to acquire for long arms is valid for a year, you'll need to file a separate one for each pistol that you plan to acquire. Annoyingly, this application process requires the serial number for the weapon. Basically, Josh at Stuebs' told me that you buy the gun, then they hold it until your permit is approved (after another fucking two weeks). I'm not sure how NPF does it.

I'll update this after I pick up my Sig 226 Navy. =)

To get a concealed carry:

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHH....omg...HAAHAHHAHAAHA

Seriously, Hawaii is a "may issue" state. It's impossible.