Firearms Section

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Firearms Registration & Permitting

Aloha, Welcome to the Firearms Registration Webpage!

We are happy to offer various ways to apply for a firearm permit to acquire or to register a firearm.

Online application submissions and In-person application submissions are now available to the public.

You must be 21 years or older to own a firearm. If applying for a handgun permit to acquire you must have completed a Hunter Education Program or a National Rifle Association (NRA) certified firearms training course.

If you are born outside of the United States or one of its territories, you must have proof of US Citizenship or a valid Alien Resident card.

Due to Marijuana being considered a Schedule I Prohibited Substance by the Federal Government, Medical Marijuana card holders are prohibited from owning and possessing firearms. Reference: Federal Prohibition 18 U.S. Code § 922 (g)(3).

Refer to below for a list of other firearm ownership and/or possession disqualifiers and/or reasons of ineligibility.

Ineligibility

Persons are not eligible to own or possess a firearm or ammunition if:

  • They are a fugitive from justice.
  • They are under indictment, have waived indictment or have been bound over to the circuit court for a felony, any crime of violence or illegal sale of any drug.
  • Have been convicted of a felony, any crime of violence to include assault against a law enforcement and/or police officer, or the illegal sale of any drug.
  • Are or have been under treatment or counseling for addiction to or abuse of any dangerous, harmful, or detrimental drug or alcohol.
  • Have been acquitted of a crime on the grounds of mental disease or mental disorder.
  • Have been diagnosed as having a significant behavioral, emotional, or mental disorder or for treatment for organic brain syndromes.
  • Has been determined not to have been responsible for a criminal act or has been committed to any institution on account of a mental disease, disorder, or defect.
  • Have been adjudicated as a mental defective or have been committed to any mental institution.
  • Are younger than twenty-five (25) years of age and have been adjudicated by the family court to have committed a felony, two or more crimes of violence or an illegal sale of any drug.
  • Have been restrained by court order from contacting, threatening, or physically abusing another person, to include a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) or a Protective Order served against the permit applicant.
  • Petty Misdemeanor or Misdemeanor Convictions of the following:

HRS 707-712, Assault in the 3rd Degree

HRS 707-714, Reckless Endangering in the 2nd Degree

HRS 707-717, Terroristic Threatening in the 2nd Degree

HRS 709-904, Endangering the welfare of a minor in the 2nd Degree

HRS 709-906, Abuse of Family or Household Members

HRS 710-1026, Resisting Arrest

HRS 711-1101 (1)(a & c), Disorderly Conduct

HRS 711-1106 (1)(a & b), Harassment

HRS 712-1248(1)(d), Promoting a Detrimental Drug in the 2nd Degree

Refer to HRS 134-7, Ownership or possession prohibited or to 18 U.S. Code § 922 (g)(4) for more information (click here for full statutes)

Questions regarding firearms, please call our firearm section at 808-241-1929 or email kpdfirearms@kauai.gov.

Our office is at the main police station, which is located at 3990 Ka’ana Street, Suite 200, Lihue, Hawaii 96766.

 

Firearms Applications Index:

 

APPLICATION FOR A FIREARM PERMIT TO ACQUIRE

First time firearm permits to acquire applicants will need to present themselves in person to the Kauai Police Department’s main police station located in Lihue to be fingerprinted and photographed. The fingerprint fee is $43.25. Only a Cashier’s Check or a Money Order Accepted. Make payable to Hawai’i Criminal Justice Data Center. NO CASH WILL BE ACCEPTED.

Applications may be submitted via online or In-Person.

Reference: HRS 134-2. Permit to Acquire.

 

Online Application Submissions

Complete both the application and Valid Photo Identification via the links below or email the completed forms to kpdfirearms@kauai.gov.

You will need to attach the following when submitting your application online:

Original Hunters Education card or an Original Handgun Safety Training Course Affidavit. (Handguns Only) **Attach with Valid Photo ID.

Original documentation of proof of U.S. Citizenship if born outside the United States. (U.S. Passport, Naturalization Certificate, Born Abroad Birth Certificate, Alien Resident Card). **Attach with Valid Photo ID.

Please note, there is a 14-day waiting period on all permits before they can be issued.

Reference: HRS 134-2. Permit to Acquire.

Once the Online Application has been received, you will be sent an email confirmation.

 

In-Person Application Submissions

Normal Office hours for In-Person application submissions are Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Business is suspended for lunch from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. The Office is closed on all holidays. No appointments are necessary. Application forms may be printed from the below link, or you may choose to pick up and complete the required application forms at the main police station in Lihue during normal business hours.

You will need to bring the following with you when you apply in person:

Valid Photo Identification

Original Hunters Education card or an Original Handgun Safety Training Course Affidavit. (Handguns Only)

Original documentation of proof of U.S. Citizenship if born outside the United States. (U.S. Passport, Naturalization Certificate, Born Abroad Birth Certificate, Alien Resident Card).

If applying for a handgun, please provide the name and contact information for the individual or Federal Firearms Licensed Dealer (FFL) you will be acquiring the handgun from. Also provide the Serial Number, Make, Model, Caliber, Action Type, and Barrel Length of the handgun.

Please note, there is a 14-day waiting period on all permits before they can be issued. Once the application has been approved and is ready to be issued the applicant may pick up the permit from the main police station in Lihue or have the permit emailed to them.

Application For License To Carry Firearm

On September 7, 2022,  the Kaua’i Police Department announced that it has revised the permitting process for license to carry concealed and unconcealed firearms as a result of the July 23, 2022, Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) decision in the case of New York State Rifle & Pistol Association, Inc., et al. v. Bruen, Superintendent of New York State Police, et al.  The following describes the requirements of the Application For License To Carry Firearm Packet:

Kaua‘i Police Department Forms to be completed:

Required from Applicant:

  • Copy of current Firearm Registration for firearm to be carried;
  • Copy of signed Firearms Proficiency Test including scores (test must be dated within 90 days of application):
    • Firearms Proficiency Test must be taken with the firearm to be carried
    • Firearms Proficiency Test must be administered by a state-certified or National Rifle Association Firearms Instructor of the Applicant’s choosing (include instructor certification);
    • Signed Shooting Proficiency Test results must include shooting scores – pass/fail only is not sufficient;
  • Two passport-sized, front-facing color photographs of Applicant;
  • For Applications needed for employment purposes, please complete the notarized Private Security Employer Certification Application.

The following Handgun Qualification/ Proficiency Course Of Fire is the minimum shooting qualification proficiency requirements that the Kaua’i Police Department will accept Minimum Qualification (click on link). 

FIREARM REGISTRATION

You must be 21 years or older to register a firearm. Firearms shall be registered in accordance with Section 134-3 of the Hawaii Revised Statutes. Please contact 808-241-1929 or email kpdfirearms@kauai.gov for more information.

Married couples who wish to have their firearms jointly registered in both names will need to bring their Original Marriage Certificate.

The Notice of Transfer forms are available below on this website and may be filled in prior to coming to the Firearms Section In-Person or submitted online.

Reference: HRS 134-3. Registration, Mandatory, exceptions.

Anyone wishing to transfer their firearm to another person in the State of Hawaii must have a copy of their State of Hawaii Firearm Registration for any and all weapons to be transferred.

 

Online Firearm Registration

Use the link below for Online submissions for notice of transfer of a firearm. Newly acquired firearms need to be registered within 5 days of acquisition. Individuals who transfer a firearm to another needs to deliver the Notice of Transfer within 2 days to the Firearms Section.

Online submission of firearm transfers requires the following attachments:

Valid Photo Identification (transferor and transferee)

State of Hawaii Firearm Registration (transferor)

Once the Online Notice of Transfer has been received, you will be sent an email confirmation.

In-Person Firearm Registration

You will need the following when you register your firearm:

Valid Firearm Permit to Acquire

Valid Photo Identification

Completed Firearms Transfer form

Any and all required forms can be obtained from the Firearms Section.

 

OUT OF STATE ACQUIRED FIREARM REGISTRATION

All firearms brought or Imported into the State of Hawaii must be registered in accordance with section 134-3 of the Hawaii Revised Statutes. There is no 14-day waiting period for Out-of-State Registrations. First time firearm applicants will need to present themselves in person to the Kauai Police Department’s main police station located in Lihue at 3990 Ka’ana Street, Lihue, Hawaii 96766 to be fingerprinted and photographed. The fingerprint fee is $43.25. Only a Cashier’s Check or a Money Order Accepted. Make payable to Hawaii Criminal Justice Data Center. NO CASH WILL BE ACCEPTED.

Applications can be submitted In-Person or online. Any and/or all required forms can be obtained from the Firearms Section.

You will need to attach the following documents to the email submission or bring them with you when applying In-Person:

Valid Photo Identification

Original documentation of proof of U.S. Citizenship if born outside the United States. (U.S. Passport, Naturalization Certificate, Born Abroad Birth Certificate, Alien Resident Card).

Once the Online Application has been received, you will be sent an email confirmation.

 

ELECTRONIC GUN INFORMATION

What is an E-GUN?

An electric gun, or E-GUN, is any portable device that is designed to discharge electric energy, charge, voltage or current into the body through direct contact or utilizing a projectile. E-GUN includes but is not limited to stun guns and electric projectile guns such as a Taser and does not include an automatic defibrillator used in emergency medical situations. An E-GUN cartridge is a device or object designed for use with an electric gun to project a missile, such as a Taser cartridge.

Are E-GUNs legal in the County of Kaua’i?

Yes, with some requirements and restrictions. The 2021 Hawaiʻi State Legislature passed, and Governor David Y. Ige signed into law ACT 183 (21) (this link, GM1311_.pdf (hawaii.gov) should bring up the HB 891 statute) that repealed the ban on electric guns and replaced it with a law regulating the use, storage, transfer, and disposal of electric guns effective Jan. 1, 2022. E-GUNS can only be used for self-defense, defense of another person, or protection of property.

Do I need a permit to purchase/own an E-GUN on Kaua’i?

No, but there are restrictions:

  • If you are acquiring an E-GUN on the island of Kaua’i, you must purchase/have transferred the E-GUN through a business or individual licensed by the Kaua’i Police Department’s Firearms Section.  
  • You must purchase/register an E-GUN through a business or individual licensed by the Kaua’i Police Department’s Firearms Section. (Please replace with, If you are acquiring an E-GUN on the island of Kaua’i, you must purchase/have transferred the E-GUN through a business or individual licensed by the Kaua’i Police Department’s Firearms Section.
  • You must be at least 21 years old, pass a criminal history background check, and complete an informational briefing on the dangers, limitations, safe use, handling, storage, and disposal of E-GUNs.
  • Ownership or possession is prohibited for certain persons (ACT 183 HRS 134-F) (this link, GM1311_.pdf (hawaii.gov) should bring up the HB 891 statute)

Do I need a business license to sell E-GUNS on Kaua’i?

Yes. It is against the law to sell, offer for sale, distribute, or otherwise transfer an electric gun or cartridge without a license, per ACT 183 HRS 134-C (this link, GM1311_.pdf (hawaii.gov) should bring up the HB 891 statute)

· You must file an application annually for an E-GUN business license that expires each year on June 30.

· The annual fee is $50 for the approved E-GUN business license.

· Application for renewal of an E-GUN business license is due no later than July 1 of each year.

· Applicant and employees of the business must complete an initial approved E-GUN safety course, and every three years thereafter, to confirm that at least one principal owner or member of the applying entity has completed an E-GUN safety or training course that focuses on:

  1. Safe use and handling of electric guns.
  2. Current information about the effects, dangers, risks, and limitation of electric guns.
  3. Education on the existing state laws on electric guns.
  4. Proper disposal of electric guns.

How do I apply for a business license to sell E-GUNS on Kaua’i?

· E-GUN business licenses are issued by the Kaua’i Police Department’s Firearms Section, and E-GUN licensee/dealer application packets are available in person or online.

· Submit the completed application packet and all required documentation as listed below to the Kaua’i Police Department’s Firearms Section:

  1. Completed Electric Gun Business (Licensee/Dealer) Application & Questionnaire including Declaration page.  These forms are also available online.
  2. Fifty-dollar ($50.00) License/Permit fee with payment written out to the Director of Finance.  We can only accept a certified check or money order for this payment.
  3. Copy of driver’s license or other appropriate form of photo identification for all principal owners or members of the applying entity.  Copies will not be made to you.
  4. Copy of training certificate and training curriculum (e.g., Taser Self-Defense Civilian Trainer Course). 

 

PEPPER SPRAY APPLICATION

Individuals 18 years or older may own and possess Pepper Spray by applying and passing the background check according to Kauai County Ordinance sec. 22-15.2.  There is a nominal fee of $5.00 per individual application which is paid to the County of Kauai General Fund. The fee can be paid in cash, by money order, or by cashier’s check. Individuals who pass the background check will be given a permit to purchase Pepper Spray on the Island of Kauai. Valid photo ID is required.  (Refer to link below)

The following forms are available on the website and maybe filled in prior to coming to the Firearms Section.

You will need to attach the following when submitting your application online:

Applicable Laws

 

Disclaimers

“Ghost Guns”

  • A new law as referenced in section 134-10.2 of the Hawai’i Revised Statutes, entitled “Manufacturing, purchasing, or obtaining firearm parts to assemble a firearm having no serial number; penalty” went into effect on January 1, 2022.  Please be advised that purchasing, producing, or obtaining any “ghost gun” parts, in violation of this section is a class C felony.

“Grandfathered firearms”

  • If you acquired a “grandfathered” firearm from a relative, as the current firearm owner, you are still legally required to have it registered under your name.  Please contact the Firearms Section at 808-241-1929 should you have any questions.