Hawaii County Concealed Carry License
Apply to the Hawaiʻi Police Department (the Big Island). Checked against the agency's own site on 2026-10-08.
- New license: $150 application fee, which covers one gun; each additional gun is $10. Money order or cashier's check to the County Director of Finance only.
- Renewal: $50
- Local rules: Pay by money order or cashier's check made out to the County Director of Finance. Nothing else is accepted. A shooting test with actual scores (pass/fail isn't enough), taken within 90 days with the gun you'll carry, from an instructor the department has verified, plus that instructor's notarized affidavit. Two passport-size color photos taken within the last 30 days. Answer every question on the form: write “NONE” instead of “N/A,” and make sure every detail about the gun matches your state registration exactly, or the application comes back to you.
- Wait: The department says processing won't take longer than 120 days.
Apply to the Hawaiʻi Police Department · Every Hawaii county
Common questions
How much does a concealed carry license cost in Hawaii County?
A new concealed carry license in Hawaii County costs $150. It's the same in every county. Training is paid separately, to the instructor.
Where do I apply for a concealed carry license in Hawaii County?
Apply to the Hawaiʻi Police Department (the Big Island).
What does Hawaii County require beyond state law?
Pay by money order or cashier's check made out to the County Director of Finance. Nothing else is accepted. A shooting test with actual scores (pass/fail isn't enough), taken within 90 days with the gun you'll carry, from an instructor the department has verified, plus that instructor's notarized affidavit. Two passport-size color photos taken within the last 30 days. Answer every question on the form: write “NONE” instead of “N/A,” and make sure every detail about the gun matches your state registration exactly, or the application comes back to you.
How long does a concealed carry license take in Hawaii County?
The department says processing won't take longer than 120 days. State law only says the chief has to decide within a reasonable time once your application is complete.
Rules every Hawaii license follows
- Who decides: Your county's police chief has to issue the license if you meet the law's requirements: 21 or older, a Hawaiʻi resident, a citizen, national or permanent resident, allowed to own guns, and not found to lack the character or temperament to carry. The license is good on every island. (HRS § 134-9(a))
- Why counties differ: The law sets the requirements and leaves the paperwork to each chief. That one line is why one county takes only cash and the next takes none, why Maui takes applications online while Kauaʻi wants you at the window, and why Maui and Honolulu set their own minimum class lengths. (HRS § 134-9(o))
- The fee: Every county charges $150 to apply, and the chief has to waive it if you show financial hardship. Maui, Hawaiʻi County and Kauaʻi charge $50 to renew. (HRS § 134-9(i))
- Training: The course has to be in person and cover safety, handling, storage, transporting guns, where you can't carry, shooting in low light, conflict management and self-defense law, plus a section on mental health. You pass a written exam with at least 70% and shoot every gun you want on the license. Each county decides which instructors count. (HRS § 134-9(e)(5))
- Only guns registered to you: The license lists specific guns, and each one has to be registered to you in Hawaiʻi first, which means getting a permit to acquire before you buy it. You can carry only one at a time. (HRS § 134-9(d)(2))
- How long it lasts: A license lasts four years, then you renew it. (HRS § 134-9(m))
Not legal advice. Confirm fees with the agency before you pay.