Kauai County Concealed Carry License
Apply to the Kauaʻi Police Department (Kauaʻi and Niʻihau). Checked against the agency's own site on 2026-10-08.
- New license: $150, collected when your license is issued rather than when you apply. Cashier's check or money order to the Director of Finance, or a credit card with a fee. No cash.
- Renewal: $50
- Local rules: Apply in person at the Firearms window in the main police station in Līhuʻe. Because of a staffing shortage it's open 8 to 2 on Monday and Wednesday, 8 to 3 on Tuesday and Thursday, and 8 to noon on Friday. A shooting test with actual scores, taken within 90 days with the gun you'll carry, from a verified instructor, who also certifies your coursework. Copies of your photo ID and the gun's current registration. The application recommends getting liability insurance before you carry.
- Good to know: Questions go to (808) 241-1663 or kpdfirearms@kauai.gov.
Apply to the Kauaʻi Police Department · Every Hawaii county
Common questions
How much does a concealed carry license cost in Kauai County?
A new concealed carry license in Kauai 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 Kauai County?
Apply to the Kauaʻi Police Department (Kauaʻi and Niʻihau).
What does Kauai County require beyond state law?
Apply in person at the Firearms window in the main police station in Līhuʻe. Because of a staffing shortage it's open 8 to 2 on Monday and Wednesday, 8 to 3 on Tuesday and Thursday, and 8 to noon on Friday. A shooting test with actual scores, taken within 90 days with the gun you'll carry, from a verified instructor, who also certifies your coursework. Copies of your photo ID and the gun's current registration. The application recommends getting liability insurance before you carry.
How long does a concealed carry license take in Kauai County?
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.