Hawaii Revised Statutes

Haw. Rev. Stat. § 134-4 (2026)

  Transfer, possession of firearms

✓ current as of July 2026
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     §134-4  Transfer, possession of firearms.  (a)  No transfer of any rifle having a barrel length of sixteen inches or over or any shotgun having a barrel length of eighteen inches or over, whether usable or unusable, serviceable or unserviceable, modern or antique, registered under prior law or by a prior owner, or unregistered shall be made to any person under the age of eighteen years, except as provided by section 134-5.

     (b)  No person shall possess any firearm that is owned by another, regardless of whether the owner has consented to possession of the firearm, without a permit from the chief of police of the appropriate county, except as provided in subsection (c) and section 134-5.

     (c)  Any lawfully acquired rifle or shotgun may be lent to an adult for use within the State for a period not to exceed fifteen days without a permit; provided that where the rifle or shotgun is to be used outside of the State, the loan may be for a period not to exceed seventy-five days.

     (d)  No person shall intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly lend a firearm to any person who is prohibited from ownership, possession, or control of a firearm under section 134-7.

     (e)  After July 1, 1992, no person shall bring or cause to be brought into the State an assault pistol.  No assault pistol may be sold or transferred on or after July 1, 1992, to anyone within the State other than to a dealer licensed under section 134-32 or the chief of police of any county except that any person who obtains title by bequest or intestate succession to an assault pistol registered within the State shall, within ninety days, render the weapon permanently inoperable, sell or transfer the weapon to a licensed dealer or the chief of police of any county, or remove the weapon from the State. [L 1988, c 275, pt of §2; am L 1992, c 286, §2; am L 2023, c 52, §5]

 

Case Notes

 

  Where defendant's conviction and sentence under §708-840 was an included offense under §134-6(a) and defendant's convictions under both §708-840 and subsection (a) violated §701-109(1)(a), defendant’s conviction and sentence under §708-840 reversed.  91 H. 33, 979 P.2d 1059 (1999).

 

 

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 13 cases (3 in the last 5 years), 1985–2025 · leading case: State v. Mendoza, 920 P.2d 357 (Haw. 1996).
State v. Mendoza, 920 P.2d 357 (Haw. 1996). · cites it 15× “[1] Mendoza argues that HRS § 134-4(b) violates his "right to keep and bear arms" under the state and federal constitutions.”
State v. Solomon, 111 P.3d 12 (Haw. 2005). · cites it 2× “Similar to Nunes , the circuit court imposed punishment for uncharged crimes-possibly either transfer and possession of firearms, pursuant to HRS § 134-4 (1993), or the prohibited transfer of firearms, pursuant to HRS § 134-8 (1993).”
State v. Vellina, 106 P.3d 364 (Haw. 2005). · cites it 2× “Similar to Nunes , the circuit court imposed punishment for uncharged crimes— possibly either transfer and possession of firearms, pursuant to HRS § 134-4 (1993), or the prohibited transfer of firearms, pursuant to HRS § 134-8 (1993).”
Birano v. State., 426 P.3d 387 (Haw. 2018). “HRS § 134-8(a) (1993) provides in relevant part as follows: (a) The manufacture, possession, sale, barter, trade, gift, transfer, or acquisition of any of the following is prohibited: assault pistols, except as provided by section 134-4(e); automatic firearms; rifles with barrel…”
State v. Birano, 126 P.3d 357 (Haw. 2006). · cites it 2× “[4] HRS § 134-8 provides in relevant part that: (a) The manufacture, possession, sale, barter, trade, gift, transfer, or acquisition of any of the following is prohibited: assault pistols, except as provided by section 134-4(e); automatic firearms; rifles with barrel lengths…”
State v. Sanchez, 923 P.2d 934 (Haw. App. 1996). “} (a) The manufacture, possession, sale, barter, trade, gift, transfer, or acquisition of any of the following is prohibited: assault pistols, except as provided by section 134-4(e); automatic firearms; rifles with barrel lengths less than sixteen inches; shotguns with barrel…”
State v. Kane, 951 P.2d 934 (Haw. 1998). “, prohibited; penalties, (a) The manufacture, possession, sale, barter, trade, gift, transfer, or acquisition of any of the following is prohibited: assault pistols, except as provided by section 134-4(e); automatic firearms; rifles with barrel lengths less than sixteen inches;…”
State v. Phillips, 696 P.2d 346 (Haw. 1985). “a permit to acquire [the] firearm, in violation of Section 134-4” and *538 with “carry[ing] concealed within [a] vehicle .”
Batalona v. State., 414 P.3d 136 (Haw. 2018). “The manufacture, possession, sale, barter, trade, gift, transfer, or acquisition of any of the following is prohibited: assault pistols, except as provided by section 134-4(e); automatic firearms; rifles with barrel lengths less than sixteen inches; shotguns with barrel lengths…”
State v. Birano, 126 P.3d 370 (Haw. App. 2005). “, prohibited; penalties, (a) The manufacture, possession, sale, barter, trade, gift, transfer, or acquisition of any of the following is prohibited: assault pistols, except as provided by section 134-4(e); automatic firearms; rifles with barrel lengths less than sixteen inches;…”
State v. Slavik., 501 P.3d 312 (Haw. App. 2021). · cites it 7× “14 As Slavik notes, HRS § 134-4 (2011) governs the possession of a firearm that is owned by another.”
State v. Bibbs. (Haw. App. 2025). · cites it 6× “On December 16, 2019, Bibbs was indicted on eight counts related to the events of November 6, as follows: (1) Count 1, Terroristic Threatening in the First Degree, in violation of HRS § 707-716(1)(e); (2) Count 2, Unlawful Possession of Firearm, in violation of HRS § 134-4(b); 4…”
— Haw. Rev. Stat. § 134-4(b) — 3 cases
State v. Mendoza, 920 P.2d 357 (Haw. 1996). “[1] Mendoza argues that HRS § 134-4(b) violates his "right to keep and bear arms" under the state and federal constitutions.”
State v. Bibbs. (Haw. App. 2025). “On December 16, 2019, Bibbs was indicted on eight counts related to the events of November 6, as follows: (1) Count 1, Terroristic Threatening in the First Degree, in violation of HRS § 707-716(1)(e); (2) Count 2, Unlawful Possession of Firearm, in violation of HRS § 134-4(b); 4…”
State v. Slavik., 501 P.3d 312 (Haw. App. 2021). “14 As Slavik notes, HRS § 134-4 (2011) governs the possession of a firearm that is owned by another.”
— Haw. Rev. Stat. § 134-4(c) — 1 case
State v. Mendoza, 920 P.2d 357 (Haw. 1996). “[1] Mendoza argues that HRS § 134-4(b) violates his "right to keep and bear arms" under the state and federal constitutions.”
— Haw. Rev. Stat. § 134-4(e) — 7 cases
Birano v. State., 426 P.3d 387 (Haw. 2018). “HRS § 134-8(a) (1993) provides in relevant part as follows: (a) The manufacture, possession, sale, barter, trade, gift, transfer, or acquisition of any of the following is prohibited: assault pistols, except as provided by section 134-4(e); automatic firearms; rifles with barrel…”
State v. Birano, 126 P.3d 357 (Haw. 2006). “[4] HRS § 134-8 provides in relevant part that: (a) The manufacture, possession, sale, barter, trade, gift, transfer, or acquisition of any of the following is prohibited: assault pistols, except as provided by section 134-4(e); automatic firearms; rifles with barrel lengths…”
State v. Sanchez, 923 P.2d 934 (Haw. App. 1996). “} (a) The manufacture, possession, sale, barter, trade, gift, transfer, or acquisition of any of the following is prohibited: assault pistols, except as provided by section 134-4(e); automatic firearms; rifles with barrel lengths less than sixteen inches; shotguns with barrel…”
State v. Kane, 951 P.2d 934 (Haw. 1998). “, prohibited; penalties, (a) The manufacture, possession, sale, barter, trade, gift, transfer, or acquisition of any of the following is prohibited: assault pistols, except as provided by section 134-4(e); automatic firearms; rifles with barrel lengths less than sixteen inches;…”
Batalona v. State., 414 P.3d 136 (Haw. 2018). “The manufacture, possession, sale, barter, trade, gift, transfer, or acquisition of any of the following is prohibited: assault pistols, except as provided by section 134-4(e); automatic firearms; rifles with barrel lengths less than sixteen inches; shotguns with barrel lengths…”
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