← Back to search

HRS §134-9.7

Penalty for not hiding a gun while carrying it

This law makes it a crime for someone with a concealed carry license to show their gun in a way that scares another person, even for a moment. It is not a crime if it happens in your own home or if you show the gun to defend yourself or someone else. The penalty is a petty misdemeanor.

The statute, as written — Failure to conceal a firearm by a concealed carry licensee; penalty

(a) A person commits the offense of failure to conceal a firearm by a concealed carry licensee if a person is carrying a firearm pursuant to a license issued under section 134-9(a) and intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly causes alarm to another person by failing to conceal the firearm, even briefly, whether the firearm was loaded or not, and whether operable or not. (b) It shall be a defense to any prosecution under this section if the person: (1) Was within the person's private residence; or (2) Caused the firearm to be unconcealed for the purpose of self-defense in accordance with section 703-304 or defense of another person in accordance with section 703-305. (c) Failure to conceal a firearm by a concealed carry licensee shall be a petty misdemeanor.
Read the official text at capitol.hawaii.gov ↗as published Jan 6, 2026our copy taken Aug 20, 2026

Sections this one refers to

§134-9 Licenses to carry firearms

§703-304 When you can use force to protect yourself

LawTrove is not legal advice. The summary above is a computer-generated restatement — the authoritative text is the official version linked above.