HAWAIʻI’S DEPARTMENT OF LAW ENFORCEMENT RECOVER MORE THAN 300 FIREARMS AT COMMUNITY GUN BUYBACK EVENT

What this means

A factual summary is pending editorial review. The complete official release is reproduced below with issuer attribution and a direct link to the original publication.

Official release

Source material from Hawaii Department of Law Enforcement. The wording below is the issuer’s statement.

STATE OF HAWAIʻI

KA MOKU ʻĀINA O HAWAIʻI

JOSH GREEN, M.D.

GOVERNOR

KE KIAʻĀINA

DEPARTMENT OF LAW ​​ENFORCEMENT

KA ʻOIHANA HOʻOKŌ KĀNĀWAI

MIKE LAMBERT

DIRECTOR

KA LUNA HO‘OKELE

HAWAIʻI’S DEPARTMENT OF LAW ENFORCEMENT RECOVER MORE THAN 300 FIREARMS AT COMMUNITY GUN BUYBACK EVENT

O‘ahu residents on March 26, 2026 turned in 303 firearms of all types in exchange for Foodland gift cards distributed by the Hawai‘i Department of Law Enforcement (DLE).

Of the total firearms turned in,17 are assault rifles, 9 are Ghost Guns and two are stolen guns.

The gun buyback event is a continuation of efforts by the administration of Governor Josh Green to protect Hawai‘i residents from gun violence. The Department of the Attorney General,

Honolulu Police Department (HPD) and the Aloha Stadium Authority partnered in the March 26th event.

“Today was another great step to make our community much safer,” said Governor Green. “Keeping ourselves and each other safe and healthy is a personal choice that also benefits our neighbors, so in addition to thanking our Department of Law Enforcement, Honolulu Police and the Attorney General’s office for their efforts, we also thank the community members who handed in these weapons.”

Unsecured firearms are often stolen from within residences and used to commit other crimes.

“We need to prevent these weapons from getting into the hands of criminals, so we are working to make our community safer in many ways, including initiatives like this gun buyback program,” said Department of Law Enforcement Director Mike Lambert. “These unwanted guns will never again be used. They will never again pose any type of threat to a loved one or have an opportunity to be used in a crime. Every weapon turned in counts.”

One of the leading causes of death in Hawai‘i, is suicide by firearms. Another cause of firearm deaths is when the child discovers an improperly stored firearm and accidentally shoots a friend, sibling, or someone in proximity.

The Gun Buyback event is an amnesty program in which no questions were asked about the person dropping off any firearms. No identification was required.

Since the buyback events began at the end of 2024, more than 2,000 guns have been turned over to DLE.

Individuals who turned in the following firearms were thanked with Foodland gift cards given in exchange:

$200 Foodland gift card for automatic firearms of any type, semi-automatic rifles, ghost guns.

$100 Foodland gift card for handguns, rifles, shotguns, bump stocks, Glock switches

There was no limit on the number of firearms turned in, but individuals were limited to receiving a maximum of three gift cards total. DLE and HPD personnel accepted both working and non-working firearms and offered gun locks for anyone who didn’t wish to turn in a gun but still wanted to make their firearms safe.

Licensed gun dealers, as well as active and retired law enforcement officers, were not eligible to participate.

What happens to the firearms after being turned in?

All firearms serial numbers are checked, and the last-known registered owner is notified via mail.

The firearms are stored in a secure location until disposal.

All firearms turned in are destroyed according to ATF specification.

All firearms intake, storage and destruction are monitored by the DLE Internal Affairs Unit to safeguard against loss or theft.

No firearms are sold or kept for personnel purposes.

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Media contact:

David Patterson

Public Information Officer

Department of Law Enforcement, State of Hawai‘i

Cell: 808-225-4283

Email: [email protected]

Release text attributed to Hawaii Department of Law Enforcement. Consult the official publication for any subsequent corrections or updates.