COURTESY HAWAII DEPARTMENT OF LAW ENFORCEMENT
Hawaii island residents turned in firearms in exchange for Foodland gift cards at a gun buyback event at the Hilo Police Station.
Hawaii island residents turned in 149 firearms during a gun buyback event Saturday at the Hilo Police Station, with authorities collecting eight assault-style rifles and nine privately manufactured “ghost guns” as part of the state’s ongoing effort to reduce gun violence.
The event was hosted by the Hawaii Police Department in partnership with the state Department of Law Enforcement, the state Department of the Attorney General and the Hawaii County Office of the Prosecuting Attorney. Participants voluntarily surrendered unwanted firearms in exchange for Foodland gift cards, with no identification required and no questions asked.
Police Chief Reed K. Mahuna said each firearm collected represents a step toward improving public safety.
“Every firearm voluntarily turned in today represents one less opportunity for a tragedy to occur,” Mahuna said in a news release. “Just yesterday, we remembered Officer Bronson Kaliloa, who made the ultimate sacrifice eight years ago after being shot during a traffic stop. His loss remains a powerful reminder that firearms in the wrong hands can have devastating consequences … every unwanted firearm safely removed from our community helps reduce risk, prevent violence, and makes Hawaii Island a safer place for our residents and our officers.”
The firearms collected included assault-style rifles and ghost guns — firearms that are privately manufactured and typically lack serial numbers, making them difficult for law enforcement to trace.
DLE Director Jared Redulla said the surrendered weapons will be permanently removed from circulation.
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“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,” Redulla said in a news release. “Every weapon turned in counts.”
Saturday’s event continues a statewide gun buyback initiative launched by Gov. Josh Green’s administration at the end of 2024. State officials said the latest collection brings the total number of firearms surrendered through the program to 2,150.
Officials say the buyback program is intended to reduce firearm-related injuries and deaths by providing residents with a safe, anonymous way to dispose of unwanted guns. Authorities noted that unsecured firearms can be stolen and used in crimes, accessed by children or contribute to suicides.
Participants received a $200 Foodland gift card for turning in automatic firearms, semi-automatic rifles, and ghost guns, while handguns, rifles, shotguns, bump stocks, and Glock switches qualified for a $100 gift card. Licensed firearms dealers and active or retired law enforcement officers were not eligible to participate.
According to state officials, every firearm collected undergoes a serial number check, and the last known registered owner is notified by mail. The weapons are then securely stored until they are destroyed in accordance with federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives specifications.
DLE said its Internal Affairs Unit monitors the intake, storage and destruction process to safeguard against loss or theft, and none of the surrendered firearms are sold or retained for law enforcement use.