Is a Hawaii Non-Resident Permit Valid in South Carolina?

Why

• Hawaii does not issue carry permits to non-residents (applicants must document that they currently live in hawaii (hrs 134-9(a)(5), per hawaii county pd 2025 rules); maui pd requires being 'a resident of the state of hawaii'; hawaii county requires county residency. citizen, us national, or lawful permanent resident required).

S.C. Code 23-31-215(N)(1) honors out-of-state permits only when 'held by a resident of a reciprocal state' whose permitting requires a background check and firearm training; Georgia and North Carolina permits are recognized automatically under (N)(2). Recognition covers handguns only. Largely moot for visitors 18+, who may carry permitless.

Carry rules in South Carolina

Whatever your permit status, South Carolina law governs how you carry inside the state. The rules below matter most on a short trip.

• SLED H.3594 guidance: a CWP holder or permitless carrier 'DOES NOT have a duty to notify a law enforcement officer that they are carrying a firearm', and a CWP holder is not required to carry the CWP or disclose CWP status.
• South Carolina sets no state magazine-capacity limit for handguns.
• South Carolina allows permitless concealed carry from age 18 for people who may legally possess a handgun, including eligible visitors.
• No restrictions on guns inside vehicles — a person not prohibited from possessing a firearm may store it anywhere in a vehicle, openly or concealed (SLED H.3594 guidance).

Off-limits places in South Carolina

South Carolina bans carry in 6 kinds of places. The first on the list:

• Law enforcement, correctional or detention facilities
• Courthouses and courtrooms (publicly owned buildings where court is in session)

See all 6 places you can't carry in South Carolina →

Hawaii vs South Carolina: what changes at the state line

Crossing from Hawaii into South Carolina changes 5 rules: permitless carry (No → Yes (18+)); duty to inform police (Yes → No); magazine limit (10 rounds → None); out-of-state permits honored (None → 2 states); open carry (Restricted → Yes, no permit).

Going the other way, a South Carolina non-resident permit in Hawaii: not recognized.

Driving on from South Carolina

How a Hawaii non-resident permit fares in the states bordering South Carolina:

• Georgia — No such permit issued
• North Carolina — No such permit issued

Check a whole route with the Trip Checker →

Frequently asked questions

Does South Carolina honor a Hawaii resident permit?

Permit not recognized — but permitless carry applies. That differs from the non-resident permit on this page, because South Carolina treats the two permit types differently.

Can a South Carolina non-resident permit holder carry in Hawaii?

Not recognized. Reciprocity is decided by the destination state, so the answer in this direction depends on Hawaii's law, not South Carolina's.

Does Hawaii issue non-resident carry permits?

No. Hawaii issues carry permits to residents only (applicants must document that they currently live in Hawaii (HRS 134-9(a)(5), per Hawaii County PD 2025 rules); Maui PD requires being 'a resident of the state of Hawaii'; Hawaii County requires county residency. Citizen, US national, or lawful permanent resident required). Non-residents who want multi-state coverage usually obtain a non-resident permit from a state that offers one, such as those listed in our non-resident permit guide.