Is a Hawaii Resident Permit Valid in Colorado?

Why

• Hawaii is not on Colorado's official reciprocity list.

Colorado honors a permit only if the issuing state honors Colorado's CHP, the holder is 21+, is a RESIDENT of the issuing state, and carries a matching driver's license or state ID from that state. Colorado explicitly does not recognize any permit issued to a non-resident of the issuing state - a Colorado resident also cannot carry in-state on another state's non-resident permit (C.R.S. 18-12-213; CBI reciprocity page).

Carry rules in Colorado

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

• No duty to volunteer. Permittee must carry the permit plus valid photo ID whenever carrying and must produce both upon demand by a law enforcement officer; failure is a class 1 petty offense (C.R.S. 18-12-204(2)(a)).
• Colorado limits magazine capacity to 15 rounds — a limit that applies to visitors, and one of the easiest laws to break by accident.
• Colorado is not a permitless-carry state: concealed carry there requires a permit Colorado recognizes.
• A person who may lawfully possess a handgun may carry it, loaded, in a private automobile without any permit for a legal use including self-defense (C.R.S. 18-12-204(3)(a)); this does not extend onto school grounds under 18-12-105.5.

Off-limits places in Colorado

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

• K-12 public school grounds (permittee's handgun may remain in a locked vehicle)
• Public buildings with permanent security screening and guards at each entrance

See all 6 places you can't carry in Colorado →

Hawaii vs Colorado: what changes at the state line

Crossing from Hawaii into Colorado changes 4 rules: duty to inform police (Yes → No); magazine limit (10 rounds → 15 rounds); out-of-state permits honored (None → 34 states); open carry (Restricted → Yes, no permit).

Going the other way, a Colorado resident permit in Hawaii: not recognized.

Driving on from Colorado

How a Hawaii resident permit fares in the states bordering Colorado:

• Kansas — Recognized — and permitless carry applies
• Nebraska — Recognized — and permitless carry applies
• New Mexico — Not recognized
• Oklahoma — Recognized — and permitless carry applies
• Utah — Recognized — and permitless carry applies
• Wyoming — Permit not recognized — but permitless carry applies

Check a whole route with the Trip Checker →

Frequently asked questions

Does Colorado honor a Hawaii non-resident permit?

Hawaii does not issue non-resident carry permits (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), so the question does not arise.

Can a Colorado 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 Colorado's.

Where does Colorado publish its official reciprocity list?

Colorado publishes its recognition policy on an official state page, linked in the sources on this page. That page is the authority — check it shortly before travel, because recognition lists change without much notice.