Is a Hawaii Resident Permit Valid in Connecticut?

Why

• Connecticut does not recognize any out-of-state carry permit.

Connecticut recognizes no out-of-state permit of any kind. CGS 29-35(a) requires a permit 'issued as provided in section 29-28'; out-of-state permit holders must obtain a Connecticut non-resident permit before carrying.

Carry rules in Connecticut

Carry law is state law. From the moment you enter Connecticut, these rules replace the ones you know from Hawaii.

• No duty to volunteer. The holder must carry the permit while carrying and must present it upon request of a law enforcement officer who has reasonable suspicion of a crime (CGS 29-35(b)).
• Connecticut limits magazine capacity to 10 rounds — a limit that applies to visitors, and one of the easiest laws to break by accident.
• Connecticut is not a permitless-carry state: concealed carry there requires a permit Connecticut recognizes.
• A permit holder may carry a loaded handgun in a vehicle. Without a permit, a pistol may only be transported under narrow exceptions and must be unloaded and not readily accessible from the passenger compartment (or in a locked container) (CGS 29-35(a)(3)-(4)).

Off-limits places in Connecticut

Connecticut bans carry in 3 kinds of places. The first on the list:

• K-12 school grounds and school-sponsored activities (CGS 53a-217b, class D felony)
• Any premises where the owner or person in control prohibits firearms (CGS 29-28(e))

See all 3 places you can't carry in Connecticut →

Hawaii vs Connecticut: what changes at the state line

Crossing from Hawaii into Connecticut changes 2 rules: duty to inform police (Yes → No); open carry (Restricted → No).

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

Driving on from Connecticut

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

• Massachusetts — Not recognized
• New York — Not recognized
• Rhode Island — Not recognized

Check a whole route with the Trip Checker →

Frequently asked questions

Does Connecticut 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 Connecticut 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 Connecticut's.

Where does Connecticut publish its official reciprocity list?

Connecticut 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.