Maui residents surrender nearly 40 guns, 58 pounds of illegal fireworks in Kahului

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – Maui residents turned in nearly 40 firearms and 58 pounds of illegal fireworks during Saturday’s dual buyback event in Kahului.

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The event was hosted by the Maui Police Department in partnership with the Hawaii Department of Law Enforcement (DLE), as well as the Honolulu Police Department (HPD). Participants received Foodland gift cards in exchange for voluntarily surrendering unwanted firearms and fireworks.

“These unwanted guns and fireworks 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,” said DLE Director Jared Redulla.

Saturday’s buyback event is a continuation of statewide efforts by the administration of Governor Josh Green to protect Hawaii residents from gun violence and potentially deadly fireworks incidents.

Since the buyback events began at the end of 2024, 2,200 guns have been taken off the streets and turned over to DLE.

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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.

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

After receiving the firearms the Maui Police Department said:

HPD’s Specialized Services Division (SSD), its bomb squad, will assess each explosive to make sure it is commercial grade. Any improvised explosives (homemade) will be taken in by SSD for possible destruction. For all commercial-grade explosives, DLE will handle intake and destruction.

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