My mother-in-law was born and raised in PA. Wonderful state, with smart, good-hearted people. With regard to proving ownership of a weapon directly or indirectly coming from PA, it is worthwhile checking this FAQ:
https://www.pafoa.org/law/#:~:text=Owning%20Firearms,6111.4%20(Registration%20of%20firearms).
Thus, the germane question is whether one of more guns were acquired in PA when PICS was in force. Hope the OP saved the paperwork from these transactions. Flapp: do you know if there is reciprocity between HI and PA with regard to safety training? Booking a training session here is not convenient or cheap. The lowest cost course was given by HDF in August for $180. The higher cost courses can be given inside an indoor range, which is good because you do not have to travel to an outdoor range. I would attempt to book such a course asap, if required.
Once you get to the registration part, bring plenty of quarters for parking in the HPD garage. Some meters have broken credit card interfaces. Technically you cannot part in the garage before 7:45 AM, but most people still do, just to get on line early. Don't worry about the vagrants who sleep on the benches, or near the elevator. They appear to be harmless.
Hawaii does accept certain out-of-state safety courses when applying for a pistol permit to acquire.
(g) Effective July 1, 1995, no person shall be issued a permit under this section for the acquisition
of a pistol or revolver unless the person, at any time prior to the issuance of the permit, has completed:
(1) An approved hunter education course as authorized under section 183D-28;
(2) A firearms safety or training course or class available to the general public offered by a law enforcement
agency of the State or of any county;
(3) A firearms safety or training course offered to law enforcement officers, security guards, investigators,
deputy sheriffs, or any division or subdivision of law enforcement or security enforcement by a state or county
law enforcement agency; or
(4) A firearms training or safety course or class conducted by a state certified or National Rifle Association
certified firearms instructor or a certified military firearms instructor that provides, at a minimum, a total of at least
two hours of firing training at a firing range and a total of at least four hours of classroom instruction, which may
include a video, that focuses on:
(A) The safe use, handling, and storage of firearms and firearm safety in the home; and
(B) Education on the firearm laws of the State.
An affidavit signed by the certified firearms instructor who conducted or taught the course, providing the name,
address, and phone number of the instructor and attesting to the successful completion of the course by the applicant
shall constitute evidence of certified successful completion under this paragraph.
https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/hrscurrent/Vol03_Ch0121-0200D/HRS0134/HRS_0134-0002.htm§183D-28 Hunter education program. (a) The department shall establish a hunter education program to provide
instruction in hunter safety, principles of conservation, and sportsmanship. Upon successful completion of the program,
the department shall issue to the graduate a hunter education certificate which shall be valid for the life of the person.
This certification shall be rescinded by judicial action upon the conviction of a wildlife and/or firearms violation. No person
shall be eligible for a hunting license unless the person possesses a valid hunter education certificate or meets the
requirements for exemption provided in subsection (b)(2), and is either:
...
(2) Has successfully completed a course or program of hunter education and safety that is approved by the International
Hunter Education Association and meets the requirements of Chapter 12 of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service
Federal Aid Manual, as revised; provided that the person shows satisfactory proof in the form of a certificate, wallet card,
or other document issued by a state, province, or country evidencing successful completion of the course or program;
...
https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/hrscurrent/Vol03_Ch0121-0200D/HRS0183D/HRS_0183D-0028.htmSo, if you have a military firearms training affidavit that explicitly states the parameters of the course satisfies Hawaii's minimum requirements for training, or possess a Hunter's Education Certificate from any state that meets the Hawaii requirements, you won't have to take another class.
Having said that, if you don't have either of those, and you can't find a class, the online Hawaii Hunter's Education Course is a great option. Take the class and test online for a small fee, and you're all done. The course is free, but you're paying for the online convenience. There's no charge for the in-person class IF you could sign up.
Those are the exceptions to having to take a Hawaii NRA handgun safety class as far as I know. If anyone else knows of another way, hopefully they'll add to this list.
The thing that always intrigues me is, with the inconsistency and volume of state laws, you pretty much need a home-state course if the law says you need to be instructed in "state firearm laws." One major inconsistency is the NRA course requires live fire, whereas the Hunter's Ed course does not. The people making up the rules are not interested in making firearm owners safer. They only want to create hurdles, and in some circumstances (like accepting the Hunter's Ed Certificate for PTA) they abandon all logic and reasoning.