my friend is currently getting a waiver for his HI state hunter's ed card since he has one from NY
lady at the state office told him she thinks it will not be applicable towards pistol permit to acquire
yea or nay?

I say nay but await an answer from someone with first hand knowledge

lgs employee told me the out of state card only gets you a hunting lic in HI
needs to go through the regular application to get a long gun permit
and needs to take a handgun class or HI hunter's ed to obtain a pistol permit

I say nay but await an answer from someone with first hand knowledge

I think it depends on what class & range time he had for the class.

Let's start with the relevant firearms law:

     (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:

<SNIP>

Which redirects us to the laws on hunter education certificates:

    §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  This certification shall be rescinded by judicial action upon the conviction of a wildlife and/or firearms violation.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:

     (1)  Born after December 31, 1971; or

     (2)  Born before January 1, 1972, and has never been issued a hunting license in the State.

     (b)  A person who meets the minimum age requirements adopted pursuant to subsection (c) shall be exempt from the requirements of subsection (a) if the person:

     (1)  Was born before January 1, 1972, and at one time possessed a hunting license issued by the State; provided that the person shows satisfactory proof to the department that the person had possessed the hunting license;

     (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; or

     (3)  Obtains a three-day or a seven-day hunting license pursuant to section 183D-22(b)(3) to hunt on a private and commercial shooting preserve, accompanied by a hunting guide licensed pursuant to section 183D-25.5; provided that:

         (A)  All hunting shall be conducted on a licensed private and commercial shooting preserve and under the direction of a hunting guide who has successfully completed a Hawaii hunter education certification course and meets the requirements of section 183D-25.5;

         (B)  Prior to licensing, a hunter safety class and field training session shall be provided to the licensee that includes hunter safety and hunting equipment use and safe discharge;

         (C)  While hunting under these provisions, a hunting guide shall guide not more than two unaccompanied clients at any time while hunting;

         (D)  All hunting guides and clients shall wear a hunter safety blaze-orange outer garment while hunting;

         (E)  The private and commercial shooting preserve operator, hunting guides, and clients agree to be subject to inspection while engaged in hunting activities by department representatives or authorized law enforcement officers; and

         (F)  The private and commercial shooting preserve owner and operator assume responsibility and liability for public and hunter safety while operating under these provisions and agree to report any injuries to the department.

Upon application and satisfaction of the requirements of paragraph (1), the department shall issue a written exemption that shall be valid for the life of the person.  The department shall develop and maintain a list of approved hunter education courses described in paragraph (2) for reference by the public and license agents.

     (c)  The department, by rules adopted pursuant to chapter 91, shall establish minimum age requirements for issuance of the hunter education certificate, or the exemption therefrom, required to obtain a hunting license pursuant to section 183D-22(a)(3).

     (d)  The department may establish a hunter education officer position to administer the program, outline all phases of instruction, conduct general supervision of individual programs, and distribute information on the program, or may contract the program to a qualified organization.

     (e)  The department may construct, operate, and maintain public outdoor and indoor target ranges for the program.

     (f)  The department shall prepare reports as may be necessary to seek approval under Public Law 91-503 for federal assistance in this program of hunter safety, conservation, and sportsmanship.

Now, note that you are allowed to get a hunting license using an out-of-state hunter's ed card, as indicated in the section in bold.  But you cannot use a license to qualify for a handgun purchase; use must have an approved hunter's ed card.  And the only way to get an approved hunter's ed card is, you guessed it, to take the Hawaii class.

Just in case:

http://dlnr.hawaii.gov/huntered/classes/

All classes filled until NOV 2013.

However, you can go STAND BY for the upcoming classes.

I recommend 3 hours beforehand (at least that is what worked before).

Or pay for handgun course.

any 50 state hunter education card is good enough!

I used my Louisiana hunters ed card to buy a pistol here.  That was some years ago though,  don't know if its changed.