Aloha Everybody  ,

I'm about to undertake a somewhat convoluted move from MI to the Big Island that will be preceded by some travel abroad.
Relatively recently, I purchased my first handgun ever: a Baretta Px4 Storm 40 Cal which I intended to bring with me.
My initial thought was that, once I got to HI, I was just going to put away the original two 14 round magazines that the gun came with and purchase a 10 round mag (or two) to have in my gun while it was located in the State of HI.
I read through a few articles on the net (including HPD's) emphosizing the 10 mag capacity and the most commonly cited requirements, but must've missed the statement about OWNING greater-than -10 round capacity mags (I'm not sure that I would call 14 a "high capacity") being a felony. It may seem logical that that'd be the case, but it didn't appear OBVIOUS to me.
Reading the discussions here, it appears that I can't even KEEP the 14 round mags that the gun came with ORIGINALLY (even if I have them stored and in no proximity of the gun) and I have to get rid of them BEFORE I even step foot in the state?! - am I understanding this right?!   
On a related topic: since I am not flying directly to HI and will be out of the country for a few days (and thus can't take the gun with me in my luggage) how do I SHIP the darn thing from MI to HI? UPS is pushing back, stating that unless I'm a dealer, they don't acccept handguns; USPS as far as I know is the same; I've read that Fed Ex are just as "helpfu"l. Can I just pack it and ship it with the rest of my thngs with the moving company I'm using?
Thanks...

As far as shipping the gun you can ship it to a gun shop who will do a transfer for you when you get here and you just pay the FFL transfer fee.

As far as magazine capacities go... In Hawaii, it is a misdemeanor to possess a "pistol" magazine with a capacity greater than 10 rounds. If you have ammunition in said magazine, it becomes a felony.
I stand corrected, if it is inserted in a pistol then it becomes a felony.
http://www.honolulupd.org/info/gun134-8.htm

I have heard that some people disassemble the standard capacity magazines and store them disassembled thereby circumventing the law but I'm not really sure how legal that is.

Hawaii has some weird firearm laws but its a great place to be.


If you need help locating a FFL, PM me and I'll give you the info you need.

Some gunshops will take your hi-caps and give you 10 rounders, then they usually turn around and sell your hi-caps to police.

Can you not pack your handgun in a hardcase, locked, unloaded, and TSA declared/inspected in your checked luggage(under the plane in the hold)?

If you are the registered owner of the handgun, there should be no need for you to go through an FFL, and have to pay the associated fees.
FFL's transfer firearms from one owner to another.  There is no way you pay to bring your own gun from one state to another.  That's ridiculous.

As for the mags...  Well.... 
There has been discussions here and there, and I guess. Do what you gotta do....

Sorry missed the part that you were not flying in direct.
Others have chimed in.

Double check on the shipping, I was pretty sure the federal regulations allow for shipping to yourself. I shipped handguns in my household goods, and it was legit, because I shipping to myself.  I have a friend who just recently had a handgun sent to him in the mail from a police department (it was stolen, they found it, and returned it).

Disassemble your magazine.  There is nothing against magazine parts.  It's a felony if you take a magazine > 10 rounds and insert it into a pistol.  Simple possession, whether it has ammunition or not, is a misdemeanor offense.

IIRC, you can't ship handguns through USPS but the UPS should let you ship from yourself to yourself as long as you ship next day air. That could get complicated since you said you'll be out of the country for a while. They may or may not hold it at the hub for you to pick up if they can't deliver it. The regulations are here: http://www.ups.com/content/us/en/resources/ship/packaging/guidelines/firearms.html

Oh yeah, make sure that whenever you ship firearms that they are insured. That way they don't walk

You can ship long guns to yourself, but handguns is a big no no.

Since you are going out of the country, I have no real ideas, sorry. Short of flying in with it, the only other option is to ship to ffl, wait 90 days, get your permit (need pistol safety class) then pick it up.

Or have someone visiting drop it off.

Btw, there is no ccw or oc.

Good to have folks coming to the big island though. I leave to go back to Alaska from Hilo thurs.

Dan
(ffl employee)

If you are the registered owner of the handgun, there should be no need for you to go through an FFL, and have to pay the associated fees.
FFL's transfer firearms from one owner to another.  There is no way you pay to bring your own gun from one state to another.  That's ridiculous.

The reason I recommended the FFL is because the OP is going to ship his stuff here a few days before he actually gets here.
For someone to store a handgun for $30 for a few days isn't unreasonable, I don't think...

Can I just pack it and ship it with the rest of my thngs with the moving company I'm using?

Yes, you can ship your gun with your household goods. Thats how most of mine got here, the rest I brought with me on a plane. 

As far as the magazines go. Just disassemble them and ship them with your household goods.

Remember that if you FFL it,  I am pretty sure you will have to take a class that qualifies you for a permit.  Read the regs.

If you ship it with your household goods, all you have to do is go register it.