Just a rhetorical question....
IF a person is / was qualified by the NRA as an instructor, what happens to that status when that person leaves the NRA?
And can Hawaii have our own entity that qualifies instructors that will be able to issue affidavits?
I'm interested to hear everyone's opinion.  Mahalo!

One does not have to be an NRA member to maintain certification as an NRA instructor. The fees go up a little, but otherwise, nothing else changes.

As far as a Hawaii entity...

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.

I would suggest expanding the number of certifying organizations besides the NRA.  For example, I also have a Sig Sauer pistol instructor certification which is at a higher level than the NRA one, but does not qualify in Hawaii.  I'd support allowing other organizations to certify instructors such as the HRA.  However it's a big project to setup and maintain, so I doubt they would want to do it.  One possibility is to have the community colleges offer a course for firearm instructors.

To clarify on the NRA membership, there are two separate things.  One is basic NRA membership that anyone can pay an annual fee and be a member...you get the member card, magazine, hat, pin, and spam mail.  This is not required to be a NRA instructor.  The other is the instructor credentials where you have to take an instructor course and pay credentialing fees every two years to keep your instructor status valid.  This one you have to maintain by paying renewal fees and teaching classes.  If it lapses then you can't teach.