I've been on island for just over a year and wanted to expand my knowledge base. I have several friends who are commercial reloaders, primarily focused on standard military rounds since brass is easy to find where they reside. 9mm, 45 ACP, 223, or 308 they can produce between 3k-4k in a day. I'm looking into the setup cost out here (yeah, we all know it will be high...!) but I think it would be value added to have a commercial reloading facility on Oahu. Emphasis from the beginning would be on the afore mentioned calibers, with the hopes of branching out if business went well. My intent would be to hold all the applicable licenses, exceed ammo production standards, and try to provide a ready supply of ammunition to Hawaii shooting sports enthusiasts. Our target group, and the only business we would be focused on, are those people residing in the Hawaiian islands. An ammo production company just for Hawaii. I'm trying to gauge the interest, feasibility, and acquire any knowledge you thnk would be important in this endeavor. Any and all feedback is very welcome!

Get lots of insurance/ coverage

We have looked into it and the cost of rent and the outrageous insurance doesn't make
The bottom line.  Not to mention all the state regulations and having to deal with inspections from hfd
All the time.  Also you can only ship 100 lbs of powder per pallet with an added $300 hazmat fee per
Pallet will kill the profit.  Cheaper to just bring it in.

Forgot to mention the liability insurance. 

Honolulu City Arsenal Ammunition plant

Unfortunately even my youthful exuberance will not likely succeed if I undertook this endeavor.
Rent: Incredibly high, as you wouldn't want to own for liability purposes
Local/state fire codes: Continuous inspections, well meaning but nonetheless a pain
Type 06/07 FFL: only $30/year, but bring the focus of HPD and BATFE square on you as the lone production
Components: Brass would be relatively easy, but the hazmat fees as you point out for shipping powder to the island are a no go
Sipping within the islands: No capability by air, so it has to go by boat. There is no hazmat fee for loaded ammunition, but this would slow down delivery by several days vice getting it there promptly.
Insurance: I won't even justify this with a number, but even after theoretically selling ALL of my body parts on the black market it wouldn't make a dent

Really sad, as a production company out here could go a long way to increasing the availability of ammo for the shootong community.

Thanks to everyone who contributed!

Unfortunately even my youthful exuberance will not likely succeed if I undertook this endeavor.
Rent: Incredibly high, as you wouldn't want to own for liability purposes
Local/state fire codes: Continuous inspections, well meaning but nonetheless a pain
Type 06/07 FFL: only $30/year, but bring the focus of HPD and BATFE square on you as the lone production
Components: Brass would be relatively easy, but the hazmat fees as you point out for shipping powder to the island are a no go
Sipping within the islands: No capability by air, so it has to go by boat. There is no hazmat fee for loaded ammunition, but this would slow down delivery by several days vice getting it there promptly.
Insurance: I won't even justify this with a number, but even after theoretically selling ALL of my body parts on the black market it wouldn't make a dent

Really sad, as a production company out here could go a long way to increasing the availability of ammo for the shootong community.

Thanks to everyone who contributed!

Might be lucrative if you could supply the local military. I can only imagine the expense with shipping from mainland.

Might be lucrative if you could supply the local military. I can only imagine the expense with shipping from mainland.

Sounds like a great idea to increase downsizing of our ranks. Especially since it is against regulations to use reloaded ammo in government weapons. There are contracted companies that are making millions off the government that would not hesitate to point that out.

The only local military that could take advantage of  commercially reloaded ammo is the Defend Hawaii Ohana

Sounds like a great idea to increase downsizing of our ranks. Especially since it is against regulations to use reloaded ammo in government weapons. There are contracted companies that are making millions off the government that would not hesitate to point that out.

The only local military that could take advantage of  commercially reloaded ammo is the Defend Hawaii Ohana

OK. Nevermind. I think that the OP's targeted customers are too small a market to justify the expenses. The customer base needs to support the expenses which I don't see within the commercial side.

Our insurance agent said our insurance would go from $3000 a year to 30k!

Dat is nutz!

Sounds like a great idea to increase downsizing of our ranks. Especially since it is against regulations to use reloaded ammo in government weapons. There are contracted companies that are making millions off the government that would not hesitate to point that out.

The only local military that could take advantage of  commercially reloaded ammo is the Defend Hawaii Ohana

This is what bugs me of Defense spending.