The City Council of Honolulu convened on March 8, 2025, for a Special Budget Briefing focused on the proposed allocation of funds for various initiatives. A significant topic of discussion was the allocation of $1,000,000 for the development of an online platform for concealed carry applications.

During the meeting, council members expressed concerns regarding the high cost of the proposed software. One member highlighted that the anticipated registration fees from firearms, projected at $80,000 for the upcoming year, would only cover a fraction of the costs associated with the new portal. The discussion revealed that the city expects to register approximately 533 firearms, which translates to about $469 per firearm over a four-year term for registration.

The justification for the $1 million expenditure was linked to a request for proposal (RFP) issued to vendors capable of providing the necessary software. The city’s representative noted that the cost was based on vendor quotes and was influenced by a lawsuit that mandated the establishment of this online platform.

Concerns were raised about the feasibility of developing the portal in-house through the Department of Information Technology (DIT). The representative confirmed that this option had been considered but did not provide further details on the outcome of that evaluation.

The meeting underscored the council's commitment to addressing the legal requirements for firearm registration while grappling with budgetary constraints and the implications of high software costs. Further discussions and decisions regarding the budget and the online platform are expected in future meetings as the council continues to navigate these challenges.