On June 25, 2026, the Supreme Court ruled 6-3 to strike down a Hawaii gun law that required gun owners to obtain permission to carry firearms on private property. Justice Samuel Alito authored the majority opinion, which stated that the Second Amendment's protections apply uniformly across the United States and cannot be overridden by local traditions such as the 'spirit of aloha.' Alito noted that Hawaii's arguments for restrictive gun laws were similar to those made in previous cases, asserting that local attitudes cannot alter fundamental rights guaranteed by the Bill of Rights.
The ruling addressed the historical context provided by Hawaii officials, who argued that their gun regulations were rooted in the state's history. The Hawaii Supreme Court had previously upheld these restrictions, citing the 'aloha spirit' as a guiding principle in interpreting the Constitution. In dissent, Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson emphasized that Hawaii's historical regulations on firearms should be considered when evaluating the constitutionality of gun laws. Jackson's dissent was supported by Justice Sonia Sotomayor. The Supreme Court is expected to issue further opinions on additional cases in the coming days.