Threats Surge, Hawaii Courts Push To Bring In Hired Guns

Hawaii's court system is asking lawmakers for $3.25 million to bring armed private security officers into courthouses, a stopgap response to a run of threats and security scares across the islands. Judiciary officials are pitching the plan as a temporary way to harden courthouse entrances while state law enforcement wrestles with chronic staffing shortages and a noticeable rise in incidents aimed at judges and court employees.

Judiciary asks lawmakers for private armed guards

Testifying before the Senate Ways and Means Committee, Deputy Administrative Director Brandon Kimura said the Judiciary wants $3.25 million to hire 18 armed private security officers to back up state sheriffs at courthouse entry points. According to Kimura, the additional guards would free sworn deputies for other court duties and help protect judges and staff while vacancies are filled. As reported by Honolulu Civil Beat.

Training and oversight questions

The idea of posting armed private guards at courthouse doors immediately raised red flags about training and weapons oversight. Hawaii News Now has reported that state licensing for private security can involve as little as eight hours of classroom work, that the Board of Private Detectives and Guards does not directly authorize weapons, and that only certain firms can even seek approval from police to arm guards. All of those issues would have to be resolved before any contractor is stationed with a firearm at a courthouse entrance.

Threats, recent scares and courthouse investigations

Officials told lawmakers that the numbers behind their request are hard to ignore. The Department of Law Enforcement opened about 20 investigations into crimes in courthouses last year. Courts recorded roughly 140 threats or inappropriate communications in 2025, up from 69 the year before, and there were five mass shooting threats statewide in that same period. Testimony and court administrators also highlighted several unnerving incidents, including a person bringing a gun to the First Circuit entrance in Honolulu and other scares on neighbor islands, as evidence that obvious security gaps need attention sooner rather than later. Those details were presented in testimony and reporting. As reported by Honolulu Civil Beat.

Staffing and pay squeeze

Department leaders also pointed lawmakers to staffing as a key pressure point. Some divisions within the Department of Law Enforcement are operating with double digit vacancy rates, and sheriff positions assigned to courthouses sit at about 17 percent unfilled. At times, overall vacancies approach roughly one quarter of authorized positions. Officials cited recruitment and compensation hurdles, including entry level pay and proposed bonuses meant to keep courthouse personnel on the job, as reasons the Judiciary is turning to private security while the state tries to rebuild its law enforcement ranks.

National trend adds pressure

Hawaii is not alone in feeling the heat. Courts across the country have reported rising threats against judges and court officials, prompting renewed debates over how much protection is enough and who ultimately foots the bill. Recent reporting has described sharp increases in incidents involving judicial officers and the policy fights that follow over security funding and strategy. The Washington Post has covered the wider trend.

What comes next

The Judiciary's $3.25 million proposal now heads into the Legislature's broader budget talks, where some lawmakers have already signaled they would rather pour money into strengthening state law enforcement recruitment and salaries than into private contracts. The committee process will determine whether the short term plan for armed private guards moves forward while the state works on longer term fixes. For prior legislative funding context for the courts, see the Hawaii State Judiciary.