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By George F. Lee, Star-Bulletin
Honolulu Police employees stand beside a table
displaying firearms collected in a community buy-back
program. People receive $50 Foodland certificates in return.

BuyBack nets
82 firearms

The deadline is extended
to Sunday to meet a goal
of 250 weapons

---

By Rosemarie Bernardo
Star-Bulletin

Forty-four handguns, 33 rifles and five shotguns filled a conference table at the Honolulu Police Department.

But that's not enough for the state Housing and Community Development Corporation of Hawaii, which is overseeing the Oahu Gun BuyBack program.

The program began Sept. 16 and was to have ended Sept. 24. But the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development wants to give residents more time to drop off their firearms by extending the deadline to Sunday.

Lt. Robert Tome of the Records Division said that as of yesterday, police received 82 firearms.

The goal had been to receive at least 250 firearms.

The public is encouraged to turn in their firearms in exchange for a $50 Foodland gift certificate.

Police will check whether each firearm has been registered, stolen or used in a crime.

"It's good that the community is helping us get to get these firearms off the street," Tome said.

Barbara Arashiro, residence services section administrator for the state housing agency, said $25,000 from HUD was used to fund the program. A portion is used for $50 Foodland gift certificates. The rest goes to the Police Department for administrative tasks related to program: staffing, investigation, testing and disposal of firearms.

Honolulu police spokeswoman Michelle Yu said the firearms will be shredded at a metal recycling company.

Sharyn Miyashiro, housing agency executive director, said: "The availability of firearms in the community has been determined to be a risk factor that can lead to delinquency and violence. With the recent publicity concerning guns, we hope to prevent accidental shootings, suicides, domestic violence and other violent crimes involving firearms."

There is a "no questions asked" policy in effect.

The program is part of the federal BuyBack America program of HUD and is sponsored by the state housing agency in cooperation with the Honolulu Police Department and the Honolulu Fire Department.

For more information, call the Housing and Community Development Corporation of Hawaii at 832-5900.

Drop-off locations

All police stations on Oahu will serve as drop-off points and are open 24 hours a day. All guns should be unloaded and in safe condition.

Residents may also turn in firearms on Saturdays and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the following fire stations:

Kalihi: 1742 N. King St.
Kaneohe: 45-910 Kamehameha Highway
Makiki: 1202 Wilder Ave.
Pearl City: 886 First St.
Wahiawa: 640 California Ave.
Waianae: 85-645 Farrington Highway
Wailupe: 5046 Kalanianaole Highway
Waipahu: 94-121 Leonui St.