Police believe Byran Uesugi, a xerox employee, shot seven fellow copier technicians at about 8 a.m. (2330 GMT) before fleeing in a company van with a gun.

He later stopped several kilometres away in a leafy, residential neighborhood. Police cordoned off the neighborhood and began negotiating with him about two hours later.

Some five hours after shooting began, Uesugi emerged from the van, walked to the back of the vehicle with his hands raised and then fell down on the ground. His brother had helped in the negotiations. Swat teams raced toward him with automatic weapons drawn. No shots were heard and no injuries were reported.

"It appears as though it was a disgruntled employee who snapped," Mayor Jeremy Harris said. Police would not comment on a motive though.

Uesugi, 40, wasbeing booked for investigation of first-degree murder, which carries a mandatory penalty of life without parole.

The gunfire erupted in an industrial section of Honolulu, far from the Waikiki tourist district. Five victims were found dead in a conference room and two other bodies were found nearby. All had been shot with a 9 mm handgun.

Police found 20 9 mm shell casings at the scene. At Uesugi's home, they found 11 handguns, 5 rifles and two shotguns.

The victims - male employees - were shot on the second floor of the two-story building, authorities said.

"It's a shock for all of us. We have such a safe community with almost no violent crime," Harris said. "To have someone snap like this and murder seven people is absolutely appalling."

Uesugi was a member of his high school rifle team and had up to 17 weapons registered in his name. "This could have been much, much worse," Harris said.