HB194 • 2026

RELATING TO MARITIME DAY.

Active

The official status still shows this bill as active or still awaiting another formal step.

Sponsor: SOUZA, PERRUSO, POEPOE
Last action: 2026-02-02
Official status: Re-Referred to WLA.
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide specific details on how the bill affects individuals or entities beyond designating a day of observance.

Establishing Maritime Day

This bill designates May 22 each year as Maritime Day to celebrate Hawaii's maritime history and the industry's contributions to the state.

What This Bill Does

Designates May 22 of every year as Maritime Day.

Terms To Know

Seafaring: Related to sailing or working on the sea.
Harbors: Places where ships can dock and load/unload cargo.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill does not make Maritime Day a state holiday.
It is unclear when this act will officially take effect as it has an unusual effective date of July 1, 3000.

Amendments

These notes stay tied to the official amendment files and metadata from the legislature.

HD1

Hawaii published version HD1

Plain English: This amendment designates May 22 as Maritime Day in Hawaii to celebrate the state's maritime history and contributions.

Adds a new section to Chapter 8 of Hawaii Revised Statutes, declaring May 22 as 'Maritime Day'.
Specifies that Maritime Day is not a state holiday.

The amendment incorrectly states the effective date as July 1, 3000, which seems to be an error or placeholder and should likely be corrected in future versions of the bill.

Bill History

2026-02-02 S
Re-Referred to WLA.
2025-12-08 D
Carried over to 2026 Regular Session.
2025-03-06 S
Referred to TCA.
2025-03-06 S
Passed First Reading.
2025-03-06 S
Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 197).
2025-03-04 H
Passed Third Reading with none voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Garcia voting no (1) and Representative(s) Pierick, Ward excused (2). Transmitted to Senate.
2025-02-28 H
Reported from JHA (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1077), recommending passage on Third Reading.
2025-02-21 H
The committee on JHA recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes were as follows: 9 Ayes: Representative(s) Tarnas, Poepoe, Belatti, Hashem, Kahaloa, Perruso, Takayama, Shimizu; Ayes with reservations: Representative(s) Garcia; Noes: none; and 2 Excused: Representative(s) Cochran, Todd.
2025-02-19 H
Bill scheduled to be heard by JHA on Friday, 02-21-25 2:00PM in House conference room 325 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
2025-02-10 H
Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on JHA with none voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Garcia voting no (1) and Representative(s) Belatti, Cochran, Kila, Ward excused (4).
2025-02-10 H
Reported from CAA (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 296) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to JHA.
2025-02-05 H
The committee on CAA recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 5 Ayes: Representative(s) Kapela, Kong, Garrett, Lee, M., Sayama; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Reyes Oda.
2025-01-30 H
Bill scheduled to be heard by CAA on Wednesday, 02-05-25 10:30AM in House conference room 309 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
2025-01-21 H
Referred to CAA, JHA, referral sheet 1
2025-01-16 H
Introduced and Pass First Reading.
2025-01-14 H
Prefiled.

Official Summary Text

RELATING TO MARITIME DAY.
Maritime Day; Day of Observance
Designates May 22 of each year as Maritime Day. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

HB194

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

194

THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2025

STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

relating
to maritime day
.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

����
SECTION 1.
�
The legislature finds that Hawaii has a rich
seafaring history beginning with the voyaging settlers of the islands.
�
Throughout history, the fair-weather ports of
the islands have welcomed trade, seafaring workers, and travelers.
�
Today the maritime industry plays a vital
role in the State's economy and culture.
�
Maritime operations at the state harbors
provide a majority of all basic necessities including food, clothing,
construction materials, fuel and other essential supplies.

����
The
purpose of this Act is to establish of
each year as Maritime Day to preserve Hawaii's maritime history and celebrate
the contributions of port operations and maritime workers to Hawaii's economy
and culture.

����
SECTION
2.
�
Chapter 8, Hawaii Revised Statutes,
is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read
as follows:

����
"
�8-
�
Maritime Day.
�
To preserve Hawaii's maritime history
and celebrate the importance of the maritime industry to the State's economy
and culture, of each
year shall be known and designated as "Maritime Day"; provided that
this day is not and shall not be construed to be a state holiday.
"

����
SECTION 3.
�
New statutory material is underscored.

����
SECTION 4.
�
This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

Report Title:

Maritime
Day

Description:

Designates of
each year as Maritime Day.

The summary description
of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is
not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.