KLS Keeping Law Simple Legislation in plain English

Straight-ahead summaries built from the official bill text. We keep the source links front and center and leave the decision up to you.

Back to Hawaii

HB2045 • 2026

RELATING TO STATE HOLIDAYS.

RELATING TO STATE HOLIDAYS.

Active

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

Sponsor
KAPELA, AMATO, COCHRAN, GRANDINETTI, HARTSFIELD, HASHEM, HOLT, HUSSEY, ICHIYAMA, ILAGAN, IWAMOTO, KAHALOA, KEOHOKAPU-LEE LOY, KILA, KUSCH, LEE, M., MARTEN, MORIKAWA, OLDS, PERRUSO, POEPOE, REYES ODA, SOUZA, TAKENOUCHI, TARNAS, TEMPLO
Last action
2026-02-18
Official status
Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on FIN with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and none excused (0).
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official summary does not provide details on how the change might affect current observances and traditions around Statehood Day.

Designating La Hoihoi Ea as a State Holiday

This bill changes the state holiday calendar in Hawaii by replacing Statehood Day with La Hoihoi Ea, Sovereignty Restoration Day.

What This Bill Does

  • Removes Statehood Day from the list of official state holidays.
  • Adds La Hoihoi Ea as a new state holiday on July 31st each year.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Hawaii residents who observe state holidays.
  • Government agencies and businesses that follow state holiday schedules.

Terms To Know

La Hoihoi Ea
Sovereignty Restoration Day, commemorating the return of Hawaiian sovereignty in 1843.
Statehood Day
A holiday celebrating Hawaii's admission to the United States as a state.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill will take effect on July 1, 2026.
  • It is unclear how this change might affect current observances and traditions around Statehood Day.

Amendments

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

HD1

1

Hawaii published version HD1

Plain English: This amendment changes Statehood Day to La Hoihoi Ea, Sovereignty Restoration Day, as a state holiday in Hawaii.

  • Replaces the third Friday in August (Statehood Day) with July 31st (La Hoihoi Ea) as a new state holiday.
  • The amendment specifies an effective date of July 1, 3000, which seems unusual and may be a placeholder or error.
  • It removes the previous section that designated La Hoihoi Ea but did not make it a state holiday.

Bill History

  1. 2026-02-18 H

    Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on FIN with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and none excused (0).

  2. 2026-02-18 H

    Reported from CAA (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 391-26) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to FIN.

  3. 2026-02-13 H

    The committee on CAA recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 5 Ayes: Representative(s) Kapela, Garrett, Lee, M., Sayama, Reyes Oda; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Kong.

  4. 2026-02-10 H

    Bill scheduled to be heard by CAA on Friday, 02-13-26 9:15AM in House conference room 309 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.

  5. 2026-01-28 H

    Referred to CAA, FIN, referral sheet 3

  6. 2026-01-26 H

    Introduced and Pass First Reading.

  7. 2026-01-23 H

    Pending introduction.

Official Summary Text

RELATING TO STATE HOLIDAYS.
State Holidays; La Hoihoi Ea; Statehood Day
Designates La Hoihoi Ea, Sovereignty Restoration Day, as a state holiday in place of Statehood Day. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
HB2045

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

2045

THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026

STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING
TO STATE HOLIDAYS
.

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

����
SECTION 1.
�
The legislature finds that the national
celebration of La Hoihoi Ea was first established in 1843 under King Kamehameha
III, Kauikeaouli, after a temporary occupation of the Hawaiian Kingdom by unauthorized
representatives of the British Crown.
�
During
this occupation, effective control of the government was seized, and all
Hawaiian flags were lowered and burned by order of British Lord George Paulet.
�
Months later, Queen Victoria of Great Britain
sent Admiral Richard Thomas to Hawaii to remove Paulet and end the occupation
of the Hawaiian Kingdom.

����
In a large ceremony attended by
thousands of Hawaiian citizens, the Union Jack was lowered and the Hawaiian
flag was raised at what is now Thomas Square in Honolulu, symbolizing the
return of effective sovereign control to Hawaii and King Kamehameha III.

����
This historic national event, called
La Hoihoi Ea, or Sovereignty Restoration Day, gave rise to the famous
proclamation by King Kamehameha III:
�
"Ua
mau ke ea o ka aina i ka pono", which is translated on the Thomas Square
monument as "The sovereignty of the kingdom continues because we are
righteous".
�
This celebration became
one of the first national holidays of the Hawaiian Kingdom, along with La
Kuokoa, Hawaiian Independence Day.

����
La Hoihoi Ea continues to serve as a
powerful symbol of Hawaiian self-determination and the enduring significance of
ea � sovereignty, life, and the right to govern one's own land.
�
It remains a deeply meaningful day that
uplifts Hawaiian history, honors resilience, and empowers the Native Hawaiian
people.

����
The purpose of this Act is to designate
La Hoihoi Ea, Sovereignty Restoration Day, as a state holiday in place of
Statehood Day.

����
SECTION
2
.
�
Section 8-1,
Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

����
"
�8-1

�
Holidays designated.
�
The following days of each year are set apart
and established as state holidays:

����
(1)
�
The first day in
January, New Year's Day;

����
(2)
�
The third Monday
in January, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Day;

����
(3)
�
The third Monday
in February, Presidents' Day;

����
(4)
�
The twenty-sixth
day in March, Prince Jonah Kuhio Kalanianaole Day;

����
(5)
�
The Friday
preceding Easter Sunday, Good Friday;

����
(6)
�
The last Monday in
May, Memorial Day;

����
(7)
�
The eleventh day
in June, King Kamehameha I Day;

����
(8)
�
The fourth day in
July, Independence Day;

����
(9)
�
The [
third
Friday in August, Statehood Day;
]
thirty-first day in July, La Hoihoi
Ea;

���
(10)
�
The first Monday
in September, Labor Day;

���
(11)
�
The eleventh day
in November, Veterans' Day;

���
(12)
�
The fourth
Thursday in November, Thanksgiving Day;

���
(13)
�
The twenty-fifth
day in December, Christmas Day;

���
(14)
�
All election days,
except primary and special election days, in the county wherein the election is
held;
and

���
(15)
�
Any day designated
by proclamation by the President of the United States or by the governor as a
holiday."

����
SECTION
3
.
�
Section 8-34,
Hawaii Revised Statutes, is repealed.

����
["
[
�8-34]
�

La Hoihoi Ea.
�
July 31 of each year shall be known and
designated as La Hoihoi Ea to recognize the accomplishments of King Kamehameha
III in restoring the sovereignty of the Kingdom of Hawaii and honor upstanding
members of the Hawaiian community.
�
La
Hoihoi Ea is not and shall not be construed to be a state holiday.
"]

����
SECTION
4.
�
Statutory material to be repealed is
bracketed and stricken.
�
New statutory
material is underscored.

����
SECTION 5.
�
This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

Report Title:

State
Holidays; La Hoihoi Ea; Statehood Day

Description:

Designates
La Hoihoi Ea,
Sovereignty Restoration Day,
as a state holiday in place of Statehood Day.

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