HB2194 • 2026

RELATING TO LEI.

Active

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

Sponsor: KILA, AMATO, CHUN, EVSLIN, GARRETT, GRANDINETTI, ILAGAN, KAHALOA, KEOHOKAPU-LEE LOY, POEPOE, REYES ODA
Last action: 2026-02-20
Official status: Report adopted; referred to the committee(s) on FIN as amended in HD 2 with Representative(s) Alcos, Garcia, Gedeon, Shimizu voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Pierick voting no (1) and Representative(s) Quinlan excused (1).
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official summary does not specify the exact penalties or enforcement mechanisms beyond legal actions, leaving some uncertainty in this area.

Lei Procurement and Labeling Requirements

This bill sets benchmarks for state agencies to buy lei made from local materials and requires labeling on lei sold in Hawaii.

What This Bill Does

Requires each state executive agency to purchase a certain percentage of lei made entirely from natural objects grown, harvested, and assembled in Hawaii by specific dates: 30% by December 31, 2032; 40% by December 31, 2037; and 50% by December 31, 2042.
Prohibits state executive agencies from purchasing any lei containing plant material grown outside of Hawaii starting January 1, 2043.
Establishes labeling requirements for lei sold in Hawaii. Lei labeled as 'Hawaii Grown' must contain at least 90% locally cultivated or harvested materials, and those labeled as 'Hawaii Made' must be crafted within the state.
Requires sellers to provide documentation proving compliance with labeling rules if requested by an administrator.

Who It Names or Affects

State executive agencies that purchase lei.
People who sell or label lei in Hawaii.

Terms To Know

Lei: A garland, wreath, or ornament traditionally worn or presented made from plant materials such as leaves, ferns, flowers, vines, and seeds; natural objects like shells; or manufactured components.
State executive agency: Any department, office, board, or commission of the state, including any administratively attached bodies.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill does not affect rights and duties that matured before its effective date.
It is unclear how enforcement will be carried out beyond legal action for non-compliance.
The bill's effectiveness depends on future legislative approval and implementation by state agencies.

Amendments

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

HD1

Hawaii published version HD1

Plain English: This amendment requires state agencies to purchase a certain percentage of lei made from locally grown materials by specific dates, and sets labeling requirements for lei sold in Hawaii.

State executive agencies must ensure that a specified percentage of lei they buy are made entirely with natural objects and plant materials grown, harvested, and assembled within the state by December 31, 2032, 2037, and 2042.
Lei sold in Hawaii cannot be labeled as 'Hawaii Grown' or similar unless at least 90% of the materials were cultivated or harvested within the state.

The exact percentages for each year are not specified in the amendment text provided.
The effective date mentioned (July 1, 3000) seems incorrect and likely contains an error.

HD2

Hawaii published version HD2

State executive agencies must ensure that a specified percentage of lei they buy are made entirely with natural objects and plant materials grown, harvested, and assembled within the state by December 31, 2032, 2037, and 2042.
Lei sold in Hawaii must be labeled to show if at least 90% of their direct material costs come from locally cultivated or harvested materials. The geographic origin of each plant material used must also be disclosed.

The exact percentages for the state agencies' purchasing requirements are not specified in the amendment text.
The effective date of July 1, 3000, is likely a placeholder and needs to be corrected or clarified.

Bill History

2026-02-20 H
Report adopted; referred to the committee(s) on FIN as amended in HD 2 with Representative(s) Alcos, Garcia, Gedeon, Shimizu voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Pierick voting no (1) and Representative(s) Quinlan excused (1).
2026-02-20 H
Reported from CPC (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 680-26) as amended in HD 2, recommending referral to FIN.
2026-02-18 H
The committee on CPC recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 8 Ayes: Representative(s) Matayoshi, Grandinetti, Chun, Ilagan, Iwamoto, Marten, Tam; Ayes with reservations: Representative(s) Kong; 1 Noes: Representative(s) Pierick; and 2 Excused: Representative(s) Ichiyama, Lowen.
2026-02-13 H
Bill scheduled to be heard by CPC on Wednesday, 02-18-26 2:00PM in House conference room 329 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
2026-02-11 H
Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on CPC with Representative(s) Alcos, Garcia voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Pierick voting no (1) and Representative(s) Holt excused (1).
2026-02-11 H
Reported from AGR (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 172-26) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to CPC.
2026-02-06 H
The committee on AGR recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 6 Ayes: Representative(s) Chun, Kusch, Kahaloa, Perruso, Quinlan, Matsumoto; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Lowen.
2026-02-03 H
Bill scheduled to be heard by AGR on Friday, 02-06-26 9:01AM in House conference room 325 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
2026-01-30 H
Referred to AGR, CPC, FIN, referral sheet 5
2026-01-28 H
Introduced and Pass First Reading.
2026-01-26 H
Pending introduction.

Official Summary Text

RELATING TO LEI.
Procurement; Lei; Benchmarks; Lei Materials; Labeling Requirements; Penalties
Requires and establishes benchmarks for each state executive agency to ensure that a certain percentage of lei purchased by that executive agency consists of lei made entirely of natural objects and plant materials grown, harvested, and assembled in the State. Establishes labeling requirements for lei and lei materials. Requires the disclosure of the geographic origin for the plant materials and natural objects that comprise a lei or lei materials. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

HB2194

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

2194

THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026

STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

relating
to lei
.

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

����
SECTION 1.
�
The legislature finds that the lei is an
important cultural, social, and economic expression of Hawaii and Native
Hawaiian traditions.
�
Lei made using a
wide variety of plant materials, flowers, seeds, shells, and other natural or
cultural components, are worn and shared in ceremonies, celebrations, and daily
life throughout the State.

����
The
legislature further finds that the growing commercialization of lei and lei
materials has led to increased use of imported plant materials and manufactured
components that are marketed using Hawaiian language, imagery, and place names,
which may mislead consumers and undermine local growers, lei makers, and
cultural practitioners.

����
Accordingly,
the purpose of this Act is to:

����
(1)
�
Require
and establish benchmarks for each state executive agency to ensure that a
certain percentage of lei purchased by that executive agency consists of lei
made entirely of natural objects and plant materials grown, harvested, and
assembled in the State; and

����
(2)
�
Establish
labeling requirements for lei and lei materials.

����
SECTION
2.
�
Chapter 103D, Hawaii Revised
Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to part IV to be appropriately
designated and to read as follows:

����
"
�103D-
�
Lei; material grown, harvested, or
assembled outside of the State; purchasing requirements.
�
(a)
�

Each state executive agency shall ensure that the following percentage
of lei purchased is made entirely of natural objects and plant materials,
including but not limited to leaves, ferns, flowers, vines, and seeds, that are
grown, harvested, and assembled in the State:

����
(1)
�
By December 31, 2032, thirty per
cent of lei purchased shall be made entirely of natural objects and plant
materials grown, harvested, and assembled in the State;

����
(2)
�
By December 31, 2037, forty per cent
of lei purchased shall be made entirely of natural objects and plant materials
grown, harvested, and assembled in the State; and

����
(3)
�
By December 31, 2042, fifty per cent
of lei purchased shall be made entirely of natural objects and plant materials
grown, harvested, and assembled in the State.

����
(b)
�
Beginning January 1, 2043, no state executive
agency shall purchase any lei containing plant material grown and harvested
outside of the State.

����
(c)
�
This section shall apply to any purchase of
lei made by a state executive agency, including small purchases made under
section 103D-305.

����
(d)
�
For the purposes of this section, "state
executive agency" means any department, office, board, or commission of
the state, including any administratively attached bodies.
"

����
SECTION
3.
�
Chapter 486, Hawaii Revised Statutes,
is amended by adding a new section to part V to be appropriately designated and
to read as follows:

����
"
�486-
�
Lei; lei materials; labeling requirements;
documentation; penalties.
�
(a)
�
No person shall keep, offer, display or
expose for sale, or solicit for the sale of any lei or lei materials that are
labeled with the term "Hawaii Grown", or any variation of that term,
unless at least ninety per cent of the lei or lei materials were cultivated or
harvested within the State.

����
(b)
�
No person shall keep, offer, display or
expose for sale, or solicit for the sale of, any lei that is labeled with the
term "Hawaii Made" unless the lei was crafted or assembled within the
State.

����
(c)
�
A person who keeps, offers, displays or
exposes for sale, or solicits for the sale of any lei or lei materials labeled
with the terms "Hawaii Grown" or "Hawaii Made", or any
variation of these terms, shall provide documentation demonstrating compliance
with the labeling requirements of this section to the administrator upon
request.

����
(d)
�
A person or the department may bring an
action for injunctive relief against a person who is not in compliance with the
requirements of this section.

����
(e)
�
Any person who violates this section
shall be subject to penalties imposed pursuant to section 486-32.

����
(f)
�
For the purposes of this section,
"lei" means a garland, wreath, or ornament traditionally worn or
presented, made from plant materials, including but not limited to leaves,
ferns, flowers, vines, and seeds; natural objects, including shells; or
manufactured components.
"

����
SECTION 4.
�

This Act does not affect rights and duties that matured, penalties that
were incurred, and proceedings that were begun before its effective date.

����
SECTION
5.
�
New statutory material is
underscored.

����
SECTION
6.
�
This Act shall take effect upon its
approval.

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

Report Title:

Procurement;
Lei; Benchmarks; Lei Materials; Labeling Requirements; Penalties

Description:

Requires and establishes benchmarks for each state
executive agency to ensure that a certain percentage of lei purchased by that
executive agency consists of lei made entirely of natural objects and plant
materials grown, harvested, and assembled in the State.
�
Establishes labeling requirements for lei and
lei materials.

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