HB307 • 2026

RELATING TO SPECIAL NUMBER PLATES.

Active

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

Sponsor: POEPOE, CHUN, GRANDINETTI, IWAMOTO, KAHALOA, MARTEN, MIYAKE, MORIKAWA, PERRUSO, TAKAYAMA, TAKENOUCHI, TAM, TARNAS, TODD
Last action: 2025-12-08
Official status: Carried over to 2026 Regular Session.
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The bill does not provide specific details on how the fundraising fee will be determined.

Special Number Plates Honoring Kahoolawe

This bill allows the creation of special number plates to recognize the island of Kahoolawe, with a portion of the fees going to support its restoration efforts.

What This Bill Does

Allows residents to get special number plates that recognize the island of Kahoolawe.
Sets rules for the design and placement of these special plates, ensuring they do not obstruct visibility or violate any laws.
Requires a fundraising fee on top of regular fees, with proceeds going to support the restoration efforts of Kahoolawe through the Kohe Malamalama o Kanaloa Protect Kaho?olawe Fund.

Who It Names or Affects

Residents who want special number plates for their vehicles.
The state and county governments responsible for issuing these plates.
The Kohe Malamalama o Kanaloa Protect Kaho?olawe Fund, which will receive funds from the fundraising fee.

Terms To Know

Kohe Malamalama o Kanaloa Protect Kaho?olawe Fund: A fund dedicated to supporting restoration and conservation efforts on Kahoolawe island.
Special Number Plates: License plates that have a unique design or message, in this case recognizing the cultural significance of Kahoolawe.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill does not specify how much the fundraising fee will be.
It is unclear what happens if fewer than 150 special number plates are issued within three years.
The effective date for this act is set very far in the future (July 1, 3000), which may indicate it needs further review or adjustment.

Amendments

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

HD1

Hawaii published version HD1

Plain English: The amendment allows the issuance of special number plates to recognize the island of Kaho‘olawe, with fees collected going towards a fund for its protection and restoration.

Authorizes the director of finance to issue special number plates commemorating Kaho‘olawe upon application and payment of required fees.
Establishes design requirements for these special plates, ensuring they do not obstruct visibility or violate any laws.
Sets up a fundraising fee that goes into a separate fund dedicated to protecting and restoring Kaho‘olawe.

The amendment does not specify the exact design of the number plate, leaving it to be determined by consultation with relevant authorities.
It is unclear how much revenue will be generated from the special plates or if the fundraising goal will be met within three years.

SD1

Hawaii published version SD1

Plain English: This amendment allows for the creation and issuance of special number plates that commemorate the island of Kahoolawe, with a portion of the fees going to support its restoration efforts.

Adds provisions allowing residents to apply for special number plates commemorating the island of Kahoolawe upon payment of required fees.
Establishes design requirements and restrictions for these special number plates, ensuring they do not violate any laws or rights and are distinguishable under traffic conditions.
Specifies that a fundraising fee will be collected with each issuance and renewal of the special number plate to support the restoration efforts on Kahoolawe.

The exact dimensions for the special number plates are not specified in the provided text, only that they should be similar in shape and size to standard state plates.
Details about how the fundraising fee will be determined and collected are outlined but may require further clarification or context.

Bill History

2025-12-08 D
Carried over to 2026 Regular Session.
2025-03-21 S
Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to WAM.
2025-03-21 S
Reported from TCA (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1333) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to WAM.
2025-03-18 S
The committee(s) on TCA recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in TCA were as follows: 5 Aye(s): Senator(s) Lee, C., Inouye, Elefante, Kanuha, DeCorte; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.
2025-03-14 S
The committee(s) on TCA has scheduled a public hearing on 03-18-25 3:00PM; Conference Room 224 & Videoconference.
2025-03-04 S
Referred to TCA, WAM.
2025-02-28 S
Passed First Reading.
2025-02-28 S
Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 12).
2025-02-27 H
Passed Third Reading with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Cochran, Pierick, Templo, Ward excused (4). Transmitted to Senate.
2025-02-27 H
Reported from FIN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 864), recommending passage on Third Reading.
2025-02-20 H
The committee on FIN recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes were as follows: 14 Ayes: Representative(s) Yamashita, Takenouchi, Grandinetti, Holt, Hussey, Keohokapu-Lee Loy, Kitagawa, Kusch, Lamosao, Lee, M., Miyake, Morikawa, Templo, Reyes Oda; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 2 Excused: Representative(s) Alcos, Ward.
2025-02-18 H
Bill scheduled to be heard by FIN on Thursday, 02-20-25 2:00PM in House conference room 308 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
2025-02-14 H
Report adopted; referred to the committee(s) on FIN with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Cochran, Matayoshi, Poepoe, Ward excused (4).
2025-02-14 H
Reported from JHA (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 722), recommending referral to FIN.
2025-02-06 H
The committee on JHA recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes were as follows: 10 Ayes: Representative(s) Tarnas, Poepoe, Belatti, Cochran, Hashem, Kahaloa, Perruso, Takayama, Todd, Shimizu; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Garcia.
2025-02-03 H
Bill scheduled to be heard by JHA on Thursday, 02-06-25 2:00PM in House conference room 325 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
2025-02-03 H
Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on JHA with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Cochran, Ward excused (2).
2025-02-03 H
Reported from CAA (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 31) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to JHA.
2025-01-29 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.
2025-01-22 H
Bill scheduled to be heard by CAA on Wednesday, 01-29-25 10:30AM in House conference room 309 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
2025-01-21 H
Referred to CAA, JHA, FIN, referral sheet 1
2025-01-17 H
Introduced and Pass First Reading.
2025-01-16 H
Pending introduction.

Official Summary Text

RELATING TO SPECIAL NUMBER PLATES.
Special Number Plates; Kahoolawe; Kohe Malamalama o Kanaloa Protect Kaho?olawe Fund
Authorizes the issuance of special number plates to recognize the island of Kahoolawe. Specifies the decal size for all special number organizational plates. Effective 7/1/3000. (SD1)

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

HB307

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

307

THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2025

STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

relating
to special number plates
.

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

����
SECTION 1.
�
The legislature finds that January 4, 2026, marks
the fiftieth anniversary of the first successful landing on Kaho
ʻ
olawe by nine
courageous individuals, known as the "Kaho
ʻ
olawe
9," in support of Native Hawaiian sovereignty and self-determination,
initiating an island wide movement to "Stop the Bombing" and the United
States' military use of the island of Kaho
ʻ
olawe.

����
The legislature further finds that in
1976, the Protect Kaho
ʻ
olawe

ʻ
Ohana was formed
and took legal action by filing a federal lawsuit against the United States
Navy, citing violations of environmental laws, historic preservation, and
religious freedom, thus highlighting the cultural and ecological significance
of the island.

����
The legislature additionally finds
that on October 22, 1990, President George Bush ordered the cessation of
bombing and target practice on Kaho
ʻ
olawe,
and in November 1990, the United States Congress established the Kaho
ʻ
olawe island
conveyance commission to facilitate the return of Kaho
ʻ
olawe to the State, leading the state legislature
and Governor John Waihee III to create the Kaho
ʻ
olawe
island reserve under chapter 6K, Hawaii Revised Statutes.

����
The legislature recognizes that Kaho
ʻ
olawe, long scarred by
ranching and military activities, has become a profound symbol of aloha
ʻ
ā
ina, or love of the
land, and environmental resilience, representing the collective effort to heal
the island through reforestation, soil conservation, and cultural renewal.

����
The legislature notes that the
Protect Kaho
ʻ
olawe

ʻ
Ohana, alongside
the Kaho
ʻ
olawe island
reserve commission and the department of land and natural resources, have
undertaken the stewardship of the island, restoring vital cultural practices
such as the Makahiki ceremony, which embodies the relationship between the
Hawaiian people and the land, as well as ongoing conservation efforts to
restore Kaho
ʻ
olawe's
natural ecosystem.

����
The legislature believes that the
efforts over the past fifty years to restore and steward Kaho
ʻ
olawe exemplify the
practice of aloha
ʻ
ā
ina and the resilience
of the Hawaiian community to protect and care for their land.
�
The legislature further believes that the many
individuals who have engaged in stewardship of Kaho
ʻ
olawe have been inspired to provide
stewardship of
ʻ
āina
on their home islands.

����
The purpose of this Act is to
authorize the issuance of special number plates to recognize the island of Kaho
ʻ
olawe.

����
SECTION 2.
�
Chapter 249, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is
amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as
follows:

����
"
�249-
�
Special
number plates for the recognition of the island of Kaho
ʻ
olawe
authorized.
�
(a)
�

Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, the director of finance shall
issue to any registered owner of a vehicle, who is a resident of the State,
upon completed application and payment of required fees, a special number plate
for the registered owner's vehicle commemorating the island of Kaho
ʻ
olawe.

����
(b)
�

The director of finance of the city and county of Honolulu, in
consultation with the directors of finance of the counties of Kauai, Maui, and
Hawaii, the chiefs of police of the city and county of Honolulu, and the
counties of Kauai, Maui, and Hawaii, and the board of directors of the Kohe
Mālamalama o Kanaloa Protect Kaho
ʻ
olawe Fund, shall establish a special number
plate design that:

����
(1)
�
Contains words,
images, or both, that indicate the special number plate is issued to recognize
the island of Kaho
ʻ
olawe;

����
(2)
�
Is similar in
shape and size to the uniform state number plate prescribed by law; and

����
(3)
�
Does not
obstruct the visibility of the number or letters of any other information that
is required by law to be on a number plate and are readily identifiable and
distinguishable under actual traffic conditions.

����
(c)
�
The special number plate design shall not:

����
(1)
�
Infringe or
otherwise violate any trademark, trade name, service mark, copyright, or other
proprietary or property right;

����
(2)
�
Represent any
obscene or degrading image, idea, word, or phrase;

����
(3)
�
Advertise or
endorse a product, brand, or service that is provided for sale;

����
(4)
�
Promote any
religious belief; or

����
(5)
�
Promote any philosophy
based on prejudice or that is contrary to state civil rights laws.

����
(d)
�
Each special number plate shall be securely
fastened to the motor vehicle in lieu of the uniform state number plate.

����
(e)
�
The director of finance shall charge a
special number plate fee at least equal to the county's cost of providing the
special number plate and administrative costs, if any, plus a fundraising fee
to be determined by the director of finance in consultation with the board of
directors of the Kohe Mālamalama o Kanaloa Protect Kaho
ʻ
olawe Fund.
�
The fundraising fee shall be in addition to
any other state or county fees collected for a motor vehicle registration or
license plate.

����
(f)
�
The director of finance may charge an
additional fundraising fee of the same or a different amount as the fundraising
fee established pursuant to subsection (e), for the renewal of a special number
plate.
�
If an additional fundraising fee
is implemented pursuant to this subsection, the director of finance shall
revoke the special number plate of the registered owner of a motor vehicle who
fails to pay the additional fundraising fee imposed by this subsection.

����
(g)
�
The revenue generated by the fundraising
fees, or a portion of the revenue generated by the fundraising fees as
determined by the director of finance, shall be deposited in the name of the
Kohe Mālamalama o Kanaloa Protect Kaho
ʻ
olawe Fund in a separate county budget
account.
�
The director of finance shall
determine the most efficient means of directing the revenue generated by the
fundraising fees to the Kohe Mālamalama o Kanaloa Protect Kaho
ʻ
olawe Fund.

����
(h)
�
The director of finance may revoke all
special number plates issued pursuant to this section if the total number of
registered owners of motor vehicles that obtain the special number plate is
less than one hundred fifty within three years of issuance of the first special
number plate.

����
(i)
�
Nothing in this section shall be construed to
apply to any plates issued pursuant to section 249-9.2.

����
(j)
�
For purposes of this section, unless a
different meaning appears from the context, "special number plate"
means a license plate that represents the island of Kaho
ʻ
olawe.
"

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

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

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

Report Title:

Special
Number Plates; Kaho
ʻ
olawe; Kohe Mālamalama o
Kanaloa Protect Kaho
ʻ
olawe Fund

Description:

Authorizes
the issuance of special number plates to recognize the island of Kaho
ʻ
olawe.

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