HB458 • 2026

RELATING TO BROTHER JOSEPH DUTTON DAY.

Active

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

Sponsor: ILAGAN
Last action: 2026-04-17
Official status: Re-Referred to WLA.
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source does not provide specific details on how widely this day will be observed or celebrated in Hawaii, leaving it uncertain.

Brother Joseph Dutton Day

This bill designates April 27 each year as Brother Joseph Dutton Day to honor his work in Kalaupapa, Hawaii.

What This Bill Does

Designates April 27 of every year as Brother Joseph Dutton Day.
Adds a new section to Chapter 8 of Hawaii Revised Statutes for this designation.

Terms To Know

Kalaupapa: A settlement on the island of Molokai where people with leprosy were isolated in the past.
Brother Joseph Dutton Day: An annual day designated to honor Brother Joseph Dutton's work and dedication at Kalaupapa.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill does not create a state holiday, just an observance day.
It is unclear how widely this day will be observed or celebrated in Hawaii.

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 April 27 each year as Brother Joseph Dutton Day to honor his work in Kalaupapa, but it does not make it a state holiday.

Adds a new section to the Hawaii Revised Statutes to establish April 27 of each year as Brother Joseph Dutton Day.

The amendment incorrectly states that this Act will take effect on July 1, 3000, which seems like an error and is not practical for implementation.
It does not provide details on how or if the day should be observed beyond its designation.

HD2

Hawaii published version HD2

Plain English: This amendment designates April 27 each year as Brother Joseph Dutton Day to honor his work in Kalaupapa, but it does not make it a state holiday.

Adds a new section to the Hawaii Revised Statutes to establish April 27 of each year as Brother Joseph Dutton Day.

The amendment incorrectly states that this Act will take effect on July 1, 3000, which seems like an error and is not practical for implementation.
It does not provide details about how the day should be observed or any specific activities to commemorate Brother Joseph Dutton.

SD1

Hawaii published version SD1

Plain English: This amendment designates April 27 each year as Brother Joseph Dutton Day to honor his work in Kalaupapa, but the effective date listed appears incorrect.

Adds a new section to Hawaii Revised Statutes to establish April 27 of each year as Brother Joseph Dutton Day.

The amendment incorrectly lists the Act's effective date as April 2843, which seems like an error and is not explained in the provided text.

Bill History

2026-04-17 S
Re-Referred to WLA.
2025-12-08 D
Carried over to 2026 Regular Session.
2025-04-11 S
Received notice of disagreement (Hse. Com. No. 704).
2025-04-10 H
House disagrees with Senate amendment (s).
2025-04-08 H
Returned from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 642) in amended form (SD 1).
2025-04-08 S
Passed Third Reading, as amended (SD 1). Ayes, 25; Aye(s) with reservations: none. Noes, 0 (none). Excused, 0 (none). Transmitted to House.
2025-04-04 S
48 Hrs. Notice 04-08-25.
2025-04-04 S
Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1).
2025-04-04 S
Reported from TCA (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1731) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and placement on the calendar for Third Reading.
2025-03-13 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.
2025-03-10 S
The committee(s) on TCA has scheduled a public hearing on 03-13-25 3:15PM; Conference Room 224 & Videoconference.
2025-03-06 S
Referred to TCA.
2025-03-06 S
Passed First Reading.
2025-03-06 S
Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 242).
2025-03-04 H
Passed Third Reading as amended in HD 2 with none voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Alcos, Garcia, Muraoka voting no (3) and Representative(s) Pierick, Ward excused (2). Transmitted to Senate.
2025-02-28 H
Forty-eight (48) hours notice Tuesday, 03-04-25.
2025-02-28 H
Reported from JHA (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1089) as amended in HD 2, recommending passage on Third Reading.
2025-02-21 H
The committee on JHA recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 9 Ayes: Representative(s) Tarnas, Poepoe, Belatti, Hashem, Kahaloa, Perruso, Takayama, Shimizu; Ayes with reservations: Representative(s) Garcia; 0 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. 297) 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 2
2025-01-21 H
Introduced and Pass First Reading.
2025-01-17 H
Pending introduction.

Official Summary Text

RELATING TO BROTHER JOSEPH DUTTON DAY.
Brother Joseph Dutton Day; Day of Observance
Designates April 27 of every year as Brother Joseph Dutton Day. Effective 4/27/2843. (SD1)

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

HB458

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

458

THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2025

STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

relating
to brother joseph dutton day
.

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

����
SECTION
1.
�
The legislature finds that Ira Barnes
Dutton was born on April 27, 1843, in Stowe, Vermont, and spent his formative
years in Janesville, Wisconsin.
�
In
September of 1861, during the beginning of the Civil War, Ira Barnes Dutton
enlisted in the Union Army as part of Company B of the thirteenth Wisconsin
infantry.
�
Ira Barnes Dutton was
subsequently discharged in 1866 due to a downsizing of the military after the Civil
War.
�
Following the Civil War, Ira Barnes
Dutton suffered from a failed marriage, alcoholism, probable post-traumatic
stress disorder, and other personal problems, leading him on a journey to seek
atonement through Catholicism.
�
During
this time, Ira Barnes Dutton was baptized and adopted the name of his favorite saint,
Joseph.

����
The
legislature recognizes that, upon learning about the work of Father Damien on
Molokai, Joseph Dutton made his way to Hawaii.
�

Arriving at Kalaupapa in July of 1886, Joseph Dutton assisted Father
Damien, who had been diagnosed with leprosy.
�

Joseph Dutton quickly became an expert in caring for patients while
working alongside Father Damien, who affectionately called Joseph Dutton
"Brother".
�
After Father
Damien's death three years later in 1889, Joseph Dutton managed the Baldwin
Home for Boys for leprosy victims and dedicated the remainder of his life to
the residents of Kalaupapa until becoming ill.
�

Joseph Dutton was then transferred to St. Francis Hospital in Honolulu,
where he passed away on March 26, 1931.

����
The
legislature further finds that in 1929, the Hawaii territorial house of
representatives acknowledged the work of Brother Joseph Dutton and passed House
Resolution No. 7, which read, in part, "this House desires to put on
record its appreciation of the great and inspiring service and influence for
good, for the splendid and effective service he has rendered in their behalf
and for the work done during the past 40 years by Brother Joseph Dutton in the
Settlement of Molokai in his ministration to the afflicted in Kalawao and
Kalaupapa; and that the thanks of the House of representatives be extended to
him in his memorial . . . "

����
Accordingly,
the purpose of this Act is to honor the hard work and dedication of Brother
Joseph Dutton in helping residents of Kalaupapa by establishing April 27 of
each year as Brother Joseph Dutton Day.

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

����
"
�8-

�
Brother Joseph Dutton Day.
�
April 27 of each year

shall be
known and designated as "Brother Joseph Dutton Day".
�
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:

Brother
Joseph Dutton Day

Description:

Designates
April 27 of every year as Brother Joseph Dutton Day.

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