DESIGNATING HAWAII AS A PURPLE HEART STATE.

Active

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

Sponsor: KONG
Last action: 2026-03-10
Official status: Referred to PSM/WLA.
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source does not provide details on how the designation will be implemented or celebrated.

Making Hawaii the Purple Heart State

This bill designates Hawaii as a Purple Heart State to honor military members who have received the Purple Heart medal.

What This Bill Does

Designates Hawaii as a state that recognizes and honors Purple Heart recipients.
Adds a new section in Chapter 5 of Hawaii Revised Statutes to make this designation official.

Who It Names or Affects

Military members who have received the Purple Heart medal
The state of Hawaii

Terms To Know

Purple Heart State: A designation given to a state that recognizes and honors military members who have been awarded the Purple Heart.
Purple Heart: A medal awarded to U.S. armed forces members for being wounded or killed in combat, or as a result of terrorism or prisoner-of-war status.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill does not provide specific actions beyond the designation.
It is unclear how this designation will be implemented 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 Hawaii as a Purple Heart State to honor the bravery, service, and sacrifices of its Purple Heart recipients.

Adds a new section in Chapter 5 of Hawaii Revised Statutes to officially designate Hawaii as a Purple Heart State.

The amendment specifies an unusual effective date of July 1, 3000, which seems out of place and may be a typographical error or placeholder.

Bill History

2026-03-10 S
Referred to PSM/WLA.
2026-02-25 S
Passed First Reading.
2026-02-25 S
Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 4).
2026-02-24 H
Passed Third Reading with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and none excused (0). Transmitted to Senate.
2026-02-24 H
Reported from CAA (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 765-26), recommending passage on Third Reading.
2026-02-20 H
The committee on CAA recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes were as follows: 6 Ayes: Representative(s) Kapela, Kong, Garrett, Lee, M., Sayama, Reyes Oda; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and Excused: none.
2026-02-18 H
Bill scheduled to be heard by CAA on Friday, 02-20-26 11:00AM in House conference room 309 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
2026-02-11 H
Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on CAA with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Holt excused (1).
2026-02-11 H
Reported from PBS (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 193-26) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to CAA.
2026-02-04 H
The committee on PBS recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 8 Ayes: Representative(s) Belatti, Iwamoto, Hashem, Morikawa, Poepoe, Woodson, Shimizu, Souza; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Ichiyama.
2026-01-30 H
Bill scheduled to be heard by PBS on Wednesday, 02-04-26 9:00AM in House conference room 411 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
2025-12-08 D
Carried over to 2026 Regular Session.
2025-01-21 H
Referred to PBS, CAA, referral sheet 1
2025-01-16 H
Introduced and Pass First Reading.
2025-01-09 H
Prefiled.

Official Summary Text

DESIGNATING HAWAII AS A PURPLE HEART STATE.
Hawaii; Purple Heart State
Designates Hawaii as a Purple Heart State. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

HB9

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

9

THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2025

STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

Designating
hawaii as a purple heart state
.

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

����
SECTION
1.
�
The legislature finds that Hawaii is
home to multitudes of United States armed forces members and veterans who have
made the choice to protect freedom and the nation.

����
The
legislature further finds that the Purple Heart, originally titled the Badge of
Military Merit, was a purple-colored, heart-shaped badge created by General
George Washington in 1782 and is the oldest military decoration in present use.
�
The medal was intended to recognize, as
General Washington wrote on August 7, 1782, "any singularly meritorious
action"--not only instances of unusual gallantry in battle but also
extraordinary fidelity and essential service in any way.

����
The
legislature also finds that the Purple Heart is currently awarded to members of
the United States armed forces who have been killed, been wounded, or died of
wounds received while engaged in armed combat with an enemy force or as a
result of international terrorism or being held as a prisoner of war.

����
The legislature
additionally finds that Hawaii has a proud history of supporting its active
military and veteran population and deeply appreciates the sacrifices that its
Purple Heart recipients have made in the nation's defense.

����
Furthermore,
the legislature finds that it is appropriate to honor the State's Purple Heart
recipients for their singularly meritorious action in the line of duty and
their service to the people of Hawaii and the nation.

����
Therefore,
the purpose of this Act is to designate Hawaii as a Purple Heart state.

����
SECTION
2.
�
Chapter 5, Hawaii Revised Statutes,
is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read
as follows:

����
"
�5-
�
Purple Heart state; designation.
�
The
State shall be known and designated as a Purple Heart state to recognize and
honor the extraordinary courage, service, and sacrifices made in the line of
duty by Hawaii's Purple Heart recipients.
"

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SECTION 3.
�
New statutory material is underscored.

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

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

Report Title:

Hawaii;
Purple Heart State

Description:

Designates
Hawaii as a Purple Heart State.

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