Read the full stored bill text
SB143
THE SENATE
S.B. NO.
143
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 Kahoolawe by nine courageous individuals, known as
the "Kahoolawe nine," in support of Native Hawaiian sovereignty and
self-determination, initiating an islandwide movement to "Stop the
Bombing" and the United States' military use of the island of Kahoolawe.
����
The legislature further finds that Protect
Kaho
ʻ
olawe
ʻ
Ohana
(PKO), a non-profit grassroots organization dedicated to the island of
Kahoolawe and the principles of Aloha Aina, was established in 1976 to protect
the natural and cultural resources across Hawaii.
�
In 1976, the PKO 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 Kahoolawe.
�
On October 22, 1990, President George Bush
ordered the cessation of bombing and target practice on Kahoolawe and in
November 1990, Congress established the Kahoolawe Island Conveyance Commission
to facilitate the return of Kahoolawe to the State, leading the legislature and
then Governor John Waihee III to create the Kahoolawe Island Reserve
Commission.
����
The legislature additionally finds that PKO,
alongside the Kahoolawe 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 the island's natural ecosystem.
�
Due to this diligence, Kahoolawe has become a
profound symbol of Aloha Aina and environmental resilience, representing the
collective effort to heal the island through reforestation, soil conservation,
and cultural renewal.
����
Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to
authorize the issuance of special number plates to recognize and honor the
island of Kahoolawe.
����
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 island of Kahoolawe; authorized.
�
(a)
�
Notwithstanding any law to the
contrary, the director of finance shall issue to any registered owner of a
motor vehicle, who is a resident of the State, and has completed the
application and paid the required fees, a special number plate for the
registered owner's motor vehicle commemorating the island of Kahoolawe.
����
(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 Malamalama o Kanaloa Protect Kahoolawe 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 Kahoolawe;
����
(2)
�
Complies
with all other requirements in section 249‑9(a);
����
(3)
�
Is
similar in shape and size to the uniform state number plate prescribed by law;
and
����
(4)
�
Does
not obstruct the visibility of the number or letters or any other information
that is required by law to be on a number plate and is readily identifiable and
distinguishable under actual traffic conditions.
����
(c)
�
The special number plate design shall not:
����
(1)
�
Infringe upon 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 b
e 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 Malamalama o
Kanaloa Protect Kahoolawe 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 not renew and instead 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 Malamalama o Kanaloa Protect Kahoolawe 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 Malamalama o Kanaloa
Protect Kahoolawe 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 who obtain the special number
plates 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 the purposes of this section, unless a different meaning appears
from the context, "special number plate" means a license plate that
represents the island of Kahoolawe.
"
����
SECTION 3.
�
New statutory material is underscored.
����
SECTION 4.
�
This Act shall take effect upon its approval.
INTRODUCED BY:
_____________________________
Report Title:
Special Number Plates; Kahoolawe; Kohe Malamalama o
Kanaloa Protect Kahoolawe Fund; Motor Vehicles
Description:
Authorizes
the issuance of special number plates to commemorate the island of Kahoolawe.
The summary description
of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is
not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.