Tag Archives: State: Hawaii

KITV: “Supporters of same-sex civil unions are optimistic that a new governor who supports their plight means 2011 will be the year a civil union bill becomes law in Hawaii.”

Newsmax (AP): “Hawaii voters have opened the way for same-sex civil unions to become state law next year, with an election that gave victory to a pro-gay rights gubernatorial candidate and rejected many church-backed candidates.”

Democrat Neil Abercrombie has been elected Hawaii’s next governor.”

CNSNews: “A New York City-born man was ordered to return from Hawaii where he was arrested on charges he tried to join the U.S. military at a Times Square recruiting station so he could he could be deployed to Iraq, desert and fight with anti-American insurgency forces.”

KPUA (AP): “[The] two major candidates to succeed Lingle in December, with just more than five weeks before the Nov. 2 general election, are signaling little desire to focus attention on the issue. Still, civil unions may be a campaign subtext, particularly among conservative religious leaders who organized anti-civil unions rallies at the Capitol.”

Honolulu Star-Advertiser: “State Rep. Blake Oshiro, the main author of the civil unions bill that passed the Legislature before being vetoed by Gov. Linda Lingle this year, defeated outgoing City Councilman Gary Okino last night for the state House 33rd District (Halawa-Aiea).”

Star Advertiser: “Gov. Linda Lingle’s appointment of Associate Justice Mark Recktenwald as chief justice sailed through Senate confirmation yesterday, but she won’t get to name his replacement on the five-member Hawaii Supreme Court.”

WSJ: “The ruling earlier this month by San Francisco federal judge Vaughn Walker declaring Proposition 8 unconstitutional might well be overturned by the Ninth Circuit . . . But for now, it seems it’s providing a bit of inspiration to gays and lesbians in Hawaii, who last month sued Hawaii Gov. Linda Lingle after she vetoed legislation approved last year that would have allowed same-sex civil unions. According to this LAT story, backers of the suit hope Judge Walker’s Aug. 4 ruling will become the legal precedent that other courts in the country eventually will follow.”

Honolulu Star Advertiser: “Gov. Linda Lingle appointed Associate Justice Mark E. Recktenwald yesterday to a 10-year term to become the fifth chief justice of the Hawaii Supreme Court.”

Hawaii News Now: “Judge Katherine Leonard’s rejection for Chief Justice by the state Senate may be the catalyst for change at the Hawaii State Bar Association. ‘What’s under consideration now is that the HSBA, the state Bar, will provide some brief explanation of what led to the qualified or unqualified vote,’ HSBA president Hugh Jones said.”

Honolulu Star Advertiser: “Gov. Linda Lingle blasted the state Senate’s rejection of Katherine Leonard as chief justice of the Hawaii Supreme Court yesterday, calling the 14 lawmakers who voted against her nominee hypocritical.”

KHON 2: “Currently state legislators [in Hawaii] have the authority to determine whether same sex couples can tie the knot. ‘I would think now that provision is in jeopardy,’ said [Jon Van Dyke, U.H. Manoa Law Professor].”

Honolulu Star Advertiser: “Gov. Linda Lingle plans a ‘full-court press’ for appeals Judge Katherine Leonard as Hawaii’s next chief justice after hearing yesterday that the state Senate has serious concerns about her leadership and administrative abilities.”

Honolulu Star Advertiser: “The Hawaii State Bar Association’s board of directors’ rating of appeals Judge Katherine Leonard as ‘unqualified’ to be Hawaii’s next chief justice drew strong criticism last night from Gov. Linda Lingle. The association’s board gave Leonard the rating by a secret vote and did not disclose the reasons as part of its confidential policy to help ensure that the lawyers on the board vote freely on appointees.”

Star Advertiser: “A major opponent of a civil unions bill is considering its next move after a lawsuit was filed yesterday challenging the governor’s veto of the controversial legislation. ‘We’re formulating that (plan) right now,’ said Francis Oda, chairman of the Hawaii Family Forum, which was vocal in objecting to House Bill 444 throughout the legislative session.”

“The lawsuit, being filed today in Circuit Court, asks the court to step in where the Legislature did not and reverse the effect of Lingle’s veto.”

LifeSiteNews: “In Hawaii, new battle lines have been drawn in the Democratic primary for governor now that Honolulu Mayor Mufi Hannemann has announced that he would have vetoed the civil unions bill rejected by outgoing Republican governor Linda Lingle. Hannemann’s opponent, former U.S. Rep. Neil Abercrombie, says he supports legislation that would have established civil unions for homosexuals with all the rights and benefits accorded to civil marriage.”

Honolulu Star-Advertiser: “Hannemann said that if he were to be elected governor in November, he would work with state lawmakers on expanding the state’s reciprocal beneficiaries law so gay couples could have additional benefits. But he said he would use his veto power if lawmakers sent him an identical civil unions bill.”

“The American Psychiatric Association strongly supports legislation recently approved by the Hawaii legislature that would have made Hawaii the 11th state, along with the District of Columbia, to recognize same-sex civil marriage, civil unions or domestic partnerships.”

“Hawaii Gov. Linda Lingle vetoed House Bill 444 Tuesday, which would have given all of ‘the same rights, benefits and responsibilities’ of married couples to same-sex couples. Lingle stated that such an important issue impacting all families across the Islands should be decided by voters, not by elected officials or in the courts.”

“The American Civil Liberties Union of Hawaii and Lambda Legal, a New York-based gay-rights group, plan to file a lawsuit in Circuit Court alleging Hawaii has failed to provide equal rights to gays and lesbians short of marriage.”

Star Advertiser (AP): “Gov. Linda Lingle is set to announce her highly awaited decision on a proposal to allow same-sex couples to form civil unions.”

PBS Hawaii: “On June 21, Governor Lingle placed the House Bill 444 on her potential veto list, giving her until July 6 to make her final decision. This week on Insights, a panel representing both sides of the civil unions issue will discuss the possible economic impact, employment benefits, property rights, and concerns of the bill that promotes same-sex marriage. Joining host Dan Boylan are Tambry Young, Lead Advocate for Citizens for Equal Rights; Steven Levinson, retired Associate Justice of the Hawaii Supreme Court; Sandra Young, Family Law Attorney and Board Member of Hawaii Family Forum; and James Hochberg, Attorney.”

Baptist Press: “Supporters of traditional marriage gained a big legal win at the Wisconsin Supreme Court June 30, although both sides in the nationwide struggle over marriage’s definition now are watching Hawaii and California, two states where the next round of political and legal battles will take place. … In Hawaii, Republican Gov. Linda Lingle has until Tuesday, July 6, to make her decision on a bill that would legalize civil unions in the state. She could either sign, veto or let the bill become law without her signature.”

KITV.com: “Lt. Gov. James “Duke” Aiona said on Thursday Gov. Linda Lingle will put the civil unions bill on the veto list Monday when she informs lawmakers about bills she might veto. Aiona said that does not mean the governor will veto the bill . . . ”

“Hawaii Governor Linda Lingle, who is Jewish and is a Republican, has recently met with two rabbis as she is considering whether to sign or veto HB 444 . . . ”

WorldNetDaily: “A college instructor who worked as a senior elections clerk for the city and county of Honolulu in 2008 is making the stunning claim Barack Obama was definitely not born in Hawaii as the White House maintains, and that a long-form, hospital-generated birth certificate for Obama does not even exist in the Aloha State . . . ”

AP: “Republicans cited Rep.-elect Charles Djou’s victory for a seat long out of their reach as evidence of steadily increasing election-year strength, but Democrats said Sunday the winner’s 40-percent vote share portends a short stay in Congress for him and predicts nothing about the fall.”

Honolulu Advertiser: “Gov. Linda Lingle said yesterday that she has not made up her mind on civil unions but described the bill passed by the state Legislature as the equivalent of same-sex marriage.” | For more information on the bill see this ADF Alliance Alert compound tag: http://www.alliancealert.org/tag/state-hawaii+topic-homosexual-agenda/

AP: “Republican Gov. Linda Lingle signed into law Wednesday a bill allowing state government agencies not to respond to follow-up requests for information if they determine that the subsequent request is duplicative or substantially similar to a previous request.”

KITV.com: “A fetus recovered from a restroom at a Honolulu park has been classified as an ‘unattended death’ after police determined the woman who gave birth didn’t know she was pregnant. Detective Ted Coons says no foul play is suspected . . . ”

“Hawaii Gov. Linda Lingle says ‘it’s up in the air’ whether she will veto or allow same-sex civil unions to become law. Lingle said Wednesday she will take her time before she decides.”

GayPolitics.com: “Hawaii State Rep. Blake Oshiro has never before talked to the media about his own sexual orientation, but Friday he broke his silence . . . ”

LifeSiteNews: “However on Thursday, the very last day of the state’s legislative session, Rep. Blake Oshiro moved to revive the Senate bill. Instead of following the rules established for taking up the shelved bill, Speaker Calvin Say had the House take four votes to suspend those rules and pass the bill with just a majority.’

“The bill now goes to Gov. Linda Lingle, . . . a Republican, has not said whether she would sign, veto or allow the bill to become law without her signature . . . ”

Honolulu Advertiser: “Gay rights activists are trying to give state lawmakers political cover by showing that prominent people in the community support civil unions. Activists are circulating a photo booklet of hundreds of people who back civil unions — from former Gov. Ben Cayetano to former Miss Universe Brook Lee — to demonstrate mainstream desire for equal rights.”

Religion Clause Blog: “Yesterday’s Honolulu Advertiser reports that Hawai’i Citizens for Separation of State and Church has filed a complaint with Honolulu City Council contending that since January 2008, 25 out of 27 Council meetings have been opened by Christian prayer or sermonizing.”

USA Today: “The Hawaii Legislature is close to passing a law that would allow the state to ignore repeated requests for to produce the document. ”

HonoluluAdvertiser.com: “The city and state have launched investigations into whether two religious organizations running O’ahu retreat centers are paying appropriate taxes on those operations. Both tax-exempt organizations, the Roman Catholic Church of Hawaii and the Sisters of Sacred Hearts, use the centers for internal purposes, including housing for religious personnel and staff offices . . . ”

AP on MyWay: “As the state continues to receive e-mails seeking Obama’s birth certificate, the state House Judiciary Committee heard a bill Tuesday permitting government officials to ignore people who won’t give up.”

KHON: “A human trafficking bill is back in the Legislature again for the fifth time – with victims and their families wanting forced prostitution defined as a Class A felony with steep mandatory sentencing.”

Washington Times: “Abortion rights advocates have been unable to halt the ‘Choose Life’ license plate variations in nearly two dozen states, so now they’re working to balance the bumper debate.”

The ACLU and Lambda Legal are preparing a lawsuit alleging that the state is violating the equal protection rights of same-sex couples by not passing a civil-unions law.

“Lawmakers in Hawaii have decided not to vote on a bill that would have allowed same-sex civil unions in the state, a move that effectively kills the measure.”

“House Bill 444 cleared the state Senate yesterday on an 18-7 vote. It now goes to the House, which supported the bill last year but is now not promising passage.”

“‘It is my understanding that it will be put on the Order of the Day (agenda) Thursday and put it up for a vote on Friday,’ said Sen. Brian Taniguchi, chairman of the Judiciary Committee.”

LifeSiteNews: “Hawaii legislators reconvene today and are expected to address Bill HB 444, which would allow same-sex couples and unmarried opposite-sex couples to obtain all of the rights and benefits of legally married couples.”

“Thousands of people filled the state Capitol yesterday with prayer and song, a celebration of traditional values laced with an explicit warning to state lawmakers to preserve marriage as between a man and a woman.”

Physician Assisted Suicide: Expanding the Laboratory to the State of Hawaii
Lindsay N. McAneeley, 29 U. Haw. L. Rev. 269 (2009)

“This comment considers the current state of the law with respect to PAS and alternative routes to its legalization in the State of Hawai’i. Part II of this comment provides an overview of the current legal standard regarding PAS, reviewing the seminal federal cases, Oregon’s Death with Dignity Act, and the federal government’s unsuccessful challenges to this Act. Part III summarizes the reported data from Oregon’s Death with Dignity Act, demonstrating the success of the program and the effectiveness of its procedural safeguards. Part IV of this comment discusses why the State of Hawai’i should be the next state to legalize PAS. This part explores the various factors that make Hawai’i a particularly compatible forum for PAS and also reviews the recent efforts that have been made by the Hawai’i legislature to legalize its practice. Part V attempts to explain why these legislative efforts have thus far been unsuccessful, identifying the primary bases of opposition to PAS in Hawai’i. This part also explains why these concerns should not continue to thwart efforts to legalize PAS in Hawai’i. This comment concludes by exploring alternative routes that the citizens of Hawai’i may pursue in their efforts to legalize PAS, including a state constitutional challenge based on Hawai’i's explicit right to privacy, and a public referendum.”

CNSNews: “When asked yesterday whether it is morally right to use tax dollars from pro-life taxpayers to pay for insurance plans that cover abortion, Sen. Daniel Akaka (D-Hawaii) said that it ‘remains to be decided.’”

CNN: “They’re known as ‘alienation of affection’ suits, when an ‘outsider’ interferes in a marriage. The suits are allowed in seven states: Hawaii, Illinois, Mississippi, New Mexico, North Carolina, South Dakota and Utah.”

Associated Press: “Catholic and evangelical Protestant leaders hope to push Hawaii politics rightward, preparing an election-year effort in 2010 to organize their parishioners into voting blocks that can help elect like-minded candidates.”

WorldNetDaily: “Hawaii state Sen. Will Espero, a Democrat, has confirmed plans to introduce legislation through which the state’s lawmakers would force the public disclosure of all President Obama’s birth documents held by the Hawaii Department of Health, including President Obama’s long-form original birth certificate.”

Christie Wilson reports in the Honolulu Advertiser: “The recently passed legislation, House Bill 1379, establishes procedures for obtaining and using “physician orders for life-sustaining treatment,” or POLST, documents that clearly state the patient’s treatment directives in emergencies and other treatment situations.”

HonoluluAdvertiser.com: “Hawaii Family Forum today presented state lawmakers with petitions bearing more than 10,000 signatures of people opposed to same-sex civil unions.”

Abby Ellin writing in The Daily Beast: “Maine this week became the fifth state, and the fourth in New England, to legalize gay marriage, provoking yet another national debate about same-sex unions. The Lessins’ advocacy group, the Maui-based World Polyamory Association, is pushing for the next frontier of less-traditional codified relationships. This community has even come up with a name for what the rest of the world generally would call a committed threesome: the ‘triad.’”

CNSNews: “Hawaii’s state Senate overwhelmingly approved a bill Wednesday to celebrate ‘Islam Day’ over the objections of a few lawmakers who said they didn’t want to honor a religion connected to Sept. 11, 2001.”

Honolulu Advertiser: “Gay rights advocates have suggested a new draft of a civil-unions bill that would give both same-sex and heterosexual couples the option of entering into civil unions.”

The proposed “civil unions” bill, which failed to pass a Hawaii Senate committee Thursday, was a failed attempt to skirt the state’s constitutional amendment protecting marriage, according to attorneys with the Alliance Defense Fund.

AP: “The Hawaii Senate rejected an effort Wednesday to force a vote on same-sex civil unions, essentially killing the measure, even though a majority had indicated it supports the unions.”

Honolulu Advertiser: The state Senate is expected to vote today on whether to revive a civil-unions bill, but the chances the bill will be pulled from committee are doubtful after a leading senator said he would likely oppose the move. State Sen. Brian Taniguchi, D-10th (Manoa, McCully), the chairman of the Senate Judiciary and Government Operations Committee, said he is leaning against recalling the bill from his committee, where it stalled in a 3-3 vote last month.”

Honolulu Star Bulletin:
“Senate Democrats are meeting today to see whether they can resolve the deadlocked position on civil unions for same-sex couples. At issue is House Bill 444, which extends all the rights, privileges and benefits of marriage to same-sex couples, without calling the partnership a marriage.”

AP:  The drive to make Hawaii the fifth state in the country to allow same-sex civil unions is on the verge of failing, despite support from most state lawmakers. Senate leaders had planned a vote before the full Senate as …

. . . New Hampshire’s state motto is ‘Live Free or Die.’ But is New Hampshire the most free place to live in the United States? Apparently it is, according to a new study, Freedom in the 50 States: An Index of Personal and Economic Freedom . . .

“A state Senate committee voted 3-3 early Wednesday on a bill that would allow same-sex civil unions, a split that normally would stall the legislation but in this case was not expected to prevent it from advancing.”

The Civil Union bill (HB 444) has passed through the House of Representatives and will now go before the Senate Judiciary Committee for debate and vote. The bill, for all intents and purposes will place Hawaii one step closer to legalizing same sex marriage in Hawaii.

CNSNews: Hawaii, the state that adopted the nation’s first “defense of marriage” constitutional amendment a decade ago, has now become the latest battleground in the fight for same-sex civil unions . . . The measure was passed by the state …

Baptist Press: “Pennsylvania is the most pro-life state in the country, while California is the least, according to the 2009 rankings by Americans United for Life (AUL). . . . ” AUL press release: Pennsylvania Most Pro-Life State in America, …

Honolulu Advertiser: “Gov. Linda Lingle yesterday nominated Mark Recktenwald, chief judge on the state Intermediate Court of Appeals, to fill a vacancy on the state Supreme Court . . .”

The Hawaii Legislature will not take up a proposal to allow assisted suicides in the state.

History shows us two important things: (1) that civil unions are wholly unacceptable to those who demand them; and (2) that the existence of civil unions has twice led to the imposition of same-sex “marriage” via judicial fiat . . .

Honolulu Advertiser: “The state House Judiciary Committee last night approved a bill allowing same-sex partners to enter into civil unions, sending the bill to the full House in what some activists see as a historic step toward equality.”

Pacific Business News: Civil-union bills have lacked support at the Legislature in recent years, but HB 444 is backed by a majority of the Democrat-controlled House. HB 444’s support in the Democrat-controlled Senate is unclear, while Republican Gov. Linda Lingle …

LifeNews: “With Washington state voters deciding to become the second state to legalize assisted suicide and courts in Montana poised to make it the third, the pro-euthanasia movement is working with legislators in Hawaii and New Hampshire to try to …

The potential swing vote on the committee is state Sen. Robert Bunda, D-22nd (North Shore, Wahiawa), who has opposed same-sex marriage in the past but said he will keep an open mind on civil unions . . .