SB 47: RELATING TO STATE HOLIDAYS.

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING TO STATE HOLIDAYS.

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

     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that 2024 marked the two‑hundred thirty-fifth anniversary of the first arrival of Asian immigrant workers in the State.  As of July 1, 2022, approximately 37.1 per cent of the State's population, over five hundred thousand residents, were of Asian descent.

     The legislature recognizes that the Asian community in Hawaii has made significant contributions to the State's social, civic, and economic success, as well as its diverse and vibrant culture, which includes the celebration of the Lunar New Year.  The Lunar New Year is joyously observed by numerous residents in the State and is celebrated by more than two-thirds of Chinese, Korean, Japanese, and Vietnamese Americans across the United States.  The Lunar New Year provides a time to renew one's family ties; reflect upon the past year; and wish for good fortune, health, and prosperity in the year ahead.

     The legislature also finds that the United States House of Representatives introduced resolutions recognizing the cultural and historical significance of the Lunar New Year in 2021 and 2023; California recognized the Lunar New Year as a state holiday in 2022; and New York recognized the Lunar New Year as a public-school holiday in 2023.

     The legislature further finds that, by establishing the Lunar New Year as a state holiday in Hawaii, the State can honor its rich cultural history, demonstrate its commitment to cultural diversity, and extend its best wishes for peace and prosperity to all who celebrate this important occasion.

     Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to:

     (1)  Designate the day of the second new moon after the winter solstice of each year as the Lunar New Year; and

     (2)  Establish the Lunar New Year as a state holiday.

     SECTION 2.  Section 8-1, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

     "§8-1  Holidays designated.  The following days of each year are set apart and established as state holidays:

     The first day in January, New Year's Day;

     The third Monday in January, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Day;

     The day of the second new moon after the winter solstice, Lunar New Year;

     The third Monday in February, Presidents' Day;

     The twenty-sixth day in March, Prince Jonah Kuhio Kalanianaole Day;

     The Friday preceding Easter Sunday, Good Friday;

     The last Monday in May, Memorial Day;

     The eleventh day in June, King Kamehameha I Day;

     The fourth day in July, Independence Day;

     The third Friday in August, Statehood Day;

     The first Monday in September, Labor Day;

     The eleventh day in November, Veterans' Day;

     The fourth Thursday in November, Thanksgiving Day;

     The twenty-fifth day in December, Christmas Day;

     All election days, except primary and special election days, in the county wherein the election is held; and

     Any day designated by proclamation by the President of the United States or by the governor as a holiday."

     SECTION 3.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 4.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2050.

Report Title:

Public Administration; State Holidays; Lunar New Year

Description:

Designates the day of the second new moon after the winter solstice of each year as the Lunar New Year.  Establishes the Lunar New Year as a state holiday.  Effective 7/1/2050.  (SD1)

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

A BILL FOR AN ACT

Relating to State Holidays.

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

     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that 2024 marks the two‑hundred thirty-fifth anniversary of the first arrival of Asian immigrant workers in the State.  As of July 1, 2022, approximately 37.1 per cent of the State's population, over five hundred thousand residents, were of Asian descent.

     The legislature recognizes that the Asian community in Hawaii has made significant contributions to the State's social, civic, and economic success, as well as its diverse and vibrant culture, which includes the celebration of the Lunar New Year.  The Lunar New Year is joyously observed by numerous residents in the State and is celebrated by more than two-thirds of Chinese, Korean, Japanese, and Vietnamese Americans across the United States.  The Lunar New Year provides a time to renew one's family ties; reflect upon the past year; and wish for good fortune, health, and prosperity in the year ahead.

     The legislature also finds that the United States House of Representatives introduced resolutions recognizing the cultural and historical significance of the Lunar New Year in 2021 and 2023; California recognized the Lunar New Year as a state holiday in 2022; and New York recognized the Lunar New Year as a public-school holiday in 2023.

     The legislature further finds that, by establishing the Lunar New Year as a state holiday in Hawaii, the State can honor its rich cultural history, demonstrate its commitment to cultural diversity, and extend its best wishes for peace and prosperity to all who celebrate this important occasion.

     Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to:

     (1)  Designate the day of the second new moon after the winter solstice of each year as the Lunar New Year; and

     (2)  Establish the Lunar New Year as a state holiday.

     SECTION 2.  Section 8-1, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

     "§8-1  Holidays designated.  The following days of each year are set apart and established as state holidays:

     The first day in January, New Year's Day;

     The third Monday in January, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Day;

     The day of the second new moon after the winter solstice, Lunar New Year;

     The third Monday in February, Presidents' Day;

     The twenty-sixth day in March, Prince Jonah Kuhio Kalanianaole Day;

     The Friday preceding Easter Sunday, Good Friday;

     The last Monday in May, Memorial Day;

     The eleventh day in June, King Kamehameha I Day;

     The fourth day in July, Independence Day;

     The third Friday in August, Statehood Day;

     The first Monday in September, Labor Day;

     The eleventh day in November, Veterans' Day;

     The fourth Thursday in November, Thanksgiving Day;

     The twenty-fifth day in December, Christmas Day;

     All election days, except primary and special election days, in the county wherein the election is held; and

     Any day designated by proclamation by the President of the United States or by the governor as a holiday."

     SECTION 3.  New statutory material is underscored.

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

Report Title:

Public Administration; State Holidays; Lunar New Year

Description:

Designates the day of the second new moon after the winter solstice of each year as the Lunar New Year.  Establishes the Lunar New Year as a state holiday.

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

STAND. COM. REP. NO. 384

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 47

       S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committees on Transportation and Culture and the Arts and Labor and Technology, to which was referred S.B. No. 47 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO STATE HOLIDAYS,"

beg leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

     (1)  Designate the day of the second new moon after the winter solstice of each year as the Lunar New Year; and

     (2)  Establish the Lunar New Year as a state holiday.

     Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from five individuals.

     Your Committees received comments on this measure from the Office of Collective Bargaining and Department of Human Resources of the City and County of Honolulu.

     Your Committees find that currently, the Lunar New Year is not officially a state holiday.  Many Asian cultures celebrate the Lunar New Year, and it is an important event for several communities in the State.  This measure will acknowledge the importance of multicultural celebrations in Hawaii by establishing the Lunar New Year as a state holiday.

Accordingly, your Committees have amended this measure by:

     (1)  Inserting an effective date of July 1, 2050, to encourage further discussion; and

     (2)  Making a technical, nonsubstantive amendment for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Transportation and Culture and the Arts and Labor and Technology that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 47, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 47, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Transportation and Culture and the Arts and Labor and Technology,