Senator eyes State lawmakers have found a way to capitalize on Hawaii's reputation as one of the world's most desired honeymoon destinations: Allow legislators to perform marriage ceremonies.
wedding market
Kalani English offers a bill
to give legislators authority
to perform wedding ceremoniesBy Pat Omandam
pomandam@starbulletin.comSen. J. Kalani English (D, East Maui-Molokai) has introduced a bill amending state law so a legislator, a state officer or members of Hawaii's congressional delegation would have licenses to solemnize marriages.
They would join judges, ministers, priests and officers of religious denominations ordained to perform ceremonies.
English said California and New York already grant their legislators this power, so why not the Aloha State? Such a move could also augment legislators' $35,000-a-year salaries; Hawaii legislators' pay is a third of legislators in California, who make $99,000 a year, he said.
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"I put forward the bill because in talking to other legislators across the country, they said, 'We do it and that's part of our job,'" English said yesterday. "Frankly, I've been asked by people to perform marriages."
The marriage proposal, Senate Bill 1079, is one of the more unusual bills among thousands introduced this legislative session. Yesterday was the deadline to submit bills for the 60-day session.
"I think this is really good, but I would also like us to be able to do funerals, bar mitzvahs and maybe a bris (Jewish ritual circumcision) as well," joked Republican state Sen. Sam Slom (Hawaii Kai).
"I guess it shows maybe we don't have enough to do around here. And I'm concerned because it doesn't say if it's a constitutional marriage between a man and a woman or if it's interspecies or anything like that," Slom said.
Sen. Willie Espero (D, Ewa Beach) said he is open to discussion on the idea, but "I've never seen myself as a justice of the peace."
Another measure, Senate Bill 987, would require people who seek elective executive or legislative office to be able to properly pronounce words in the Hawaiian and English languages.
Sen. Suzanne Chun Oakland (D, Kalihi-Liliha) said yesterday she introduced the bill on behalf of the Keiki Caucus, which got the idea from the Hawaii Secondary Student Conference.
Roosevelt High School junior Kelsey Yamasaki, who served as chairwoman of the conference of student leaders last December, said their intent was to reaffirm the state's commitment to the Hawaiian language. Yamasaki, a part-time aide in Chun Oakland's office, said the measure is one of five resolutions that were turned into bills this session.
Another measure would require a Hawaii driver's license to indicate whether the licensee is a convicted sex offender. Espero considers his proposal as child-protection legislation that would give police and others readily available information on convicted sex offenders.
Espero said the idea has been enacted in other states, such as in Delaware, but he is uncertain whether the law remains in place anywhere today.
Senate Bill 1051 would regulate electric personal mobility devices or electric carts used on sidewalks by those, particularly seniors, who cannot stand for long periods of times.
The measure requires the device comply with the state traffic code. It must have reflectors, a headlamp and a top maximum speed of 8 mph. Also, operators must give an audible signal before overtaking and passing any pedestrian.
