HawaiiKalawao joins Maui County after Kalaupapa’s last patient dies
The law sets a delayed date for Kalawao to join Maui County and requires health officials to report on Kalaupapa and include local groups in transfer planning.
What it does
Kalawao becomes part of Maui County one year after the governor confirms the death of the last full- or part-time patient resident of Kalaupapa.
The Department of Health must report each year on patient needs, its work at Kalaupapa, and plans to transfer state duties. Reporting ends after the last patient resident dies or the department no longer controls the settlement, whichever comes first.
When planning a permanent transfer of state duties over Kalaupapa, the Department of Health must include a Kalawao community group and a Molokai group chosen with community input.
The Department of Health must provide needed care and treatment for people with Hansen’s disease, subject to the governor’s approval. The law’s description says services may continue statewide for patients living in the community.
Argument forRequiring Molokai and Kalawao community groups in transfer planning could give local residents a voice in decisions about Kalaupapa’s future.
Argument againstMaking Kalawao part of Maui County could reduce the settlement’s separate local control, even though community groups take part in transfer planning.
More detail
Kalawao becomes part of Maui County. This covers the Molokai area known as Kalaupapa, Kalawao, and Waikolu, also called the Kalaupapa Settlement. This provision takes effect one year after the governor’s proclamation confirms the last patient resident’s passing.
The Department of Health must report to the Legislature each year on conditions and services at Kalaupapa. The reports concern the Department of Health’s work and state resources at the Kalaupapa Settlement. Reports cover patient needs, the department’s management and services, complaints, and progress toward transferring state duties over Kalaupapa. The department must also report on its engagement with Molokai community groups. Reports are due at least twenty days before each regular legislative session and continue until the earlier of the year of the last patient resident’s passing or the end of the department’s control.
The Department of Health must include local community groups in its team planning a permanent transfer of state powers and duties over Kalaupapa. The plan concerns transferring state agencies’ powers and duties over the Kalaupapa Settlement to other governments or qualified nonprofit organizations. The team must include a Kalawao community organization designated under federal law and a community organization from Molokai outside Kalawao County. The department selects the Molokai organization in consultation with the Molokai community. The law does not set a deadline for developing the transfer plan.
The Department of Health must provide needed care and treatment for people with Hansen’s disease, subject to the governor’s approval. The provision covers people with Hansen’s disease and people the department ordered institutionalized for segregation because of the disease. Care must follow accepted medical practices and fit the circumstances. The law’s informational description says the department may continue providing services statewide to patients living in the community. This provision takes effect upon the law’s approval.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed Senate
- Passed House
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Jun 26Act 171, 06/26/2026 (Gov. Msg. No. 1273).Latest
- Jun 26Act 171, on 06/26/2026 (Gov. Msg. No. 1273).Became Law
- May 8Received notice of passage on Final Reading in House (Hse. Com. No. 888).Minor
- May 8Enrolled to Governor.To Governor
- May 6Passed Final Reading, as amended (CD 1). Ayes, 25; Aye(s) with reservations: none . 0 No(es): none. 0 Excused: none.Major
- Vote recorded Passed Final Reading as amended in CD 1. Result: pass.Lower
- May 6Passed Final Reading as amended in CD 1 with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and none excused (0).Major
- May 6Received notice of Final Reading (Sen. Com. No. 816).Minor
- May 1Conference Committee Meeting will reconvene on Friday, 05-01-26 at 5:38PM in Conference Room 329.
- Vote recorded The Conference committee recommends that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. Result: pass.Upper
- Vote recorded The Conference Committee recommends that the measure be Passed, with Amendments. Result: pass.Lower
- May 1The Conference committee recommends that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes of the Senate Conference Managers were as follows: 3 Aye(s): Senator(s) San Buenaventura, Wakai, DeCoite; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Rhoads.Minor
- May 1The Conference Committee recommends that the measure be Passed, with Amendments. The votes were as follows: 3 Ayes: Representative(s) Takayama, Keohokapu-Lee Loy, Garcia; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Hashem.Minor
- May 1Reported from Conference Committee as amended CD 1 (Conf. Com. Rep. No. 225-26).
- May 148 Hrs. Notice (as amended CD 1) 05-06-26.
- May 1Reported from Conference Committee (Conf Com. Rep. No. 225-26) as amended in (CD 1).
- May 1Forty-eight (48) hours notice Wednesday, 05-06-26.
- Apr 30Conference Committee Meeting will reconvene on Friday 05-01-26 4:30PM in conference room 329.
- Apr 29Bill scheduled for Conference Committee Meeting on Thursday, 04-30-26 4:30PM in conference room 329.
- Apr 22Received notice of Senate conferees (Sen. Com. No. 720).Minor
- Apr 21House Conferees Appointed: Takayama, Hashem, Keohokapu-Lee Loy Co-Chairs; Garcia.
- Apr 21Received notice of appointment of House conferees (Hse. Com. No. 800).Minor
- Apr 21Senate Conferees Appointed: San Buenaventura Chair; Wakai, DeCoite, Rhoads Co-Chairs.
- Apr 10Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 497).Minor
- Apr 10Senate disagrees with House amendments.Minor
- Apr 10Received notice of disagreement (Sen. Com. No. 564).Minor
- Apr 9Reported from FIN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 2008-26), recommending passage on Third Reading.
- Vote recorded Passed Third Reading. Result: pass.Lower
- Apr 9Passed Third Reading with Representative(s) Garcia voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Cochran excused (1). Transmitted to Senate.Passed House
- Apr 7The committee on FIN recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes were as follows: 15 Ayes: Representative(s) Todd, Takenouchi, Hartsfield, Hussey, Keohokapu-Lee Loy, Kitagawa, Kusch, Lee, M., Miyake, Perruso, Templo, Yamashita, Alcos, Gedeon, Reyes Oda; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Morikawa.Minor
- Vote recorded The committee on FIN recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. Result: pass.Lower
- Apr 2The committee(s) on FIN recommend(s) that the measure be deferred until 04-07-26.Minor
- Apr 2Bill scheduled for decision making on Tuesday, 04-07-26 10:10AM in conference room 308 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
- Mar 31Bill scheduled to be heard by FIN on Thursday, 04-02-26 2:00PM in House conference room 308 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
- Mar 24Reported from WAL (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1341-26) as amended in HD 2, recommending referral to FIN.
- Vote recorded Report adopted; referred to the committee(s) on FIN as amended in HD 2. Result: pass.Lower
- Mar 24Report adopted; referred to the committee(s) on FIN as amended in HD 2 with Representative(s) Garcia voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Garrett, Quinlan excused (2).Minor
- Mar 19The committee on WAL recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 8 Ayes: Representative(s) Hashem, Morikawa, Ichiyama, Iwamoto, Poepoe, Woodson, Shimizu, Souza; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Belatti.Minor
- Vote recorded The committee on WAL recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. Result: pass.Lower
- Mar 16Bill scheduled to be heard by WAL on Thursday, 03-19-26 9:00AM in House conference room 411 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
- 2025
- Dec 8Carried over to 2026 Regular Session.Minor
- Mar 14Reported from HLT (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1232) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to WAL.
- Vote recorded Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on WAL. Result: pass.Lower
- Mar 14Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on WAL with Representative(s) Garcia, Pierick, Poepoe voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Cochran, Holt, Iwamoto, Ward excused (4).Minor
- Mar 12The committee on HLT recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 8 Ayes: Representative(s) Takayama, Keohokapu-Lee Loy, Chun, Marten, Olds, Takenouchi; Ayes with reservations: Representative(s) Amato, Garcia; Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Alcos.Minor
- Vote recorded The committee on HLT recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. Result: pass.Lower
- Mar 7Bill scheduled to be heard by HLT on Wednesday, 03-12-25 9:00AM in House conference room 329 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
- Mar 6Pass First ReadingMinor
- Mar 6Referred to HLT, WAL, FIN, referral sheet 19Minor
- Mar 4Report adopted; Passed Third Reading, as amended (SD 2). Ayes, 25; Aye(s) with reservations: none . Noes, 0 (none). Excused, 0 (none). Transmitted to House.Passed Senate
- Vote recorded Report adopted; Passed Third Reading, as amended (SD 2). Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 4Received from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 331) in amended form (SD 2).Minor
- Feb 28Reported from WAM/JDC (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1003) with recommendation of passage on Third Reading, as amended (SD 2).
- Feb 2848 Hrs. Notice 03-04-25.
- Feb 26The committee(s) on WAM recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in WAM were as follows: 13 Aye(s): Senator(s) Dela Cruz, Moriwaki, Aquino, DeCoite, Elefante, Hashimoto, Inouye, Kanuha, Kidani, Kim, Lee, C., Wakai, Fevella; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.Minor
- Vote recorded The committee(s) on JDC recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. Result: pass.Upper
- Vote recorded The committee(s) on WAM recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. Result: pass.Upper
- Feb 26The committee(s) on JDC recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in JDC were as follows: 5 Aye(s): Senator(s) Rhoads, Gabbard, Chang, San Buenaventura, Awa; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.Minor
- Feb 21The committee(s) on WAM/JDC will hold a public decision making on 02-26-25 10:05AM; Conference Room 211 & Videoconference.
- Feb 14Reported from HHS/EIG (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 631) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to WAM/JDC.
- Feb 14Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to WAM/JDC.Minor
- Feb 14The committee(s) on WAM/JDC will hold a public decision making on 02-19-25 10:16AM; Conference Room 211 & Videoconference.
- Feb 6The committee(s) on HHS recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in HHS were as follows: 3 Aye(s): Senator(s) San Buenaventura, Hashimoto, Fevella; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 2 Excused: Senator(s) Aquino, Keohokalole.Minor
- Vote recorded The committee(s) on EIG recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. Result: pass.Upper
- Vote recorded The committee(s) on HHS recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. Result: pass.Upper
- Feb 6The committee(s) on EIG recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in EIG were as follows: 4 Aye(s): Senator(s) Wakai, Chang, DeCoite, Fevella; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Richards.Minor
- Jan 31The committee(s) on HHS/EIG has scheduled a public hearing on 02-06-25 3:00PM; Conference Room 016 & Videoconference.
- Jan 27Referred to HHS/EIG, WAM/JDC.Minor
- Jan 23Introduced and passed First Reading.Minor
- Jan 21Pending Introduction.Introduced
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