The Winners and Losers of CPAC’s 2023 State Ratings: Hawaii

Hawaii earned itself the distinguished and exclusive title of “Least Conservative State” in CPAC’s 2023 state ratings. This is the second year in a row the Aloha State has made such a name for itself. So what exactly did Hawaii legislators do to warrant such a designation? 

Hawaii lawmakers expanded radical gender ideology, abortion, and environmentalist provisions to extreme levels all with the lowest number of Republican legislators in the country.

The overwhelmingly blue legislature passed at least three bills that solidify radical gender delusions as official state law. HB 485 now allows transgender individuals the ability to change gendered language on their marriage records to reflect their new identity. SB 109 replaces the words “father” and “mother” with “non-birthing parent” and “birthing parent” in public laws. SB 944 takes a step toward eradicating the nuclear family altogether by authorizing a task force to remove traditional family and gender roles from current parentage laws. 

Lawmakers in Hawaii coupled the destruction of the family with the destruction of life. SB 1 made Hawaii a sanctuary state for abortion and replaced the word “female” with “pregnant people” in abortion laws. SB 1167 proposed going further to declare abortion a right in state law, but the bill was not passed into law. 

Extreme environmentalist provisions really took the cake with at least six bills that advanced a radical climate agenda at the expense of consumer freedom, industry, quality of life, and taxpayers’ money. HB 192 regulates the products available for consumers to purchase by banning the sale of flourescent lamps. SB 54 levied a statewide ban on the use of gas-powered leaf blowers. SB 691 gives the Chief Energy Officer the authority to set efficiency standards for items like ventilator fans and air purifiers. SB 1024 requires the state to establish a zero-emissions ground transportation system. HB 608 proposed to again interfere with consumer freedom and industry by subsidizing organic foods but the bill was not passed into law. Lastly, HB 1415 abuses taxpayers’ money by funneling it build EV charging stations.  

Hawaii launched assaults on other freedoms as well. Hb 426 allows lawsuits against firearm manufacturers for failure to implement “reasonable controls” in their products, and SB 1230 expands gun-free zones to universities, public parks, courthouses, and more. SB 19 is a blow to election integrity and allows the ballots of deceased individuals to be counted in Hawaii elections.

See more of the crazed legislation from Hawaii in 2023 on CPAC's scorecard at CPAC.org.