HB1385 would create the Hawaii State Flag Redesign Commission within the Department of Accounting and General Services to lead a public process for designing a new state flag. The bill states that the current flag is historically tied to the Hawaiian Kingdom and that a new flag should better reflect Hawaii’s people, culture, history, and contemporary identity while respecting the cultural significance of the existing symbol.
The commission would include the state foundation on culture and the arts, legislators from both chambers, representatives of Native Hawaiian organizations, and cultural historians. It would be tasked with community engagement, public education, forums and workshops, and soliciting design proposals from the public. The commission would then evaluate proposals, adopt a final design for legislative approval, and submit a report and any proposed legislation to the legislature before the 2026 regular session. The commission would expire on December 31, 2026.
Impact
If enacted, the bill would not immediately change Hawaii’s state flag, but it would establish a temporary advisory and design body to develop a replacement flag proposal. It would affect the Department of Accounting and General Services administratively and create a structured process for public input, cultural review, and legislative consideration of a new state symbol. The bill could ultimately lead to future legislation changing the official state flag and would implicate state symbolism, cultural heritage policy, and the use of the Hawaiian Kingdom flag as a state emblem.
Sentiment
The bill text reflects a strongly supportive and reform-oriented tone, emphasizing justice, reconciliation, Native Hawaiian identity, and inclusive public participation. Because there are no committee transcripts or recorded votes provided, there is no direct evidence of opposition or support from lawmakers in the available record. Based on the bill’s findings and purpose, the measure appears intended to appeal to those who favor a broader reexamination of state symbols and a more representative design process.
Contention
The main point of contention is likely to be whether Hawaii should replace its current flag at all, given the bill’s acknowledgment that the existing flag is historically linked to the Hawaiian Kingdom and is viewed by many as a sacred symbol of sovereignty. Supporters are likely to emphasize Native Hawaiian cultural concerns, decolonization, and the need for a more inclusive state symbol, while opponents may object to altering a long-standing and widely recognized emblem or to the political implications of revisiting the flag’s historical meaning. The bill also raises questions about who should have authority over state symbols and how to balance historical preservation with contemporary identity.
Requesting The Office Of Hawaiian Affairs To Establish And Provide Legislative Engagement Forums To Educate And Empower The Native Hawaiian Community Regarding The Legislative Process.