Relating To Special Number Plates.
SB143 authorizes the director of finance to issue a special motor vehicle license plate commemorating the island of Kahoolawe to any Hawaii resident who applies and pays the required fees. The bill frames the plate as a recognition of Kahoolawe’s cultural, historical, and environmental significance, citing the 50th anniversary of the first landing by the “Kahoolawe nine,” the work of Protect Kahoʻolawe ʻOhana, and the island’s restoration and stewardship efforts.
The measure directs county and law enforcement finance officials, in consultation with the Kohe Malamalama o Kanaloa Protect Kahoolawe Fund, to design the plate so it clearly identifies Kahoolawe while meeting existing plate standards and avoiding prohibited content. It also establishes a fee structure that includes the county’s cost of production and administration plus a fundraising fee, with revenue deposited into a separate county budget account for the named fund. The bill allows an additional renewal fundraising fee and authorizes revocation if renewal fees are not paid, and it includes a minimum participation threshold of 150 plates within three years or the plates may be revoked.
In terms of state law, SB143 would add a new section to chapter 249, Hawaii Revised Statutes, expanding the state’s special license plate program to include a Kahoolawe-themed plate. It would create new administrative duties for the director of finance, establish rules for design approval and fee collection, and create a dedicated revenue stream for the Kohe Malamalama o Kanaloa Protect Kahoolawe Fund. The bill would affect vehicle owners who choose the plate, county finance offices that administer it, and the fund that receives the proceeds.
The overall sentiment reflected in the bill text is strongly supportive and commemorative, with the measure presented as a tribute to Native Hawaiian sovereignty, Aloha ʻĀina, and the restoration of Kahoolawe. No committee transcripts or recorded votes were provided, so there is no documented opposition or debate in the available materials. The bill’s tone suggests broad symbolic support, but the absence of discussion records means any controversy is not captured in the provided context.
Potential points of contention, based on the bill’s structure, include the added cost to motorists, the use of a fundraising fee tied to plate issuance and renewal, and the requirement that the plate reach a minimum number of participants before continuing. Administrative coordination among county finance offices, police departments, and the private fund could also raise implementation questions. However, no specific objections or opposing viewpoints are included in the available record.
SB143 would amend chapter 249, Hawaii Revised Statutes, by creating a new special license plate category for Kahoolawe and authorizing counties to administer its design, issuance, renewal, and fee collection. It would establish a dedicated funding mechanism for the Kohe Malamalama o Kanaloa Protect Kahoolawe Fund through plate-related fundraising fees, while also allowing the director of finance to revoke the program if participation is too low. The bill primarily affects motor vehicle registration administration, county finance operations, and purchasers of the commemorative plate.
The bill appears to be positively framed and largely celebratory, emphasizing cultural recognition, Native Hawaiian sovereignty, and environmental restoration. Because no committee transcripts or votes are available, there is no recorded legislative debate to indicate formal support or opposition. Based on the text alone, the measure seems intended as a tribute rather than a controversial policy change.
The main possible areas of contention are practical rather than ideological: the added fee burden on vehicle owners, the use of a fundraising surcharge in addition to normal registration costs, and the administrative complexity of coordinating design approval and revenue handling across county officials and the named fund. The bill also sets a participation threshold of 150 plates within three years, which could be viewed as a safeguard or as a risk to program stability. No explicit opposition is documented in the provided materials.