Hawaii legislation · 2026 Regular Session
Hawaii SR53: Supporting the Findings and Recommendations of the Hawai I Water Safety Coalition's Hawai I Water Safety Plan.
Status: Passed both chambers, April 9, 2026
What the bill says
From the introduced text:
THE SENATE S.R. NO. THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026 STATE OF HAWAII MAR 1 0 2026 SENATE RESOLUTION SUPPORTING THE FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE HAWAI'I WATER SAFETY COALITION'S HAWAI'I WATER SAFETY PLAN. WHEREAS, the State is in the midst of a drowning crisis, ranking second behind Alaska in the number of annual drowning fatalities per one million residents; and WHEREAS, drowning is the leading cause of death for children in the State between ages one and fifteen, with twentysix children lost between 2019 and 2023; and WHEREAS, Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders comprise approximately twenty-seven percent of the State's population but thirty-six percent of drowning deaths, reflecting significant inequities in access to swimming education and water safety resources; and WHEREAS, visitors make up less than fifteen percent of the State's average daily population but comprise the majority of drowning victims, with snorkeling accounting for ninety-one percent of visitor ocean drownings; and WHEREAS, drowning incidents involving visitors threaten both the State's public health and its more than $20 billion tourism economy; and WHEREAS, drowning is the leading cause of injury-related visitor deaths in the State; and WHEREAS, non-fatal drownings, which occur at more than twice the rate of fatal drownings, often result in permanent brain damage and lifelong impacts for families; and WHEREAS, the Hawai'i Water Safety Coalition (HWSC), formed in 2023 …
Sponsors
- Glenn Wakai (D, 15) · primary sponsor
- Brandon Elefante (D, 16)
- Lorraine Inouye (D, 1)
- Tim Richards (D, SD-004)
- Joy San Buenaventura (D, 2)
- Les Ihara (D, 10)
- Dru Kanuha (D, 3)
Latest actions
- : Certified copies of resolutions sent, 05-12-26.
- : Report and Resolution Adopted.
- : One Day Notice 04-09-26.
- : Reported from PSM (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 3498) with recommendation of adoption.
- : The committee(s) on PSM recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes in PSM were as follows: 4 Aye(s): Senator(s) Fukunaga, Hashimoto, Inouye, DeCorte; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Lee, C..
- : The committee(s) on PSM added the measure to the public hearing scheduled on 04-06-26 3:00PM; CR 016 & Videoconference.
- : Re-Referred to PSM.
- : Referred to HHS/PSM.
- : Offered.
Votes
- PSM: recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED (April 6, 2026): 4 yea, 0 nay, passed
Subjects: DOE, Counties, DLNR, DOH
Common questions
- What is SR53?
- SR53 is a bill in the Hawaii Legislature (2026 Regular Session): Supporting the Findings and Recommendations of the Hawai I Water Safety Coalition's Hawai I Water Safety Plan.
- What is the status of SR53?
- Passed both chambers as of April 9, 2026. Latest action: Certified copies of resolutions sent, 05-12-26. (May 12, 2026).
- Who sponsored SR53?
- Glenn Wakai (D, 15), with 6 co-sponsors.
- Where is the official record for SR53?
- On the Hawaii Legislature website: https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=SR&billnumber=53&year=2026
Source: official Hawaii record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.