RECIPROCAL BENEFICIARIES

On November 4, 1998, one day after nearly 70% of the people of Hawaii affirmed their commitment to traditional marriage, Governor Ben Cayetano announced his administration's support for 1999 domestic partnership legislation. The 1999 Legislature took no action on the domestic partnership proposal.

On December 9, 1999, the same day the Hawaii Supreme Court issued its long-awaited decision affirming the will of the people, same-sex marriage proponents vowed to continue fighting for all the rights and benefits of marriage, including adoption and child custody rights, simply without the marriage title. It is unclear why lawmakers would want to continue this 9-year saga when many of the benefits often referenced are already extended to same-sex and other unmarried couples under current Hawaii law. (Resulting from the 1997 reciprocal beneficiary legislation.)  

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• According to the Hawaii State Department of Health, 1,284 individuals are registered as reciprocal beneficiaries in Hawaii.   

• There have been 120 terminations.

This number is effective November 30, 2006.

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Below is a summary of the key features included in the reciprocal beneficiary legislation. We hope it is useful. And we will keep you posted on developments in this area.

• Link to HB 118 CD1    (PDF Copy of Act 383)

• Overview of Hawaii's Reciprocal Beneficiaries

• Hawaii Reciprocal Beneficiary (State Department of Health Link)

Call the Hawaii State Department of Health at (808) 586-4600 for current statistics on reciprocal beneficiaries.