THE SENATE S.B. NO. 1246 THIRTY-FIRST LEGISLATURE, 2021 S.D. 1 STATE OF HAWAII A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE LAW OF THE SPLINTERED PADDLE. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
THE SENATE S.B. NO. 1246
THIRTY-FIRST LEGISLATURE, 2021 S.D. 1
STATE OF HAWAII
THE SENATE
S.B. NO.
1246
THIRTY-FIRST LEGISLATURE, 2021
S.D. 1
STATE OF HAWAII
A BILL FOR AN ACT
RELATING TO THE LAW OF THE SPLINTERED PADDLE.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
SECTION 1. The legislature finds that King Kamehameha I enacted ke kanawai mamalahoe, or the law of the splintered paddle, to protect his people by proclaiming that all innocent persons, especially the elderly and the youth, shall be allowed to lay safely on the side of the road without fear of harm or attack. This law is a symbol of the importance Native Hawaiians placed on caring for others and ensuring the safety of society's most vulnerable people and has endured for generations. The legislature further finds that the law of the splintered paddle specifically states: "O my people Honor thy gods Respect alike (the rights of) Men great and humble See to it that our aged Our women and our children Lie down to sleep by the roadside Without fear or harm. Disobey, and die." The legislature further finds that the law of the splintered paddle is enshrined in article IX, section 10, of the Hawaii State Constitution, which is both the supreme law of the State of Hawaii and the document from which all other sources of authority within the State are defined. The Hawaii State Constitution specifically declares that the law of the splintered paddle "shall be a unique and living symbol of the State's concern for public safety." The legislature believes that the State and each of its political subdivisions must honor and uphold this most important and eternal provision of the Hawaii State Constitution. Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to uphold the law of the splintered paddle, as enshrined in the Hawaii State Constitution, by prohibiting a county from disturbing a person lying by the roadside in safety. SECTION 2. Chapter 46, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows: "§46- Law of the splintered paddle; prohibition on disturbing a person lying by the roadside in safety. (a) In accordance with article IX, section 10, of the Hawaii State Constitution, no county shall enact any ordinance that prohibits a person from sitting or lying by the roadside; provided that this section shall not prohibit a duly empowered county official from removing a person from a roadside if conditions exist that would place the person at risk of immediate bodily injury. (b) As used in this section, "by the roadside" includes any sidewalk, as that term is defined in section 291C-1." SECTION 3. New statutory material is underscored. SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.
SECTION 1. The legislature finds that King Kamehameha I enacted ke kanawai mamalahoe, or the law of the splintered paddle, to protect his people by proclaiming that all innocent persons, especially the elderly and the youth, shall be allowed to lay safely on the side of the road without fear of harm or attack. This law is a symbol of the importance Native Hawaiians placed on caring for others and ensuring the safety of society's most vulnerable people and has endured for generations.
The legislature further finds that the law of the splintered paddle specifically states:
"O my people
Honor thy gods
Respect alike (the rights of)
Men great and humble
See to it that our aged
Our women and our children
Lie down to sleep by the roadside
Without fear or harm.
Disobey, and die."
The legislature further finds that the law of the splintered paddle is enshrined in article IX, section 10, of the Hawaii State Constitution, which is both the supreme law of the State of Hawaii and the document from which all other sources of authority within the State are defined. The Hawaii State Constitution specifically declares that the law of the splintered paddle "shall be a unique and living symbol of the State's concern for public safety." The legislature believes that the State and each of its political subdivisions must honor and uphold this most important and eternal provision of the Hawaii State Constitution.
Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to uphold the law of the splintered paddle, as enshrined in the Hawaii State Constitution, by prohibiting a county from disturbing a person lying by the roadside in safety.
SECTION 2. Chapter 46, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:
"§46- Law of the splintered paddle; prohibition on disturbing a person lying by the roadside in safety. (a) In accordance with article IX, section 10, of the Hawaii State Constitution, no county shall enact any ordinance that prohibits a person from sitting or lying by the roadside; provided that this section shall not prohibit a duly empowered county official from removing a person from a roadside if conditions exist that would place the person at risk of immediate bodily injury.
(b) As used in this section, "by the roadside" includes any sidewalk, as that term is defined in section 291C-1."
SECTION 3. New statutory material is underscored.
SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.
Report Title: Counties; Ke Kanawai Mamalahoe; Law of the Splintered Paddle Description: Prohibits a county from enacting any ordinance that prohibits a person from lying by the roadside in safety in accordance with the law of the splintered paddle. (SD1) The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.
Report Title:
Counties; Ke Kanawai Mamalahoe; Law of the Splintered Paddle
Description:
Prohibits a county from enacting any ordinance that prohibits a person from lying by the roadside in safety in accordance with the law of the splintered paddle. (SD1)
The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.