The bill is positioned to protect minors by preventing child marriage, which has been linked to various adverse outcomes such as increased rates of intimate partner violence, mental health issues, and socio-economic disadvantages. The Hawaii legislature acknowledges that the current laws, which allow marriage at sixteen with consent, have been criticized and are not reflective of best practices aimed at safeguarding youth. By increasing the minimum age for marriage, the bill seeks to enhance the welfare of minors and align Hawaii’s laws with more progressive standards adopted by other states.
House Bill 1742 aims to amend the existing marriage laws in Hawaii by raising the minimum age for marriage from sixteen to eighteen years. Under this bill, individuals who are seventeen years old may still marry, but only with parental or judicial consent. The bill addresses significant concerns surrounding the impacts of child marriage on the physical, mental, social, and economic well-being of minors, particularly girls, who are particularly vulnerable to the negative effects of early marriage.
While supporters of HB 1742 argue that it is a necessary step toward protecting minors, there may be opposition from those who believe in upholding traditional family structures or parental rights. Similar legislative initiatives have sometimes faced pushback based on cultural values surrounding marriage. Advocates for the bill anticipate a positive reception due to growing awareness about the harms of child marriage and the diminishing societal acceptance of the practice.