From www.hawaiifamilyforum.org

First of all, we would like to thank the countless individuals and organizations that were prayerful and active at the State Capitol in perpetuating pro-family values in Hawaii.  Your efforts are greatly appreciated.

Second, in spite of all your efforts and the thousands of people showing support for pro-family values, majority of legislators continued on their path of supporting anti-family legislation such as civil unions, physician assisted suicide, emergency contraceptives, and gambling.

Governor Abercrombie did not waste any time showing support for this legislation.  The very first bill that the governor signed into law was the highly debated and divisive SB232 legalizing civil unions (same sex marriage by another name) in Hawaii.

Here’s a snapshot of the 2011 Legislative Session:

Life

• The Senate had rejected requests for a "healthcare right of conscience" exception for SB 218 (Emergency Contraceptive) and passed the bill 22 to 3.  We are grateful to Senators Gabbard, Kochi and Slom for standing courageously to oppose SB218.  The bill has been referred to the House Health and Judiciary Committee for hearing.
• We are also grateful that the Senate Health Committee held SB 803 (Physician Assisted Suicide) in its committee.
• We are also grateful that most gambling bills were deferred, never held and even held in committees.

Marriage

• We are disappointed that legislators and our governor had ignored the will of the people by supporting same sex marriage by signing the civil union’s bill.

Religious Freedom:

We ought to be extremely concerned about the government backed policies in the 2011 legislative session.  A number of these policies contradict many of our family values and biblical worldview.

The policies that are being passed at the state capitol are the direct consequences of the 2010 elections.  We can blame our elected officials for the policies that they are writing, supporting, and passing, but we are the people that put them into office.  Contrary to popular belief, government does not reflect the will of the people. Government reflects that will of the voters! (In Hawaii that is less than 50%).   If we want our elected officials to change then all of us need to stand together and make sure that it happens in the 2012 elections.

In closing, the family is the cornerstone of our society in Hawaii.  More than any other force it shapes the attitude, the hopes, the ambitions, and the values of the child.  And when the family collapses it is the children that are usually hurt.  When it happens on a massive scale the community itself is crippled.  HFF and its supporters will continue to ensure that the children of Hawaii will have a future and a hope grounded in strong pro-family values.

We will continue to educate and motivate families to

1. respect and protect life from conception to natural death
2. insure that Hawaii’s children will have the rights and benefits of having a loving mom and dad and
3. people of faith will have the freedom to worship and express their religion without government interference.

For more info please visit our website at www.hawaiifamilyforum.org.

Mahalo and God bless!

Allen Cardines, Jr.

Executive Director