 House Bill 444 ( abbreviated H.B. 444 ) was a 2009 bill of the Hawaii State Legislature , passed in April 2010 and vetoed by Governor of Hawaii Linda Lingle , that would have legalized civil unions for couples in the state of Hawaii . Its legislative process was accompanied by controversy over the bill 's content and effects and rallies were held by both supporters and opponents.
On March 24, 2010, the Hawaii State House of Representatives voted to override the governor's veto. The Hawaii State Senate followed suit on April 1, 2010, and the bill was signed into law by