Governor Ben Cayetano has vetoed the Legislature’s compromise Age of Consent Bill, leaving Hawai’i the only state in the union where a 40-year-old man can legally have sex with a consenting 14-year-old girl. House Bill #0236 would have raised the
Governor Ben Cayetano has vetoed the Legislature’s compromise Age of Consent Bill, leaving Hawai’i the only state in the union where a 40-year-old man can legally have sex with a consenting 14-year-old girl.
House Bill #0236 would have raised the state’s age of consent from 14 to 16.
“Under (state) statutes it is (already) a crime for anyone to engage in acts of sexual penetration or contact without the consent of the other person regardless of the victim’s age,” Cayetano said.
Activists believe the governor was missing the point of legislation which would have brought Hawai’i into line with the rest of country on this issue.
“The (governor’s) action is an affront to all the parents and concerned citizens of Hawai’i who demanded action this legislative session to protect Hawaii’s minors from adult sexual predators,” said Kelly Rosati, executive director of the O’ahu-based Hawai’i Family Forum.
“Unfortunately, thanks to Governor Cayetano’s action, Hawai’i will hold on to its disgraceful distinction of being the only state in the nation with the age of consent at age 14,” Rosati added.
State Republican Party Chairman Linda Lingle weighed in on the lame-duck Democratic governor’s action too.
“It is outrageous and pure arrogance for the governor to veto a bill that would protect our children and that is supported by a large majority of Hawaii’s people,” Lingle said.
But disapproval of the Governor’s veto didn’t just run along party lines.
“I’m pretty surprised that he’s (Cayetano) done that (vetoed the bill),” Kaua’i’s own state senator, Jonathan J. Chun (D-7th) said.
“I’m taken aback. We address the tough issues and then he (Cayetano) vetoes it. Hawai’i has the lowest age of consent in the country,” Chun said.
Cayetano claimed the measure defines crime by the relative ages of the individuals involved which could create unfortunately harsh results.
At a press conference last year Cayetano pointed out that many young girls looked older than they were.
“To allow this situation to continue is an embarrassment for Hawai’i,” Lingle said. “I urge people from across the state to come together … to force an override of the Governor’s veto. If Democratic legislators fail to support this effort, they are telling the people of Hawai’i that they value party loyalty above the safety of Hawaii’s children.”
Cayetano vetoed 19 other measures in addition to the age of consent legislation.
“We will not be giving up. The current law must be improved and we will continue to work until Hawaii’s young people are properly protected by law,” Rosati said.
It is within the Legislature’s legal power to reconvene for the purpose of overriding vetoes although that decision has not been made.
Staff writer Dennis Wilken can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 252) and mailto:dwilken@pulitzer.net
