2025 Legislative Victories | Hawaii 2026 Session Activism Guide
- Abbra Green
- Dec 14
- 5 min read
In the 2025 Hawaii legislative session, the Libertarian Party of Hawaii (LPHI) achieved an extraordinary 77.42% success rate, shaping the outcome of 72 out of the 93 bills we testified on. With just three core contributors, we defeated intrusive regulations, protected individual freedoms, and advanced free-market policies. Our success wasn’t luck—it was the result of a disciplined, principle-driven approach that set us apart from other advocacy groups. Let's dive into our key victories and unpack the strategies that made them possible. By replicating these strategies, you can join us in defending liberty in future sessions. Here’s how we did it and why it matters.
Our 2025 Triumphs: Defending the Individual
Our 2025 efforts focused on upholding libertarian values—individual liberty, limited government, free markets, non-aggression, and the rule of law. Here are some of our standout victories from the 2025 Legislative Tracking Report:
Stopped the “Legalized Kidnapping” Bill (SB1150/HB615): We blocked the “Health Care Access Protection Act,” which risked legalizing interstate kidnapping. The measure could have allowed for judicially authorized medical kidnapping with no transparency. Our testimony exposed legal loopholes in the Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act (UCCJEA), leading to its deferral.
Preserved Parental Choice (SB1437/HB1118): We defeated bills that would have eliminated religious exemptions for children’s vaccines, safeguarding one of the last protections against mandatory vaccinations and upholding parental rights and bodily autonomy.
Blocked the “Hawaii Ministry of Truth” (SB1618): Our opposition halted a bill proposing a Journalistic Ethics Commission that would infringe on our First Amendment rights. We ultimately protected free speech from government overreach in journalism.
Eliminated School Impact Fees (HB422): We supported legislation that repealed burdensome fees on homeowners and developers, advancing property rights and economic freedom.
These are just some of the victories that demonstrate our ability to influence the challenging legislative landscape. But what made us so effective? Our success hinged on a strategic framework which we've built into our Legislative Tracking Handbook and a six-point criteria for selecting bills, which set us apart from less focused advocacy groups.
The Six-Point Criteria: A Principled Filter for Impact
Our ability to choose the right battles was critical. The Legislative Tracking Handbook (Ch. 2.2) outlines six criteria that ensured we targeted bills aligning with libertarian principles, maximizing our influence. Here’s why each criterion matters and how it distinguished our approach:
Does the Bill Enhance or Infringe on Personal Liberties?
Protecting freedoms like speech, privacy, and personal choice, rooted in the Bill of Rights, is the cornerstone of libertarianism. By focusing on liberty, we appealed to universal values and resonated with legislators and citizens beyond our base. Unlike broader advocacy groups that may dilute their focus, we zeroed in on bills that directly threatened core freedoms.
2. Does the Bill Expand or Reduce Government Powers?
Limiting government overreach, as emphasized by the Tenth Amendment, ensures the state serves citizens, not controls them.
What Effect Does the Bill Have on Market Dynamics?
Free markets drive innovation and prosperity, while regulations often stifle economic freedom. This focus aligned with constitutional principles like the Commerce Clause, appealing to those concerned with economic impacts.
Does the Bill Involve Coercive Measures?
The non-aggression principle rejects state force against individuals for victimless activities. This criterion ensured we opposed punitive laws, resonating with fairness-minded legislators.
5. Does the Bill Adhere to Transparency and Fairness?
Transparent and equal laws prevent arbitrary governance, aligning with constitutional principles of equal protection.
Does the Bill Align with Non-Aggression and Rule of Law?
Laws must respect peaceful interactions and consistent application, ensuring fairness and predictability. This criterion grounded our arguments in universal principles.
This focus on rule of law made our testimonies legally robust, influencing outcomes in a legislature sensitive to constitutional arguments. These criteria gave us a laser-focused approach and allowed us to quickly determine the best issues and their talking points. By consistently applying this filter, we ensured every testimony advanced liberty, making our efforts as impactful as they were credible.
Key Strategies That Set Us Apart
Our 77.42% success rate was driven by strategic components, and tailored to maximize influence.
Tracking & Timing
Submitting testimonies before the 24-hour deadline was key to getting them reviewed during committee hearings. In Hawaii’s low-participation environment, timely action amplified our voice. We used the Legislature’s “Measure Tracking” tool to monitor statuses, enabling rapid response. We were able to set automated notifications and check hearing schedules weekly.
Professional-Level Testimonies
Concise 2-3 minute testimonies and professional-level written testimonies respected legislators’ time. Customized formatting with LPHI branding enhanced credibility. Our structured arguments stood out to both the legislators and to the public.
Batching Topics
Addressing multiple related bills with unified messages allowed our small team to cover a large number of bills efficiently. This approach reinforced our stance on issues like gun rights (seven bills) and fireworks prohibitions (30 bills), without having to spend a lengthy amount of time writing individual submissions. Our bulk testimonies created a cohesive narrative, overwhelming opposition with consistent arguments, as seen in the defeat of six out of seven total anti-gun bills.
Community Involvement
Encouraging community testimony amplified our voice, leveraging Hawaii’s low participation rate to make our social media and blog followers into a force multiplier. Our social media and email campaigns mobilized a broad base, at times creating a perception of widespread support that pressured legislators.
Solid Understanding
Well-researched testimonies with legal arguments built credibility, appealing to legislators needing substantive input. This depth was critical for complex bills like HB1328 (midwifery). Our use of publicly available legal resources distinguished us from advocates relying on emotional appeals, making our arguments authoritative in a legislature valuing legal rigor
Follow-up emails and calls during final deliberations (Ch. 1.3) kept our positions top-of-mind, as likely seen in defeating HB1119 (home care restrictions). This persistence ensured legislators felt ongoing pressure.
Targeting bills with close votes or low public attention (e.g., SB1618, HB1328) maximized our influence, as our testimonies filled gaps in public discourse. This focus was key in a Democratic trifecta legislature.
Tailoring arguments to resonate with moderate Democrats and Republicans broadened our support in a challenging political landscape. This was actually easier than you might think given most of both sides would agree with our six-point criteria. Our constitutional and inherent rights framing appealed to many who share the same values.
Hawaii 2026 session Activism Guide
LPHI’s success wasn’t just about strategy—it was about execution that set us apart. Our small size forced efficiency, turning three members into a force equivalent to thousands. Our focus on principle-driven criteria ensured every step we took advanced liberty. Our use of legal depth and cross-party appeal gave us credibility in a Democratic-dominated state, while our community mobilization and persistent advocacy created a perception of widespread support. In a legislature where very few residents testify, our targeted, professional approach filled a critical gap, making us a formidable voice for liberty.
By replicating these methods, we can build on our victories and make 2026 even more impactful. We've written down what worked for us and published it in one free, convenient Handbook to make the process simple for you to join us in legislative fights. Join us to defend the individual and create a freer Hawaii. We will work alongside you while providing tailored guidence and feedback. Contact lphisecretary@gmail.com to start today!
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