US | Hawaii Hawaii Passes Civil Unions Bill Governor hasn't decided whether or not to sign By Kevin Spak Posted Apr 30, 2010 7:15 AM CDT Copied A gay couple and their daughter walk along the shorein Honolulu, Feb. 19, 2009. Hawaii will become the fourth state to legalize same-sex civil unions if the governor signs the bill. (AP Photo/Lucy Pemoni) Hawaii's House voted to approve a bill granting unmarried gay and straight couples the same rights as married ones under state law yesterday by a vote of 31-20, the Honolulu Advertiser reports, sending the bill to Gov. Linda Lingle for final approval. The bill would make Hawaii the fourth state in the nation to legalize civil unions as an alternative to full gay marriage. But Lingle's signature isn't a sure thing; she'd urged the legislature to skip the bill and focus instead on the state's budget deficit. If she does veto it, there are enough votes in the Senate to override, but the House is three short. Hawaiians voted for a constitutional amendment to define marriage as between a man and a woman in 1998, something Minority Leader Gene Ward reminded his colleagues of before the vote yesterday. Read These Next Mark Zuckerberg's 'list' has Silicon Valley buzzing. Hall of Famer Dave Parker dies IAEA chief downplays damage to Iran nuclear sites. That 'buy now, pay later' loan may soon hit your credit score. Report an error