Abercrombie : `` People have worked long and hard for this day '' The law will take effect January 1 , 2012 . It's a big deal in the world of business because it means that you can now sue your employer if they don't pay their employees what is legally owed to them. In July , Hawaii 's then-governor vetoed a similar bill .
Abercrombie : `` People have worked long and hard for this day '' The law will take effect January 1 , 2012 . It extends the same rights to gay couples that spouses in a marriage enjoy . In July , Hawaii 's then-governor vetoed a similar bill .