( CNN ) -- Hawaii Gov . Neil Abercrombie signed into law a bill that will legalize civil unions for same-sex couples in the Aloha State . `` People have worked long and hard for this day , '' Abercrombie said at the bill-signing ceremony Wednesday . `` This is a prime example of exercising civic courage . It is about doing what is right , no matter how difficult , no matter how much opposition . '' The law goes into effect on January 1 . It extends the same rights and benefits to partners in a civil union that spouses in a marriage enjoy . In July , former Hawaii Gov . Linda Lingle vetoed a similar bill , saying the issue needed to be put to a referendum . Gay rights groups decried her decision . Five states and the District of Columbia issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples , according to the National Conference of State Legislatures . Hawaii joins New Jersey in allowing civil unions . Three states -- Rhode Island , New York and Maryland -- recognize same-sex marriages from other states , according to the conference . California recognizes same-sex marriages performed during six months in 2008 after its Supreme Court granted same-sex couples the right to marry and before the passage of Proposition 8 , which overturned the court 's decision .
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 .