A strict new statewide light pollution bill has been introduced in the Hawaii State House, HB 1579. This latest proposed dark sky state legislation aims to protect human health, astronomy, and native wildlife, such as sea turtles and seabirds, that are disoriented by bright coastal lighting.
Context
HB 1579 would apply statewide to outdoor light fixtures, both residential and commercial. Exact definitions and exemptions are still being refined in committee amendments. The bill’s requirements are based on recommendations from Hawaii’s Dark Skies Advisory Committee. DLC’s Executive Director & CEO, Tina Halfpenny, as well as DLC’s Senior Scientist, Leora Radetsky, are both listed as technical experts that advised the Hawaii Dark Skies Advisory Committee. As of February 11, 2026, the bill has passed the House Water and Land (WAL) committee with amendments and continues through the legislative process.
The bill defines “curfew hours” between 10pm and sunrise. Fixtures installed prior to June 30, 2026 are exempt. The law would be effective July 1, 2026 for fixtures installed without prior design approval. Compliance in all designs is required by July 1, 2027.
Existing Maui and Hawaiian County Codes have a <2% blue (400-500nm/400-700nm) requirement at curfew. These <2% blue county requirements would be eliminated if the new state bill passes.
Key Requirements
Statewide outdoor lighting requirements:
“The outdoor light fixture is on the DLC—LUNA list; or
(2) The outdoor light fixture has a maximum American National Standards Institute (ANSI)/Illuminating Engineering Society of North America (IES) Uplight Rating of U1 per ANSI/IES TM—15—20, a correlated color temperature that shall not exceed three thousand Kelvin, a continuous dimming capability of twenty per cent of maximum output power or lower, and has at least one shielding option; provided that dimming shall be performed automatically by a control system.
(d) In addition to the requirements of subsection (c), to mitigate glare and light trespass, all outdoor light fixtures shall be equipped with shielding, filters, lenses, or cutoff devices required to eliminate light trespass onto any street or abutting lot or parcel, to eliminate glare perceptible to persons on any street or abutting lot or parcel and to minimize uplighting.
(e) Outdoor light fixtures shall be extinguished or dimmed by a minimum of seventy-five per cent during curfew hours, unless otherwise superseded by county building codes. Light trespass shall not occur, and outdoor light fixtures shall be extinguished or dimmed, during curfew hours; provided that for a commercial user, if normal operating hours end or begin between 10:00 p.m. and sunrise, curfew hours means between 10:00 p.m. or one hour after closing, whichever is later, and sunrise or one hour before opening, whichever is earlier.
(f) The following outdoor light fixtures are exempt from the requirements of subsections (c), (d), and (e):
(1) Open flame gas lamps;
(2) Low-wattage fixtures used for holiday decorations;
(3) Outdoor advertising signs, when used during curfew hours, if the signs are:
(A) Constructed of translucent material; and
(B) Illuminated totally from within and colored with an opaque background using translucent letters or symbols;
(4) Search lights used for advertising purposes, except that the operation of such lights shall be limited to the hours of dusk to 10:00 p.m.; and
(5) Emergency lighting required for public safety.”
Turtle Lighting Requirements:
“(g) Outdoor light fixtures affecting turtle nesting habitats shall be exempt from subsections (c), (d), and (e); provided that outdoor light fixtures affecting turtle nesting habitats shall comply with section 205A—71 and this section when:
(1) Designated as Turtle Lighting, Eero—Uplight fixtures on the DLC—LUNA list; or
(2) The outdoor light fixture:
(A) Uses narrowband or direct-emission amber light-emitting diodes with the sum of the optical radiation between 380 nm to 560 nm equal to one per cent or less of the total optical radiation between 330 nm to 700 nm;
(B) Has a maximum ANSI/IES Uplight Rating of U0 and a maximum glare rating of Bl per ANSI/IES TM-l5-20, unless otherwise stated;
(C) Has a continuous dimming capability of twenty per cent of maximum output power or lower; and
(D) Has at least one shielding option for pole-mounted light fixtures.
(h) Pole—mounted outdoor light fixtures shall have a maximum light output of 10,000 lumens. All pole-mounted outdoor light fixtures shall face away from the shoreline and have a house side shield to ensure that the light source is:
(1) Not visible from sea turtle nests or the waterline; and
(2) Six inches above the waterline at turtle eye height.
(i) Wall—mounted or ceiling- or canopy-mounted outdoor light fixtures shall have a maximum light output of 2,500 lumens. All wall-mounted or ceiling—mounted outdoor light fixtures that face the shoreline shall be shielded so that the light source is:
(1) Not visible from sea turtle nests or the waterline; and
(2) Six inches above the waterline at turtle eye height.
(j) Bollards shall have a maximum light output of 1,000 lumens and an ANSI/IES Glare Rating of B0. All bollards that face the shoreline shall be shielded so that the light source is:
(1) Not visible from sea turtle nests or the waterline; and
(2) Six inches above the waterline at turtle eye height.
(k) All outdoor light fixtures planned and approved by the counties or existing and legally installed prior to June 30, 2026, are exempt from the requirements of subsections (c), (d), and (e); provided that when existing outdoor light fixtures become inoperable, the outdoor light fixtures that replace them shall comply with the requirements of this section.
(l) Outdoor light fixtures for airports, highways, and harbors shall comply with this section, except as required by any safety regulation or federal law, regulation, or mandate, pursuant to sections 262-4.5, 264-45, and 266-2.5, respectively.”
Complete HB 1579 legislative language (amended 2/11/26, H.D. 1), is here.
Image above: Depicting light pollution hot spots in HI. Courtesy Michael Marlin & Hawai’i Public Radio.
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