We're on the eve of one of Governor Lingle's most highly anticipated decisions.
She has until 11:59 Tuesday morning to announce her decision on the civil unions bill.
The Governor can either veto, sign or let the bill become law without her signature.
It's a subject that has really touched the hearts and minds of everyone in Hawaii and I've given it the seriousness and consideration that it deserves.
"It's a subject that has really touched the hearts and minds of everyone in Hawaii and I've given it the seriousness and consideration that it deserves. I don't know the exact number but I think it's running 60-40 against, but as I'm going to talk about tomorrow, that isn't what helped me to make a decision on this it was really the depth of feeling on both sides. So I look forward to sharing that with everybody tomorrow," said Gov. Linda Lingle.
If the bill becomes law, same-sex couples would get the same rights as married couples.
Here's a look at what events led up to this moment.
The battle over equal rights for same sex couples goes back to the 1990's in Hawaii.
It began as a fight for same sex marriage, and last year shifted to civil unions.
In January 2009, the civil unions bill, HB 444, was introduced.
Controverisal from the start, a huge crowd showed up to testify during the first hearing on February 5, 2009.
A week later, House lawmakers passed the bill with a vote of 33 to 17, thus kicking the bill over to the Senate.
Later that month thousands of people opposed to civil unions descended on the State Capitol.
Most were church members.
"We are gathered here because we want our voices heard!" said Pastor Wayne Cordeiro, Against Civil Unions.
A few days later, on February 25, 2009, following fifteen hours of testimony, the Senate Judiciary Committee stalled the measure with a deadlock vote.
Then in May, Senators revived the bill.
But minutes later, a vote in favor of amending the bill to remove the references to marriage, stalled it for the '09 session, to be continued in January.
In January 2010 those on both sides of the issue filled the Senate gallery to watch the final stretch of the civil unions marathon.
Civil unions passed by a vote of 18 to 7 -- a veto-proof margin.
Then a week later -- hopes of civil unions supporters were crushed, when a motion to postpone the bill indefinitely passed on a voice vote.
A tough pill to swallow for supporters of civil unions.
"Office by office I want them to look us in the face and tell us why they denied us civil rights today," said Carolyn Golojuch, Supports Civil Unions.
But that didn't stop supporters, and they continued their fight to revive the bill, going door to door at the Capitol, even when the political odds appeared insurmountable.
Then on April 29, 2010, in a dramatic turn of events.
The civil unions bill was revived in the House on a motion by Rep. Oshiro and passed.
"This is a surprise very very happy today," said Alan Spector, Supports Civil Unions.
"I think this is not the end, obviously, so we're hoping to energize again," said Dennis Arakaki, Opposed to Civil Unions.
HB 444 then moved to the Governor's desk, where it's been sitting ever since.
Again, the Governor has until 11:59 Tuesday morning to announce her decision on the civil unions bill.
