HI HB2539

Designates January 23 of each year as "Saint Marianne Cope Day" in Hawaii to honor Saint Marianne Cope, a German-born American member of the Sisters of Saint Francis of Syracuse who cared for leprosy patients on Molokai.

Saint Marianne Cope was canonized by Pope Benedict XVI on October 21, 2012, making her only the second person to serve in Hawaii to achieve sainthood (after Father Damien) and the 11th American citizen to be canonized by the Roman Catholic Church.

Her feast day was previously established as January 23 by her religious congregation and the Roman Catholic Dioceses of Honolulu and Syracuse.

Explicitly provides that Saint Marianne Cope Day is not and shall not be construed to be a state holiday.

Takes effect upon approval.