H.B. 1894 Summary

• Establishes water cremation (alkaline hydrolysis) as a legal alternative to conventional cremation for treating human remains in Hawaii, defined as reduction of remains using heat, pressure, water, and base chemical agents.

• Creates new Chapter on Hydrolysis Facilities requiring commercial hydrolysis facilities handling human remains to comply with funeral establishment and mortuary regulations, with specific equipment standards including minimum 300°F temperature and dedicated chemical rinse cycles.

• Permits hydrolysis facilities to discharge pretreated wastewater only into municipal sewer systems as approved by counties, prohibiting discharge into privately owned wastewater systems.

• Modifies existing statutes to recognize water cremation alongside conventional cremation for unclaimed bodies, anatomical gifts, and coroner dispositions, with water cremation eligible for the same $800 public expense reimbursement as conventional cremation.

• Supports traditional Native Hawaiian burial practices and addresses environmental concerns, as water cremation consumes one-eighth the energy of flame cremation and reduces carbon emissions by 75 percent.