While most of you started Daylight Savings (DST) this weekend, in fact Hawaii did not join you. Hawaii has never observed daylight saving time under the Uniform Time Act, having opted out of the Act’s provisions over fifty years ago. Now it looks like the rest of the world may soon join Hawaii in eliminating this practice.
Until next fall, take note that Hawaii will be 3 hours earlier than the west coast, instead of 2 hours.
Question: Why has Hawaii never adopted Daylight Savings Time?
Answer: Hawaii sunrise and Hawaii sunset times do not vary much.
Being much further south than any of the mainland states, and actually at a latitude close to that of Mexico City, there’s no significant advantage to having daylight savings in Hawaii. The concept of daylight savings was, in theory, that it adjusts the time to make use of available natural light. With Hawaii reasonably close to the equator, sunrise and sunset time don’t vary nearly as much as is the case further to the north. Read on as to whether this theory holds water.
The other US locations that do not have daylight savings are:
- Arizona (most of the state)
- American Samoa
- Guam
- Northern Mariana Islands
- Puerto Rico
- United States Virgin Islands
The above locations are, with the exception of Arizona, in a similar situation to Hawaii in terms of latitude. Arizona unsuccessfully tried daylight savings in the 1960’s before opting out.
Why daylight savings?
Daylight savings started in the US in 1918, during World War I. While the stated reason was to benefit farmers and/or save fuel, it is now largely believed that it was a way of promoting retail shopping in light evenings. It was also considered beneficial to health since with longer days, people would spend more time with recreation and sports.
After World War I, only New York City continued to observe DST until 1942, when a national DST policy came into effect. In 1966 the uniform time act said that the US would observe six months of standard time and six months of daylight savings time each year.
States had to either opt in or opt out so that cities and counties could no longer decide on DST. Arizona opted out. Since then the US has moved to longer observance of DST, which since 2005 has been 8 months each year.
Europe has a similar policy and typically changes between “summer time” and standard time about the same time that the US changes. Europe will go from standard time to summer time the last weekend of March this year.
There is much doubt about whether daylight savings is useful or not, and in fact it may not continue much longer. Europe could lead in that effort and we’ve heard that it may end within the next year. Furthermore, recent studies suggest that daylight savings can throw off sleep schedules and more. That may affect our well being, judgment and productivity.
Updated 3/10/19.
Lori N says
Many of us agree that it’s stupid to change our time twice a year. However, I think this pieces confuses the two time provisions.
It’s actually the early darkness in Standard Time that causes depression, car accidents, more crime, and more expensive electric bills.
We want to live and stay in DST so the majority of us experience longer days with sunlight.
California recently voted to start this process.
Tom says
The worst part of daylight savings time is the twice yearly chorus of whining about daylight savings time 🙄 #FirstWorldProblems
Zt says
Lol yes it’s like a seasonal chorus of some insect or bird. The spring squawkers’ mumbling sleep-deprived chorus seem to start earlier and earlier (ie every time the federal govt moves up the date)
Trasea says
Every state needs to follow Hawaii’s example. I vote 2020 is the best year to end DST. Because we can ‘clearly see’ it’s outdated and useless. Aloha!
Mark says
Yeah, that “S” at the end is driving me nuts too. I work in television media so my viewers notice big time if I do that. Great article otherwise!
Beat of Hawaii says
Hi Mark.
Just so you know, that was not by mistake. That is precisely the search term people are Googling for and that we matched, “daylight savings.”
Aloha.
Kathy A says
I have been waiting for this day since Christmas!! Northeast winters suck (and the winter weather is creeping deeper and deeper into March). The time change means we are that much closer to warmer weather. Bring it on!! 😁🤣😁
Makena says
Having spent most of my life in the East Coast, I was used to it as a matter of operation, but living in Hawaii for a decade now, I can say that I don’t miss it one bit.
Ann says
I think it is funny that so many people are worried about the “S” on the end of Saving, but no one noticed that this morning DST ended, not started. I’m guessing the author reused an article and didn’t make the change. Plus, since they live in a state where they don’t have to deal with it, I’ll cut them a lot of slack. I have a hard time with the concept and I live through it every year.
Suzy says
Daylight saving time on the mainland is not starting this Sunday. It’s ending and standard time will be in effect.
Shawn says
I would prefer permanent daylight savings time…much prefer the having more light in the evening vs. in the morning…and wouldn’t have to change our clocks twice per year.
Mill K says
It is called Daylight _Saving_ Time, no s at the end saving.
Roger P says
I don’t think many mainlanders want a 4 AM sunrise in the summertime. Let’s keep Daylight Saving Time.
John A says
Hi everyone😊 …yeah I agree dst is a royal pain in the rear-end, I live in Calgary Alberta and we change the clocks this weekend..and, arrrgh! “time watching” – (no pun intended, lol) is man made…move ahead a half hour or back a half hour and leave it there never to be changed again…other places don’t use it so it shows it’s useless(Gov made to experiment – ?), I was born in Hawaii and moved to B.C. in ’67ish and this dst has messed up my internal clock ever since, …not to mention the Hawaii to b.c. time difference
Steve M says
Do you know why Arizona doesn’t have Daylight Saving(s) Time? It’s too damn hot in the summer here – why would we want to save it?
Jo says
Just an FYI – we are not starting Daylight Savings…we are returning to Standard Time; we are “falling back”. We “Spring Ahead” (Daylight Savings) and “Fall Back” Standard Time.
We are getting back our 1 hour of sleep we lost in March! 😉
It is what it is…just one more thing for people to complain about!
Colleen says
Anyway you spell it – it is a lousy idea. Screws with everyone’s internal clock. We dreaded Every Spring and again every fall. Makes a person feel like crap for weeks!
Just one more good reason to move to Hawaii permanently! 🙂
of course, Arizona is a bit closer. But that is like comparing apples and oranges.
Michele S says
Actually we are coming OFF Daylight Saving Time.
Suntali says
Who cares if people say Saving or Savings… puhleeze. We all know what it means. And yes, it’s time to do away with it.
Jonathan says
I care and so do many others. And by the way – it’s please, not puhleeze.
skibridgo says
It’s time for all 50 states to stop with Daylight Savings Time. It costs businesses hundreds of thousands of dollars (airlines, software companies and many, many more) without any meaningful benefit. Let’s join other countries that have started doing away with senseless Daylight Savings time.
Cleopatra Tomaino says
I have been there once and I hope to return I love the people,so friendly, and to me it was like Paradise.
Nick says
NB: The correct terminology is “daylight saving time”, not “daylight savings time”.
Michael says
See http://aa.usno.navy.mil/faq/docs/daylight_time.php
It is not “daylight savingS time”
JoAnn Youmans says
Indiana doesn’t do daylight savings either.
Frank says
Yes they do. Since 2006.