While most of you ended Daylight Savings (DST) this weekend, Hawaii did nothing. Hawaii has never observed daylight saving time under the Uniform Time Act, having opted out of the Act’s provisions over fifty years ago. It still looks like the rest of the country and beyond may soon join Hawaii in eliminating this practice of changing time.
Until next spring, take note that Hawaii will be just 2 hours earlier than the west coast, instead of 3 hours. And the east coast is now just 5 hours earlier. Mountain states are 3 hours earlier, and central states are 4 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, 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 U.S. 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
Except for Arizona, the above locations are in a similar situation to Hawaii in terms of latitude. Arizona unsuccessfully tried daylight savings in the 1960s before opting out.
Why daylight savings?
Daylight savings started in the U.S. 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 promoting retail shopping in the evenings with more light. 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 U.S. would observe six months of standard time and six months of daylight savings 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 U.S. has moved to the more extended observance of DST, which since 2005 has been eight months each year.
Europe has a similar policy and typically changes between “summertime” and standard time about the same time that the U.S. changes. Europe went from summertime to standard time last weekend.
There is much doubt about whether changing to daylight savings is useful or not, and in fact, switching back and forth may not continue much longer. Europe could lead in that effort, and we’ve heard that it may end as soon as next year. Furthermore, recent studies suggest that daylight savings changes can throw off sleep schedules and more. That may affect our well-being, judgment, and productivity.
Enters H.R.69 – Sunshine Protection Act of 2021.
The Sunshine Protection Act would make daylight saving time permanent in the U.S. It would not change the time zone in Hawaii or other locations in the U.S. that observe permanent standard time. The bill has been introduced three times in Congress and is currently in committee.
Updated 11/7/21.
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Paul L says
Because of DST, a lot of contracts like my home insurance expires at 2am so there is no ambiguity what day it expires, regardless of Daylight Saving Time or Standard Time.
BB M says
We should eliminate time zones all together and everyone use UTC. It would take some getting used to, but once you know what time it gets light and dark it would be easier to coordinate with other time zones. There are only so many hours of daylight. Can’t change that!
DB says
Actually, the larger variance in sunset times at northern latitudes makes the mainland a worse candidate for DST than a place like Hawaii. DST exaggerates sunset variance so a place like San Francisco, which has a 2 hour, 45 minute variance in sunsets across the year, now has an artificially-imposed 3 hour, 45 minute variance. If anything, DST should be in winter months if we’re trying to equalize sunset times.
Of course the best solution is to eliminate DST and enjoy nature’s work!
Roy P says
Please note: it’s “Daylight Saving Time,” not “Savings.” It’s a common error.
Roy H says
As I remember there’s only a half hour difference between the length of sunlight from summer to winter in Hawaii.
PaulC says
only the government would think that cutting the top off of a blanket and adding it to the bottom of the blanket will make it longer
MJ says
There’s a big problem with HR69 and that’s why DST exists in the first place. Can you imagine if your kid’s school moved their hours so children wouldn’t be walking in the dark but your employer made no such provision for you? That’s why US Northern areas need time adjustment.
Actually it doesn’t make sense that time zones are longitudinal in that respect because, as has been said, it only affects above and below certain parallels. Maybe it should be a checkerboard pattern?
Diana E says
Granted, the closer to the Equator you are, the less sense it makes, But, being near the 49th Parallel I can tell you there is a benefit to “falling back” in the winter—it’s one thing for it to be dark at the end of the day-but DST on December 21st means sunrise is at around 9 a.m.
Trasea says
I love that Hawaii doesn’t do this! It’s an outdated practice that doesn’t make much sense to continue. I just hope it doesn’t take forever to get the bill through all the (ridiculous) processes required to abolish it. Lock the clock and Ditch the switch! November 9 is World Freedom Day so let’s set the clocks free! Thanks for the information about this, hopefully the mainland will follow Hawaii’s (and Arizona’s) wisdom. Aloha.
Beat of Hawaii says
Hi Trasea.
Thanks. Great expressions.
Aloha.
Victoria says
Three years ago we voted and passed to end DST In California….we are still waiting!!!!
Frank C says
We are arriving in Hawaii on Nov. 29th 2021.
When must I send in my information to Safe Travels Hawaii?
How far in advance of my departure?
Thank you for you assistance
Beat of Hawaii says
Hi Frank.
You can upload at any time prior to travel. Keep in mind that you will need to return within 24 hours of travel in order to complete the mandatory health questionnaire.
Aloha.
Frank C says
I was able to log in and upload my trip information.
Do I have to go back into my account to view the health questionnaire?
Many thanks for your help and patience.
Beat of Hawaii says
Hi Frank.
Yes, that needs to be done at the same website within 24 hours of travel to Hawaii.
Aloha.
gregory h says
I really wish they would abolish Daylight Savings Time here in Colorado.
Kali M says
The problem DST attempts to resolve is really about scheduling, not time.
Globally, places should keep to the times zones established. Locally, businesses and schools should modify schedules if they feel that is beneficial. Schools already do that sort of thing with some adopting a year-round track schedule, or delayed opening times, even varying within the same county.
Businesses also already choose to schedule according to their needs and that works.
Sam H. says
Daylight Savings Time has never added or extended anymore daylight during the day and has basically a myth in many or most people’s mind. The length of the days has been the same whether one turned their clock back or not. Supposedly it was to allow the work force, schools, and other operations more daylight hours to conduct their business. The best solution for all is to change your own operating hours that best benefit all or most. Which political party is best at spreading myths and lies?
Brian says
Everyone should operate on their own hours? How ridiculous. That’s the very reason we have a standard to begin with. Good lord, people. Read some history.
MJ says
If you are in an area of the planet affected by orbital variables and you see the advantage of DST in Late Winter/Early Spring at saving electricity to light places of work you will understand why it was brought about. I have read some really weird things here about it from people who don’t realize what DST really is. Of course you can’t control the sun. But you can adjust to it to save energy! What party doesn’t want to save energy?
MJ says
And the reason the government has to do it is for uniformity of schedules for school/work/trains/planes, etc.
DB says
Permanent DST would be a terrible idea. We should all be on standard time like Hawaii and Arizona. Standard time puts noon closest to true noon. It’s pretty silly to think we can actually change something in the sky. If the government wants everybody to do things earlier, they should set their own hours earlier and then private enterprise would follow suite.
Michael says
Seriously doubt HR 69 is ever gonna pass. It’s introduced every year since 2018 when Florida passed it and it’s failed everytime
Rich says
As many posters are bemoaning the US adoption of DST and indulging in rubbishing their own country I thought perhaps an external view might help. The EU is trying to abandon DST so they are allowing countries to adopt the standard or daylight savings time zone they wish. As a result there will be 4 time zones in the EU in place of 3. WEST, WEDT which is same as CEST, CEDT which is the same as EEST and EEDT. Additionally there will be many more changes between neighbors. It is being done as a political step to follow Russia and China who do not use DST.
The UK tried adopting DST permanently in the 1960’s when I was at school and it was a disaster. People in Scotland and the North complained about their school children walking to school in the dark (No fancy door to door school buses in UK back then) and the number of accidents on the roads increased across the whole country. As a result it was dropped. Several politicians have tried to relaunch it but in the UK that ws more to do with identification with an EU Superstate rather than any benefit.
I feel for those who do not travel as their systems are probably not used to time changes. Those of us who spend much of their lives at 39,000 ft, it really is no big deal. Many of us used to find remembering to date checks (remember them?) with correct Year on Jan 1st more difficult.
THe nearer you get to the equator the less benefit it gives. However dealing with Mexico changing on different day to US and to UK make life fun and having US and UK changing one way and Brazil going the other way all on different days really makes life interesting. Still all child’s play compared to flights to and from Japan when you arrive Japan having lost 18-19 hours and in reverse you leave in the evening and arrive the same morning. Now that is fun with or without DST.
Steven S says
DST is an utmost failure and the 2021 Congress is actually looking into keeping the mainland DST and stop the madness of turning clocks back in the fall. The rest of the world have kept their timezone the same and only Americans traveling internationally have no idea what time it is elsewhere without looking it up on a computer or smartphone! LOL
MJ says
Remember, the “fall backwards” is done to keep kids from going out to school in the dark when sunrise naturally occurs later. It’s a noble cause unless we all start homeschooling, which is quite possible and perhaps even likely!