Honolulu Pride today announced that four same-sex couples will enter into civil unions shortly after midnight Jan. 1.

The participants will gather before midnight on New Year’s Eve at a private home in East Oahu. The coalition includes Citizens for Equal Rights, GLBT Caucus of the Democratic Party, Integrity Hawaii, PFLAG Oahu, Pride Alliance Hawaii, and Pride at Work Hawaii.

Press release quote from Tambry Young of Citizens for Equal Rights and Department of Health Task Force member:

There are many people in Hawaii who are very excited and have waited a long time for this day to finally arrive. Just after midnight, as the New Year begins, couples will be able to stand before their family and friends and have their love and commitment legally recognized by the state of Hawaii. We are very grateful to the DOH for their efforts in getting the new online system up and running making it possible for couples to have their civil union as soon as the law takes effect.

Gov. Neil Abercrombie at Washington Place after signing the civil unions into law.