That means Hawaii could become the only Western state to give governmental blessing to same-sex unions.

"Our wedding industry would have a huge potential increase in business purely because there are people who would rather come to the islands rather than go to the East Coast to have a civil union performed," said the Rev. Mike John Hough of Kauai Island Weddings. "Some people say it's just marriage by another name, and that may be true. It's a perfect compromise."

In 1998, nearly 70 percent of Hawaii voters approved a constitutional amendment granting the state Legislature the power to reserve marriage for opposite-sex couples. The "defense of marriage" amendment, now in more than half of state constitutions, resulted in a law banning gay marriage in Hawaii but left the door open for civil unions.

The amendment negated a 1993 Hawaii Supreme Court ruling that found refusing to grant marriage licenses to same-sex couples was discriminatory.

Since 1998, Hawaii's Legislature has considered civil unions several times, most recently in 2007, but the bills never made it out of their committees.

This year, the House Judiciary Committee passed the measure by a 12-0 vote, and the full House approved it 33-17, one vote short of the two-thirds majority needed to override a potential veto.

Attitudes have changed, said state Rep. Blake Oshiro, who sponsored this year's bill.

"People are more tolerant and accepting of diversity and recognizing the need for equality," said Oshiro, a Democrat.