A gay pride flag flapping in the wind above palm trees. (Flickr Creative Commons/@bastique)

The Hawaiian Senate passed the gay marriage bill 19-4 on Tuesday, and Hawaii Governor Neil Abercrombie is scheduled to formally sign the bill Wednesday in Waikiki.

President Barack Obama himself lauded the passage of the bill, and praised Hawaii for its formal encouragement of freedom and equality.

"I've always been proud to have been born in Hawaii, and today's vote makes me even prouder," Obama said.

Though the political reaction in the Hawaiian Senate is mixed, the overall atmosphere seems to be positive and in support of the bill passage - more than half the Hawaiian Senate's lawmakers spoke in support of the bill.

"This is nothing more than the expansion of aloha in Hawaii," said Dem. Sen. J. Kalani English. 

The recent measure is the result of a decades long struggle for marriage equality in Hawaii.

Gay marriage will also bring a substantial economic boost to the state of Hawaii.

Researchers from the University of Hawaii say the measure will boost tourist couples' visits from other states who will travel to Hawaii for ceremonies, receptions, and honeymoons. 

The measure will boost tourism by an estimated 217 million dollars over the next three years.

Reach Executive Producer Benjamin Li here: