Hawaii Governor Neil Abercrombie holds up Senate Bill 1, allowing same sex marriage to be legal in the state, after signing it in Honolulu, Hawaii

Hawaii Gov. Neil Abercrombie has signed the Senate bill legalizing same sex marriage barely a day after its approval.

The Democrat governor signed Wednesday Senate Bill 1, which takes effect on Dec. 1, repealing the 1994 law that defines marriage as a union of man and woman, two years before the 1996 federal Defense of Marriage act was enacted.

"I look forward to signing this significant piece of legislation, which provides marriage equity and fully recognises and protects religious freedoms," Gov. Abercrombie said Tuesday.

This move makes the island state the 16th state to legalize same sex marriage in the U.S. with District of Columbia taking into count.

U.S. Pres. Barack Obama, who hails from Hawaii and the first president to support gay marriages, lauds the state's legislative for the passage of the bill.

"Whenever freedom and equality are affirmed, our country becomes stronger," Obama said in a statement. "By giving loving gay and lesbian couples the right to marry if they choose, Hawaii exemplifies the values we hold dear as a nation."

"With today's vote, Hawaii joins a growing number of states that recognize that our gay and lesbian brothers and sisters should be treated fairly and equally under the law," Obama added.

Colin Porter waves a flag with other supporters of same-sex marriage as they celebrate while the Hawaii State Senate convenes to approve the bill to legalize same-sex marriage in the state of Hawaii, in Honolulu

The signing of the law ends the 20-year-battle for equality for the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transsexual (LGBT) community in Hawaii which started from a decision from its Supreme Court ruling against the same. Since then, 30 more states banned same-sex marriage, prompting the U.S. Congress to enact the Defense of Marriage Act.

Earlier this year, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down the such law, enabling 15 states to enact its own same sex marriage laws, with Illinois the latest to pass its version though it will not be signed by its Gov. Pat Quinn until Nov. 20.