Soon after Hawaii’s Marriage Equality Act takes effect after midnight, Shawna Okami will wed her partner of more than three decades under the new law granting same-sex couples the right to marry in the islands.

"I’ve waited 32 years. I didn’t think I needed to wait another minute, day, week or month," said Okami, who is transgender. "Thirty-two years is long enough."

Okami, 51, and her partner, Richard Kimo Rosehill, 57, are one of six local couples who plan to tie the knot at a midnight ceremony hosted by the Sheraton Waikiki and organized by the Hawaii Marriage Equality Celebration Committee to mark the legalization of gay marriage.

"For Kimo and I, it means we will be recognized as any other couple and be able to celebrate our relationship in the same fashion as everyone," she said.

Gov. Neil Abercrombie last month pulled the state Legislature into a rare special session to respond to the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling in June that legally married gay couples are entitled to federal benefits. Gay couples in Hawaii have been able to enjoy all the rights and benefits of marriage under state law through civil unions, but are unable to obtain federal benefits until they can marry.

Abercrombie signed the legislation into law Nov. 13, which made Hawaii the 15th state plus the District of Columbia to legalize gay marriage. The measure allows the state to issue marriage licenses to gay couples beginning Monday.

The state Department of Health said same-sex couples can begin applying for licenses online at midnight. The application site (marriage.ehawaii.gov) will be updated to add options for partners to identify themselves as bride and bride, groom and groom, or spouse and spouse.

"Since the Department of Health office will not be open until (8 a.m.) Monday, we wanted to make sure that all those couples who have been waiting for the chance to legally marry in Hawaii have an opportunity to do so as soon as the law takes effect," said Michael Golojuch Jr., chairman of Honolulu Pride, one of the organizers of the Waikiki event.

Okami, who works as a bartender and cosmetician, said she and Rosehill, who works for the Queen’s Medical Center, are looking forward to being recognized as a married couple.

"We’ve called ourselves husband and wife, and at first glance, no one would think anything of it because I’m transgender and I look female," Okami said. "But when dealing with taxes, with medical issues, purchasing a home and anything else that married couples do as one entity, we’ve been dealing with it as two different people."

The Sheraton is donating the venue space for the event at its Leahi Club Lounge, the former iconic Hanohano Room, 30 stories above Waikiki Beach.

Kelly Sanders, area managing director for the Starwood Hotels and Resorts’ four Waikiki properties, including the Sheraton, said donating the space was both the right thing to do and a smart business move.

"I think overall marriage and weddings is a key part of what we do in Hawaii," he said. "When you look at the GLBT market, the biggest thing is they need to know they’re welcome. Hawaii is an all-inclusive destination."

Legalizing gay marriage here is expected to boost tourism by $217 million over the next three years, according to a University of Hawaii Economic Research Organization study. The bulk of the spending would be on marriage ceremonies and honeymoons.

Twenty-five other couples had signed up as of Friday to apply for marriage licenses or get married at tonight’s event, said Tambry Young of Citizens for Equal Rights. Marriage license agents and officiants will be available to couples following the initial six nuptials.

Young said couples who are interested in participating need to visit a registration booth at the Marriage Equality Family Day and Celebration being held today from noon to 4 p.m. at Thomas Square. She said the event will act as a wedding rehearsal lunch for those getting married after midnight.

Mayor Kirk Caldwell is scheduled to speak at the event, which will include performances by the Royal Hawaiian Band, keiki activities and food trucks.

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The Associated Press contributed to this report.