HONOLULU -- State Representatives decided on Friday to table the civil unions bill amidst shouts from supporters in the House Chambers.

Hundreds of people turned out for the vote. Opponents wearing white shirts were the overwhelming number of people waiting to get in to the House Chambers gallery.

Leaders in the state House met in private on Friday morning to determine if they had enough votes to prevent a veto from Gov. Linda Lingle.

Sources said it appears the House has lost a number of supporters for the bill.

House leaders called for a vote by voice on whether to table the bill.

Civil union supporters were outraged. Supporters of civil unions shouted at the House members. Some called for a roll call to see who would vote against the measure. Other called the lawmakers "cowards" who were "disgraceful" or "shameful."

"We're sorely disappointed that the Hawaii State House refused to take action on the civil unions bill," Equality Hawaii Co-Chairwoman Tambry Young said in a written statement. "Today, the House put its own political interests before the interests of Hawaii's families and that's bad policy and bad politics. We pledge that this fight is not over and we will continue in our efforts to see true equality in our state."

“This is a temporary victory that only seeks to delay a meaningful decision on traditional marriage," Lt. Gov. James "Duke" Aiona said in a written statement. “The State Legislature will continue to play political hot potato with the institution of marriage until the people of Hawai‘i are allowed to vote on it once and for all.”

House Judiciary Chairman Rep. Blake Oshiro, a strong supporter of civil unions, was comforted by a colleague. Oshiro sympathized with the gay couples criticism of he voice vote.

"I do think the best way Democracy works is when people know how their elected officials are standing on certain positions," Oshiro said.

"None of us here in the state legislature are cowards. They were listening to their constituency at this point in time and the votes were not there," House Speaker Calvin Say said.

Say said last year's 33 House votes in favor of civil unions had eroded to just 27 votes, which was not a veto-proof majority.

The state Senate passed the measure last week. The bill would give same-sex couples and unmarried heterosexual couples the same legal rights as married couples.

It takes two-thirds of the House to override a veto. It would take a similar two-thirds vote to revive the bill for a full House vote.