Report Title:

Chinese New Year; Commemoration

 

Description:

Establishes the Asian lunar new year commemoration week.  (SD1)

 

 

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

1103

TWENTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE, 2007

S.D. 1

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

2

 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

RELATING TO ASIAN LUNAR NEW YEAR COMMEMORATION.

 

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

 

     SECTION 1.  Chinese New Year is the preeminent day of commemoration of culture and arts for more than one quarter of the world's population.  A special Chinese calendar is used to determine festivals.  Various Chinese communities around the world use this calendar, including Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore, and South East Asian countries such as Thailand, Vietnam, and Laos.

     The beginnings of the Chinese calendar date back to the fourteenth century B.C.  The Chinese calendar is the exact astronomical observations of the longitude of the sun and phases of the moon, which indicates that the Chinese calendar is heavily influenced by the same principles of modern astronomy.  Determining the exact date of each Chinese New Year requires a number of astronomical calculations.  Historically, the Chinese New Year Day has practically been regarded as the only day of the year when China's hard-working peasants allowed themselves to rest.  Although celebrations of the Chinese New Year vary, the underlying message is one of peace and happiness for family members and friends.

     The legislature finds that the prominence of Hawaii's Chinese population and the emphasis on promoting tourism from China warrants an official commemoration of Chinese New Year.

     The purpose of this Act is to designate the Asian Lunar New Year as a week of commemoration.

     SECTION 2.  Chapter 8, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

     "§8-    Asian Lunar New Year Commemoration Week.  The one week period following the day of the Chinese New Year shall be known and designated as the "Asian Lunar New Year Week of Commemoration in Hawaii".  This week is not and shall not be construed as a state holiday."

     SECTION 3.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 4.  This Act shall take effect upon its approval.