HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES             H.C.R. NO.163         
TWENTIETH LEGISLATURE, 1999                                
STATE OF HAWAII                                            
                                                             
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                     HOUSE  CONCURRENT
                        RESOLUTION
  REQUESTING THE GOVERNOR TO ESTABLISH THE PUERTO RICAN
    CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION COMMISSION BY EXECUTIVE ORDER.



 1        WHEREAS, Puerto Ricans first arrived in Hawaii on
 2   December 23, 1900; and
 3   
 4        WHEREAS, like other immigrant groups, the Puerto Ricans
 5   came primarily as field workers to cultivate and harvest
 6   Hawaii's sugar cane and pineapple fields; and
 7   
 8        WHEREAS, Puerto Ricans proved strong and reliable workers
 9   who contributed significantly to the success of Hawaii's
10   agricultural industry; and
11   
12        WHEREAS, since their arrival, Puerto Ricans have excelled
13   in various fields of endeavor but have retained their ethnic
14   and cultural identity; and
15   
16        WHEREAS, the rich and proud heritage of the Puerto Rican
17   people have been and continue to be positive influences in
18   shaping life in modern Hawaii; and
19   
20        WHEREAS, the year 2000 will mark the centennial
21   anniversary of the arrival of the Puerto Rican people to
22   Hawaii; and
23   
24        WHEREAS, in honor of this auspicious occasion, a
25   celebration is planned to commemorate their arrival and to
26   recognize their many achievements; and
27   
28        WHEREAS, a Governor's executive order creating a
29   centennial commission would afford the centennial celebration
30   protection from civil liability that may occur in the
31   implementation of the celebration; now, therefore,
32   
33        BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the
34   Twentieth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session
35   of 1999, the Senate concurring, that the Governor is requested
36   to establish by executive order, a Puerto Rican Centennial
37   Celebration Commission; and

 
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                                  H.C.R. NO.163         
                                                        
                                                        


 1   
 2        BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that in selecting the members of
 3   the Commission, the Governor is requested to appoint fifteen
 4   members, four from the four counties and the remaining members
 5   from government, labor, business, the community-at-large, and
 6   local Puerto Rican associations; and
 7   
 8        BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Governor is requested to
 9   designate the chairperson of the Commission; and
10   
11        BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this
12   Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the various Puerto
13   Rican organizations in Hawaii including the Puerto Rican
14   Heritage Society, the United Puerto Rican Association of
15   Hawaii, Inc., the Maui Puerto Rican Association, the Kohala
16   Puerto Rican Association, and the Kauai Puerto Rican
17   Association, the Governor, and the mayor of each county.
18 
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21                         OFFERED BY:  ____________________________