HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES             H.C.R. NO.172         
TWENTIETH LEGISLATURE, 1999                                
STATE OF HAWAII                                            
                                                             
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                     HOUSE CONCURRENT
                        RESOLUTION

REQUESTING THE OFFICE OF HAWAIIAN AFFAIRS TO STUDY THE
   FEASIBILITY OF FUNDING HISTORICAL SIGNAGE FOR THE KING
   KAMEHAMEHA I STATUE.



 1       WHEREAS, tourism is Hawaii's number one industry and the
 2   State is becoming increasingly dependent on tourism to provide
 3   jobs and tax revenues; and
 4   
 5       WHEREAS, the considerable benefits of cultural and
 6   historical tourism have greatly increased in importance in
 7   recent years, as evidenced by a 1998 conference devoted to this
 8   subject by the Historic Hawai`i Foundation and the
 9   establishment of the Native Hawaiian Tourism & Hospitality
10   Association; and
11   
12       WHEREAS, Hawaii's tourism industry badly needs to enhance
13   the visitor experience by offering more interesting and
14   historically significant attractions; and
15   
16       WHEREAS, over the past decade, Hawaii has experienced a
17   profound reawakening of interest in its past, with special
18   interest in its royal history; and
19   
20       WHEREAS, King Kamehameha I is, many historians will say,
21   the most important figure in Hawaiian history; and
22   
23       WHEREAS, the King Kamehameha I statue, together with Iolani
24   Palace, forms the historical "heart" of Hawaii; and
25   
26       WHEREAS, the King Kamehameha I statue is one of Hawaii's
27   most popular tourist and resident attractions, with perhaps a
28   thousand people, including school children, visiting the site
29   daily; and
30   
31       WHEREAS, the annual celebration of King Kamehameha Day is a
32   major visitor and resident event with a lei ceremony at the
33   statue in honor of the King; and

 
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                                  H.C.R. NO.172         
                                                        
                                                        

 
 1       WHEREAS, in light of the importance of this historical
 2   figure to the people of Hawaii, it is astonishing that the area
 3   surrounding the King Kamehameha I statue contains no
 4   information indicating who he was, when and where he lived,
 5   what he accomplished, or his stature in Hawaiian history; and
 6   
 7       WHEREAS, it is in the highest interest of the people of
 8   Hawaii and Hawaii's visitor industry to provide this
 9   information regarding King Kamehameha I's life and deeds; and
10   
11       WHEREAS, the establishment of historical signage near the
12   King Kamehameha I statue would offer a significant benefit to
13   both the residents of and visitors to Hawaii and be a source of
14   pride for residents of this State; now, therefore,
15   
16       BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the
17   Twentieth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session
18   of 1999, the Senate concurring, that the Legislature devote
19   highest priority to providing funding for the establishment of
20   historical signage at the King Kamehameha I statue; and
21   
22       BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Office of Hawaiian Affairs
23   is requested to study the feasibility of funding historical
24   signage for the King Kamehameha I statue and report back to the
25   Legislature on those findings and recommendations at least
26   twenty days prior to convening of the Regular Session of 2000;
27   and
28   
29       BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this
30   Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Chief Justice of
31   the Hawaii Supreme Court, the Chairperson of the Office of
32   Hawaiian Affairs, the Chairperson of the Hawaiian Homes
33   Commission, the Director of the Department of Business,
34   Economic Development, & Tourism, the Chairperson of the Hawaii
35   Tourism Authority, the President of the Native Hawaiian Tourism
36   & Hospitality Association, the Executive Director of the
37   Historic Hawai`i Foundation, the Director of the Bishop Museum,
38   and the Order of Kamehameha.
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42                         OFFERED BY:  ____________________________