THE SENATE                           S.C.R. NO.            110
TWENTIETH LEGISLATURE, 1999                                
STATE OF HAWAII                                            
                                                             
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                    SENATE  CONCURRENT
                        RESOLUTION

  REQUESTING THE GOVERNOR TO CONVENE AN ADVISORY TASK FORCE ON
    PROMOTING CULTURAL DIVERSITY.



 1        WHEREAS, Hawaii is unique among the fifty states with its
 2   diversity of ethnic groups and races representing cultures from
 3   throughout the world; and
 4   
 5        WHEREAS, the cultural traditions of Hawaii's peoples are
 6   remembered and perpetuated through various festivals and
 7   celebrations held throughout the year such as the Okinawan
 8   Festival, the Greek Festival, the Portuguese Fiesta, and the
 9   Aloha Festivals; and 
10   
11        WHEREAS, other activities such as the Hookipa program that
12   presents hula at the airport, and culture day in the schools
13   during which students dress in the native costumes of their
14   ancestors and present traditional food and dance, also help to
15   preserve and recognize the rich cultural heritage of Hawaii's
16   peoples; and 
17   
18        WHEREAS, in order to foster and encourage the recognition
19   and celebration of all the cultures that make this State a
20   unique and special place in which to live, one month within the
21   year should be designated in honor of Hawaii's diverse
22   cultures; and 
23   
24        WHEREAS, a month-long celebration in honor of Hawaii's
25   cultures would aid in the promotion of Hawaii in the visitor
26   market and may help to stimulate further economic development;
27   and
28   
29        WHEREAS, the designation of the month chosen to honor
30   Hawaii's diverse cultures should be the result of the
31   collaborative efforts of representatives of various cultural
32   organizations, the visitor industry, and government; and
33   
34        WHEREAS, the King Kamehameha celebration commission,
35   composed of representatives from various Hawaiian civic and
36   community groups, was created to coordinate activities

 
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                                  S.C.R. NO.            110
                                                        
                                                        


 1   celebrating the Hawaiian culture in commemoration of the life
 2   of Kamehameha the I; and
 3   
 4        WHEREAS, a task force, composed in equal parts of
 5   representatives from cultural groups, the visitor industry, and
 6   the counties and state government, should be established; now,
 7   therefore,
 8   
 9        BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Twentieth Legislature
10   of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 1999, the House of
11   Representatives concurring, that the Governor is requested to
12   appoint an advisory task force on promoting cultural diversity
13   to make recommendations for implementing events and activities
14   celebrating Hawaii's diverse cultures, which recommendations
15   could include a month-long celebration in honor of Hawaii's
16   diverse cultures; and 
17   
18        BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this
19   Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Governor of the
20   State of Hawaii, the Mayor of the City and County of Honolulu,
21   the Mayor of the County of Hawaii, the Mayor of the County of
22   Maui, the Mayor of the County of Kauai, the Director of
23   Business, Economic Development, and Tourism, the Hawaii
24   Visitors and Convention Bureau, and the Hawaii Tourism
25   Authority. 
26 
27 
28 
29                         OFFERED BY:  ____________________________