THE SENATE                           S.C.R. NO.            203
TWENTIETH LEGISLATURE, 1999                                
STATE OF HAWAII                                            
                                                             
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                    SENATE  CONCURRENT
                        RESOLUTION
  REQUESTING THE OFFICE OF HAWAIIAN AFFAIRS TO MAKE AN
    APPROPRIATION TO FUND 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 and 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
24   Iolani 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
32   a major visitor and resident event, with a lei ceremony at the
33   statue in honor of the King; and
34   

 
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                                     S.C.R. NO.         203
                                                        
                                                        

 
 1        WHEREAS, astonishingly, in light of the importance of this
 2   historical figure to the people of Hawaii, the area surrounding
 3   the King Kamehameha I statue contains no information indicating
 4   that Kamehameha I was a king, or when he lived, or what he
 5   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 for
13   Hawaii's visitor industry and a source of pride for residents
14   of this state; now, therefore,
15   
16        BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Twentieth Legislature
17   of the State of Hawai'i, Regular Session of 1999, the House of
18   Representatives concurring, that the Legislature requests the
19   Office of Hawaiian Affairs to fund historical signage at the
20   Kamehameha I statue; and
21   
22        BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this
23   Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Chairperson of the
24   Office of Hawaiian Affairs; the Chief Justice of the Hawaii
25   Supreme Court; the Chairperson of the Hawaiian Homes
26   Commission; the Director of Business, Economic Development and
27   Tourism; the Chairperson of the Hawaii Tourism Authority; the
28   President of the Native Hawaiian Tourism and Hospitality
29   Association; the Executive Director of the Historic Hawai'i
30   Foundation; the Director of the Bishop Museum; and the Order of
31   Kamehameha.
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33 
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35                           OFFERED BY: ___________________________