STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1163

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2021

RE: H.C.R. No. 127

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2021

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Culture, Arts, & International Affairs, to which was referred H.C.R. No. 127 entitled:

"HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE HAWAII SISTER-STATE COMMITTEE TO EVALUATE AND DEVELOP RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE INITIATION OF A SISTER STATE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE STATE OF HAWAII AND THE PREFECTURE OF YAMAGUCHI, JAPAN, AND FORWARD ITS RECOMMENDATION TO THE LEGISLATURE, PURSUANT TO SECTION 229‑3, HAWAII REVISED STATUTES, FOR FURTHER ACTION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to request that the Hawaii Sister-State Committee evaluate and develop recommendations for the initiation of a sister state relationship between the State of Hawaii and the Prefecture of Yamaguchi, Japan, and forward the Committee's recommendations to the Legislature for further action.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism; Japan-America Society of Hawai‘i; and one individual.

Your Committee finds that Hawaii and Yamaguchi Prefecture share a long history and strong bond, beginning with kanyaku imin and the immigration of thousands of contract laborers to Hawaii between 1885 and 1894 and carried forward through continuous cultural and education exchanges between the people of Yamaguchi and Hawaii. Your Committee further finds that the Governor of Yamaguchi Prefecture, Muraoka Tsugumasa, supports and will apply for the establishment of a sister-state relationship with Hawaii. The sister-state relationship proposed by this measure will be highly beneficial in expanding tourism, strengthening cultural bonds, and advancing common goals of international peace and brotherhood.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Culture, Arts, & International Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of H.C.R. No. 127 and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Culture, Arts, & International Affairs,

____________________________

CEDRIC ASUEGA GATES, Chair