HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.C.R. NO.

66

THIRTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2023

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

HOUSE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

 

 

requesting the establishment of a Hawaii-taiwan friendship taskforce to explore ways to strengthen, improve, and expand economic, cultural, and educational relations between Hawaii and Taiwan.

 

 

 

     WHEREAS, Taiwan shares with the United States the universal values of freedom, democracy, and respect for human rights and the rule of law; and

 

     WHEREAS, Taiwan and Hawaii have an established sister-state relationship since 1993, and sister-city or sister-county relationships have been established between Honolulu and Kaohsiung City, Maui County and Pingtung County, Hawaii County and Hualien County, and Kauai County and Penghu County; and

 

     WHEREAS, the State of Hawaii Office in Taipei and the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Honolulu have worked together to promote cooperation and exchanges in tourism, agriculture, culture, education, and trade; and

 

     WHEREAS, Taiwan's export and import volume reached $500,000,000,000 and $300,000,000,000, respectively, in 2022, and the International Monetary Fund ranks Taiwan as the twenty-second largest economy in the world; and

 

     WHEREAS, before the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, Taiwanese citizens made over seventeen million trips abroad; and

 

     WHEREAS, with loosening travel restrictions, there is tremendous potential for Taiwanese visitors to Hawaii to further help revitalize Hawaii's tourism sector; and

 

     WHEREAS, in 2021, Taiwan was Hawaii's tenth-largest trade partner, with exports to Hawaii totaling $54,000,000, and imports from Hawaii totaling $13,000,000; now, therefore,

 

     BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Thirty-second Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2023, the Senate concurring, that the Office of the Governor is requested to establish a Hawaii-Taiwan Friendship Taskforce; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Hawaii-Taiwan Friendship Taskforce is requested to explore ways to strengthen, improve, and expand economic, cultural, and educational relations between Hawaii and Taiwan; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Hawaii-Taiwan Friendship Taskforce is requested to comprise nine members as follows:

 

     (1)  Three members appointed by the Governor;

 

     (2)  Three members appointed by the President of the Senate; and

 

     (3)  Three members appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the members of the Hawaii‑Taiwan Friendship Taskforce are requested to elect a chair and vice chair from among the members; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Hawaii-Taiwan Friendship Taskforce is requested to submit a report of its findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to the Legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2025; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Hawaii-Taiwan Friendship Taskforce shall cease to exist on June 30, 2025; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Governor and Director General of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Honolulu.

 

 

 

 

OFFERED BY:

_____________________________

 

 

Report Title:

Hawaii-Taiwan Friendship Taskforce; Report