STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1525

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.R. No. 144

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Transportation and Culture and the Arts, to which was referred S.R. No. 144 entitled:

"SENATE RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE STATE FOUNDATION ON CULTURE AND THE ARTS TO ESTABLISH A MUSEUM OF MODERN HAWAII HISTORY TASK FORCE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to request the State Foundation on Culture and the Arts to establish a Museum of Modern Hawaii History Task Force.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the State Foundation on Culture and the Arts, Department of Accounting and General Services, and Judiciary.

Your Committee finds that in the modern era, Hawaii has made national and global impacts that deserve to be celebrated and taught to both visitors and residents. As the site of national and global historical events such as the events of World War II; political progress such as Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972; and landmark judicial rulings such as the Baehr v. Miike, 80 Haw. 341 (1996), decision relating to same-sex marriage, the State has been instrumental as a birthplace to political, judicial, and social progress. More recently, the State also played a pivotal role in climate change initiatives with the enactment of Act 97, Session Laws of Hawaii 2015, which establishes a renewable energy portfolio standards target of one hundred percent renewable electric energy by 2045.

Your Committee further finds that other institutions in the State share the histories and stories of Hawaii's history before the modern era. Institutions such as the Bernice Pauahi Bishop Museum, also known as the State of Hawaii Museum of Natural and Cultural History; Iolani Palace; King Kamehameha V Judiciary History Center; and State Archives all tell the story of Hawaii's history up to the overthrow era, but do not have a space dedicated to sharing the story of the modern era. As history serves as a dialogue between past and present, this measure provides an additional opportunity for the State to share its history and story with the world.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Transportation and Culture and the Arts that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.R. No. 144 and recommends its adoption.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Transportation and Culture and the Arts,

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CHRIS LEE, Chair