STAND. COM. REP. NO. 618-24

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2024

RE: H.B. No. 2246

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Culture, Arts, & International Affairs, to which was referred H.B. No. 2246, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE STATE FOUNDATION ON CULTURE AND THE ARTS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Transfer the awarding and administration of certain cultural grants from the Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority to the State Foundation on Culture and the Arts; and

(2) Establish a Standing Selection Committee within the Foundation to review and award cultural grants.

Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Hawaiʻi State Foundation on Culture and the Arts and Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority.

Your Committee finds that the mission of the State Foundation on Culture and the Arts is to promote, perpetuate, and preserve culture and the arts in the State. However, your Committee notes that the Foundation does not have the explicit statutory authority to award and administer cultural grants that perpetuate the uniqueness of the Native Hawaiian culture and community. Your Committee believes that the State Foundation on Culture and the Arts is a more appropriate agency than the Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority to award and administer such cultural grants, as this function is better aligned with the Foundation's mission.

Your Committee notes that nonprofit organizations, community groups, and events that may receive or benefit from cultural grants from the Foundation through this measure include but are not limited to the Hawaiʻi International Film Festival; Festival of Pacific Arts and Culture; Pan-Pacific Festival; Queen Liliʻuokalani Keiki Hula Competition; Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar Festival; Kauaʻi Songwriters Music Festival; 󠅍Eō e ʻEmalani i Alakaʻi Festival; Hawaiʻi's Woodshow, Na Laʻau o Hawaiʻi; ʻIolani Palace Kamaʻāina Sundays; Ka Pae ʻĀina o Hawaiʻi Nei Hawaiian Archipelago Mosaic Program; Hāna Arts; Hula Arts at Kīlauea; Polynesian Voyaging Society; and Kalihi-Pālama Culture & Arts Society.

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 is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2246, H.D. 1, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Finance.

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

____________________________

ADRIAN K. TAM, Chair