STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3511

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.R. No. 126

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Transportation and Culture and the Arts, to which was referred S.R. No. 126 entitled:

"SENATE RESOLUTION URGING THE STATE FOUNDATION ON CULTURE AND THE ARTS TO CONVENE A TASK FORCE TO DEVELOP ART, BRANDING, AND NARRATIVES FOR AN APPROPRIATE SELECTION OF HAWAII'S UNIQUE COMMUNITIES, LANDMARKS, PARKS, AND OTHER SIMILAR AREAS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to urge the State Foundation on Culture and the Arts to convene a task force to develop art, branding, and narratives for an appropriate selection of Hawaii's unique communities, landmarks, parks, and other similar areas.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the State Foundation on Culture and the Arts.

Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism and University of Hawaiʻi System.

Your Committee finds that the National Park Service has branded national parks with consistent theming and unique art that reflects each community and location, enabling them to establish a narrative, empower local artists, and sell merchandise to raise revenue for each location. Your Committee further finds that private companies are taking advantage of Hawaii and selling merchandise for profit, which does not always reflect the places, people, and culture that they are branding and merchandising. Your Committee concludes that the State should develop its own branding for key parks and areas throughout the State to preserve the character, values, perception, and culture that best reflects these places.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Adding a member to the task force with specialized expertise to act in a cultural advisory capacity; and

(2) Making a technical, nonsubstantive amendment for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

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. 126, as amended herein, and recommends its adoption in the form attached hereto as S.R. No. 126, S.D. 1.

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

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CHRIS LEE, Chair