STAND. COM. REP. NO. 250-24

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2024

RE: H.B. No. 2736

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. 2736 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO STATE GESTURE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to adopt, establish, and designate the shaka as the official gesture of the State.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaii Bulletin; Hawaii.bio Inc.; Pono Connections LLC; and numerous individuals.

Your Committee finds that all origin theories of the shaka gesture have the shaka developing within the State. Your Committee further finds that the shaka has positive connotations as it is used to share aloha, foster connection, and be pono. By adopting, establishing, and designating the shaka as the official gesture of the State, Hawaii can better preserve its brand association with the shaka, better secure recognition as the birthplace of the shaka, and better preserve the meaning of the shaka.

Your Committee has amended this measure by changing the effective date to July 1, 3000, to encourage further discussion.

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. 2736, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2736, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs.

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

____________________________

ADRIAN K. TAM, Chair