STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2899

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 3312

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.B. No. 3312 entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent 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; Leveraged Leadership, LLC; Pono Connections LLC; ID8 Studios; and twenty-nine individuals.

Your Committee finds that while multiple Hawaii ethnic cultures and resident groups have contributed varying layers of meaning to the shaka hand gesture, there is a shared agreement in the shaka's positive sentiments and usage. Your Committee further finds that the shaka is a key brand symbol for the State, offering influential power to build the State's economy, global brand, and resident pride. It is therefore appropriate that the shaka be honored as the official gesture of the State to secure recognition of Hawaii as the shaka's place of origin, to preserve the meaning of the shaka as originated in Hawaii, to preserve Hawaii's brand association with the gesture, and to share the aloha spirit around the world.

Your Committee notes that testimony was received by the descendants of Hamana Kalili, the potential originator of the shaka sign. Should subsequent committees choose to deliberate on this measure, your Committee respectfully requests that they consider incorporating how to properly phrase and address the recognition of the potential originator into the measure's preamble.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Adding language to authorize the State Foundation on Culture and the Arts to develop a public work of art related to the shaka and its history to be displayed in a prominent location for residents and visitors to Hawaii; and

(2) Inserting an effective date of January 1, 2050, to encourage further discussion.

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 is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 3312, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 3312, S.D. 1, and be placed on the calendar for Third Reading.

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

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CHRIS LEE, Chair