STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1895-24

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2024

RE: S.C.R. No. 147

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 S.C.R. No. 147 entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE STATE TO BEGIN PLANNING TO COLLABORATE WITH PARTNERS IN JAPAN TO APPROPRIATELY RECOGNIZE THE EIGHTIETH ANNIVERSARY OF THE END OF WORLD WAR II, INCLUDING THE ATOMIC BOMBINGS AND LIVES LOST IN JAPAN AND HAWAII THROUGHOUT THE WAR, AND REAFFIRM A COMMITMENT TO ENSURING THESE TRAGEDIES ARE NEVER REPEATED,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to request the State to begin planning to collaborate with partners in Japan to appropriately recognize the eightieth anniversary of the end of World War II, including the atomic bombings and lives lost in Japan and Hawaii throughout the war, and reaffirm a commitment to ensuring these tragedies are never repeated.

Your Committee received comments on this measure from the State Foundation on Culture and the Arts.

Your Committee finds that August 2025 will mark the eightieth anniversary of the atomic bombings in Hiroshima and Nagasaki as well as the conclusion of World War II in the Pacific. Your Committee further finds that during World War II, Hawaii and Japan lost countless lives in the attacks on Pearl Harbor, the atomic bombings, and in battles throughout the Pacific theater and around the world. Your Committee concludes that properly recognizing and honoring the lives lost in World War II, particularly at the anniversary of the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, will reaffirm the lessons learned from these tragedies, strengthen mutual respect and understanding between our people, and reaffirm the deep friendship between Japan and Hawaii for current and future generations.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing who is requested to begin planning to collaborate with partners in Japan to appropriately recognize the end of World War II from the State to the State Foundation on Culture and the Arts;

(2) Amending its title accordingly; and

(3) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

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 concurs with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 147, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs in the form attached hereto as S.C.R. No. 147, H.D. 1.

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

____________________________

ADRIAN K. TAM, Chair