STAND. COM. REP. NO. 172-26

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2026

RE: H.B. No. 2194

H.D. 1

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

State of Hawaii

Madame:

Your Committee on Agriculture & Food Systems, to which was referred H.B. No. 2194 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO LEI,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Require and establish benchmarks for each state executive agency to ensure that a certain percentage of lei purchased by that executive agency consists of lei made entirely of natural objects and plant materials grown, harvested, and assembled in the State; and

(2) Establish labeling requirements for lei and lei materials.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity; Hawaiian Council; Kapolei Chamber of Commerce; Hawaiʻi Farm Bureau; Hawaiʻi Farmers Union United; Kalihi Palama Hawaiian Civic Club; and one individual. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from one individual. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the State Procurement Office and one individual.

Your Committee finds that the lei is a significant cultural, social, and economic expression of Hawaii and Native Hawaiian traditions. Your Committee further finds that the increasing commercialization of lei and lei materials has led to the growing use of imported plant materials and manufactured components that are marketed using Hawaiian language, imagery, and place names, which may mislead consumers and undermine local flower growers, lei makers, and cultural practitioners. By establishing benchmarks for each state executive agency to purchase lei using locally grown materials and labeling requirements for lei and lei materials, this measure will support Hawaii's farmers, strengthen the local floriculture industry, and reinforce the cultural and economic value of Hawaii-grown agricultural products.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing the percentage benchmarks that each state executive agency must meet in the purchasing of lei to unspecified percentages;

(2) Changing the starting date for the prohibition on state executive agencies' purchasing of lei containing plant material grown and harvested outside of the State to an unspecified date;

(3) Specifying that no person shall keep, offer, display or expose for sale, or solicit the sale of any lei that is labeled with the term "Hawaii Made" unless the lei meets the requirements of the "Hawaii Made" program administered by the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism pursuant to section 201-3.5, Hawaii Revised Statutes;

(4) Changing the effective date to July 1, 3000, to encourage further discussion; and

(5) 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 Agriculture & Food Systems that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2194, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2194, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Agriculture & Food Systems,

____________________________

CORY CHUN, Chair