STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1655-26

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2026

RE: H.C.R. No. 36

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

State of Hawaii

Madame:

Your Committee on Economic Development & Technology, to which was referred H.C.R. No. 36 entitled:

"HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION ESTABLISHING A SISTER-STATE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE STATE OF HAWAII, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND THE PREFECTURE OF OKAYAMA, JAPAN,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to establish a sister-state relationship between the State of Hawaii, United States of America, and the Prefecture of Okayama, Japan.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism; Okayama Kenjin Kai; and one individual. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Hawaii Global Education Foundation.

Your Committee finds that Hawaii and Okayama, Japan, share long-standing historical, cultural, and people-to-people ties rooted in Japanese immigration to Hawaii and ongoing cultural exchanges. Your Committee further finds that both jurisdictions share common priorities, including sustainable tourism, workforce development, food security, clean energy, climate resilience, and the preservation of cultural heritage. Your Committee recognizes that sister‑state relationships are a means of asserting the State's active participation in international matters and that a sister-state relationship between Hawaii and Okayama would be highly beneficial for both jurisdictions. Accordingly, this measure establishes a sister-state relationship between the State and the Prefecture of Okayama, Japan.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Economic Development & Technology that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of H.C.R. No. 36 and recommends its adoption.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Economic Development & Technology,

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GREGGOR ILAGAN, Chair