STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3552

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.C.R. No. 163

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Water, Land, Culture and the Arts, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 163 entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REAFFIRMING THE LEGISLATURE'S COMMITMENT TO PARTICIPATE AS A MEMBER LEGISLATURE IN THE PACIFIC INTER-PARLIAMENTARY ASSEMBLY,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to reaffirm the Legislature's commitment to participate as a member legislature in the Pacific Inter-Parliamentary Assembly.

Your Committee did not receive any testimony on this measure.

Your Committee finds that the State has participated in the Pacific Islands Parliamentary Group since its founding year of 2019, facilitating legislative collaboration and supporting democratic institutions throughout Oceania. In 2025, the Pacific Islands Parliamentary Group established a successor organization by the name of Pacific Inter-Parliamentary Group to expand and formalize its structure and operations, and for the State to continue participating in the new organization, the Legislature must formally reaffirm their membership. This measure will sustain regional cooperation, legislative dialogue, and the commitment to elevate the voices and priorities of Pacific communities.

Your Committee has amended this measure by making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Water, Land, Culture and the Arts that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 163, as amended herein, and recommends its adoption in the form attached hereto as S.C.R. No. 163, S.D. 1.

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

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CHRIS LEE, Chair