STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3411

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.C.R. No. 28

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 Public Safety and Military Affairs, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 28 entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE TO CONVENE A WORKING GROUP TO DEVELOP RECOMMENDATIONS FOR A STATE OF HAWAII COMMEMORATIVE VIETNAM VETERANS MEDAL,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to request the Department of Defense to convene a working group to develop recommendations for a State of Hawaii Commemorative Vietnam Veterans Medal.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Defense, Office of Veterans Services, Maui County Veterans Council, Nā Koa Kahiko Wahine, Veterans of Foreign Wars Department of Hawaii, Oahu Veterans Council, Go for Broke Association, and six individuals.

Your Committee finds that the State has a long and proud history of military service and that the contributions and sacrifices of its Vietnam War veterans deserve recognition and appreciation. Several other states have established medals to specifically honor their residents who served during the Vietnam War. These medals are typically commemorative or service-based and are distinct from awards issued by the Department of Defense. A working group tasked with developing recommendations for a State of Hawaii Commemorative Vietnam Veterans Medal would be a thoughtful first step to ensure that the medal is coordinated and developed with input from key stakeholders, including veterans. Accordingly, this measure makes a valuable contribution to honoring the State's Vietnam War veterans by requesting the Department of Defense to establish a working group to develop recommendations for a State of Hawaii Commemorative Vietnam Veterans Medal.

Your Committee notes that many veterans of the Vietnam War have lacked appropriate recognition for decades and that one purpose of the State of Hawaii Commemorative Vietnam Veterans Medal is to honor living veterans. Accordingly, your Committee recognizes the urgency of establishing a working group to develop recommendations for a State of Hawaii Commemorative Vietnam Veterans Medal, as the number of living Vietnam War veterans has diminished over time.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Replacing one member representing Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3830 with the State Commander of the Veterans of Foreign Wars – Department of Hawaii, or the State Commander's designee; and

(2) Making a technical, nonsubstantive amendment for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Public Safety and Military Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 28, as amended herein, and recommends its adoption in the form attached hereto as S.C.R. No. 28, S.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Public Safety and Military Affairs,

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CAROL FUKUNAGA, Chair