STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3555

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.R. No. 160

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.R. No. 160 entitled:

"SENATE RESOLUTION ESTABLISHING A SISTER-STATE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE STATE OF HAWAII, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND THE PREFECTURE OF YAMAGATA, JAPAN,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to establish a sister-state relationship between the State and the prefecture of Yamagata, Japan.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism; Yamagata Prefectural Government; Hawaii Yamagata Kenjinkai; Chamber of Commerce Hawaii; and two individuals.

Your Committee finds that the State and Yamagata Prefecture in Japan share many similarities in industry, culture, and economic development priorities. By formally establishing a sister-state relationship between the two governments, this measure would expand collaboration, advance shared economic goals, and strengthen ties between these 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.R. No. 160, as amended herein, and recommends its adoption in the form attached hereto as S.R. No. 160, 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