STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3587

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.R. No. 46

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. 46 entitled:

"SENATE 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 and intent of this measure is to establish a sister-state relationship between the State, United States of America, and the prefecture of Okayama in Japan.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism; one member of the Honolulu City Council; Chamber of Commerce Hawaii; and one individual.

Your Committee finds that the State has maintained sister‑state relationships since 1981, six of the eighteen current relationships being with Japanese prefectures. Okayama, one prefecture not currently in a sister-state status, shares a unique bond with the State, begun in 1868 when one of its citizens arrived with the first group of Japanese immigrants and continued to this day through the activities of multiple nonprofit organizations and educational institutions. This measure will expand economic opportunity, strengthen tourism, enhance local agriculture, deepen cultural understanding, advance common goals of international peace and cooperation, and recognize the legacy of Japanese immigrants from Okayama.

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. 46 and recommends its adoption.

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

________________________________

CHRIS LEE, Chair