Report Title:

Forming a committee to designate official state symbols.

WHEREAS, marketing the state of Hawaii helps to enhance Hawaii's image and attracts visitors to our shores, thereby improving the economy; and

WHEREAS, designating official state symbols perpetuates the culture and distinctiveness of our islands and cultivates recognition of Hawaii's attributes throughout the world; and

WHEREAS, while Hawaii has official symbols of the state, including a state motto, a state song, a state bird, and a state fish, among others, the state should designate more symbols to further delineate our unique island heritage; and

WHEREAS, additional state symbols could include an official state endangered species, state apparel, state colors, state fruit or vegetable, state dance, state sport, state footwear, state food and state beverage, among other examples; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-first Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2001, the Senate concurring, that the State Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism (DBEDT) is requested to assemble a committee of experts from Hawaii's marketing, tourism and cultural sectors; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the committee's mission shall be to develop a list of official state symbols which further enhance and define Hawaii's character; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the committee shall submit its list of suggestions to the Governor and Legislature no later than twenty days prior the commencing of the Regular Session of 2002; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Director of DBEDT.