Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2001

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Hawaiian Affairs and Education, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 76 entitled:

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to convene a Hawaiian Affairs Task Force.

Testimony in support of the measure was received from the Office of Hawaiian Affairs and the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands.

Your Committees have amended the measure by deleting its title and text, and inserting therefor, provisions that request the State Foundation on Culture and the Arts to establish a formal policy on supporting Native Hawaiian culture and arts. The primary focus of the policy should be to perpetuate and promote Native Hawaiian culture and arts for the benefit of visitors and residents alike.

Testimony in support of the amended measure was received from the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, the State Foundation on Culture and the Arts, the Ilioulaokalani Coalition, Halau Haloa – the National Academy of Hawaiian Performing Arts, Hooulu Ke Ola O Na Pua – the Kauai Hawaiian Studies Kupuna and Kumu, the President of the Native Hawaiian Tourism and Hospitality Association, and three private citizens.

Your Committees find that the economic viability of Hawaii's tourism is heavily dependent on the Hawaiian culture, through media such as music, dance, and art. Your Committees also find that it is the culture of the indigenous people of Hawaii that is unique and of critical importance in differentiating Hawaii from all other sand and sea visitor destinations.

Even though most people realize the value of Hawaiian culture and art to the State's tourism industry and economy in general, support for Hawaiian culture and arts has been lacking in the various sectors of private and publicly financed tourism.

Your Committees further find that the State Foundation on Culture and the Arts was established to promote, preserve, and perpetuate arts and cultural activities within the State. As such, your Committees believe that the State Foundation on Culture and the Arts would be the ideal entity to serve as the lead agency to champion the proliferation and understanding of Hawaiian arts and cultural practices.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Hawaiian Affairs and Education that are attached to this report, your Committees concur with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 76, as amended herein, and recommend its adoption in the form attached hereto as S.C.R. No. 76, S.D. 1.