RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, Hawaii, American Samoa, Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas, the coastal sections of the State of Alaska and other entities in the central and western Pacific Ocean share unique homeland security vulnerabilities and opportunities for mutual support; and

WHEREAS, Hawaii and other U.S. interests in the Pacific Ocean are particularly vulnerable due to their relative isolation from the continental U.S., and their great dependence upon maritime commerce, and other issues; and

WHEREAS, the homeland security of Hawaii and other U.S. interests in the Pacific must be managed in cooperation with other states in the region, and with a close and meaningful relationship with our neighbors in the Pacific Rim, especially in Asia; and

WHEREAS, as a consequence of its vulnerability, Hawaii must not only be particularly well prepared for the welfare of its own citizens, but also prepared to assist its neighbors in times of crisis; and

WHEREAS, Hawaii is well established as a center of commerce, education, science, and emergency support for the region, including American Samoa, Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas, and other entities in the central and western Pacific Ocean; and

WHEREAS, Hawaii and other U.S. interests in the Pacific Ocean constitute a border of the United States; and

WHEREAS, Hawaii, with its geographic location and large U.S. military presence, is of great strategic value to the nation; and

WHEREAS, Hawaii has shown foresight in establishing the Hawaii Emergency Preparedness Executive Committee (HEPEC) which regularly brings together senior management of federal, state, and local agencies having responsibility for emergency preparedness, including terrorism; and

WHEREAS, under the direction of the Adjutant General, who is also the Director of State Homeland Security, there are already in progress plans for a regional homeland security training facility; and

WHEREAS, Hawaii has unique homeland security challenges, including maritime domain awareness, communications, intelligence sharing, training, and equipping of first responders, logistics, and efficient management of emergency response resources; and

WHEREAS, within the State of Hawaii there are extensive educational and technical resources that may lead in the development of solutions to the unique challenges that will be faced in times of crisis; and

WHEREAS, Hawaii is an ideal location to develop solutions for homeland security problems that could be implemented by homeland security officials on the Mainland and by other interests in the region; and

WHEREAS, close alignment with the Department of Homeland Security is essential for the success of the security of the State of Hawaii and the central and western areas of the Pacific Ocean; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-second Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2003, the Senate concurring, that the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security is requested to establish a Pacific Oceanic Administrative Region within the Department of Homeland Security to be headquartered in Honolulu; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the President of the United States, Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, Majority Leader of the United States Senate, Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, Hawaii's Congressional delegation, and the Governor of the State of Hawaii.

Report Title:

Requesting the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security to establish a Pacific Oceanic Administrative Region within the Department of Homeland Security to be headquartered in Honolulu.