WHEREAS, Hawaii's geographic location makes it a bridge between the East and the West; and

WHEREAS, our Hawaiian host culture has given us a unique heritage, the Aloha Spirit; and

WHEREAS, Hawaii is also blessed with our multi-cultural society; and

WHEREAS, Hawaii is overly dependent on recreational tourism, which is vulnerable to international economic and geopolitical stresses of the world, as is exemplified by the present crises filled times; and

WHEREAS, the new knowledge-based, high technology and telecommunication economy is a longer ranged prospect for Hawaii's prosperity; and

WHEREAS, former leaders of Hawaii, from Kamehameha I through King Kalakaua, the first reigning monarch to travel around the world; former Governor Jack Burns, who was instrumental in the establishment of the East-West Center in Hawaii; and former Governor Ben Cayetano, who hosted the Asian Development Bank Conference in Honolulu, all recognized Hawaii's potential leadership in international affairs; and

WHEREAS, Hawaii is today in a position to take a more active role to enhance and expand our economy by: promoting international trade and cultural exchange; encouraging capital investment; exporting the Aloha Spirit as a means of nonviolent conflict resolution; and developing and providing educational and health initiatives and opportunities, particularly in the Pacific region and Asia; and

WHEREAS, to coordinate and oversee the tremendous potential Hawaii has as an international center, the Legislature finds it desirable to establish an Office of International Affairs; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Twenty-second Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2003, the House of Representatives concurring, that the Legislative Reference Bureau is requested to study and recommend the most appropriate duties and responsibilities, as well as location within the framework of state government, for an Office of International Affairs, taking into consideration that the office should be independent enough to serve both the legislative and executive branches; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Governor, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and the President of the Senate, are each requested to designate at least one individual who is knowledgeable about issues relating to the establishment of an Office of International Affairs and who shall be available for consultation with the Legislative Reference Bureau; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislative Reference Bureau is requested to report its findings and recommendations to the Legislature twenty days before the convening of the Regular Session of 2004; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Governor, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the President of the Senate, and the Director of the Legislative Reference Bureau.

Report Title:

Establishing an Office of International Affairs