Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2004

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Tourism, to which was referred H.B. No. 2186, H.D. 2, entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to make an appropriation to the Filipino Centennial Celebration Commission to prepare for the 2006 Filipino Centennial Celebration.

Testimony in support of this measure was received from the State Foundation on Culture and the Arts, Filipino Centennial Commission, Congress of Visayan Organizations, Ilocos Surian Association of Hawaii, and forty-one individuals.

Act 159, Session Laws of Hawaii 2002, established the fifteen member temporary commission to, among other things, prepare an overall program to celebrate the centennial anniversary of the arrival of the Filipino people in Hawaii, their significant contributions to the development of this State, and their culture and heritage. The commission is also charged with developing, planning, and coordinating the various program activities that will be scheduled throughout the year. Act 159 did not appropriate any funds, but allowed the commission to seek grants from public and private sources and to accept donations.

Your Committee has amended this measure to make an unspecified appropriation that is "up to" $1,000,000, so that if a lower sum is provided in matching funds, the lower amount will be appropriated from the general fund.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Tourism that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2186, H.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2186, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.