Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2006

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred H.B. No. 1889, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to establish an Office of International Affairs within the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism, to coordinate and promote economic, social, cultural, and scientific relations with other countries.

Specifically, the Office of International Affairs would:

Your Committee notes that the Office of International Relations was abolished in 1994 as a cost cutting measure. Subsequently, the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism has assumed the functions of the Office of International Relations. However, a separate Office of International Affairs would enable the State to carry out its international activities more effectively.

In this time of globalization, it is critical for Hawaii to assume a proactive role in international matters. Our State is impacted by international agreements and activities and there is much to learn from other countries. Furthermore, it is often said that this new century will belong to the Pacific and not the Atlantic. That East Asia is recognized as being the most productive economic region in the world is evidence of this theory. In the international arena, Hawaii has to offer not only its prime location and natural beauty, but its people, whose talent, skills, and cultural and value affinities combine the best of the East and the West.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1889, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1889, H.D. 1, S.D. 2.