Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2006

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on International Affairs and Economic Development & Business Concerns, to which was referred H.B. No. 1890 entitled:

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this bill is to statutorily establish a process relating to the recognition of a sister-state or province relationship with Hawaii. Specifically, this measure establishes Hawaii sister-state committee that will make recommendations to the Legislature on initiating, maintaining, and if necessary, dissolving sister-state relationships.

The Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism (DBEDT) testified in support of this bill.

Your Committees find sister-state relationships are most effective and worthwhile when members of the business community, art and cultural institutions, academia, and other groups in the community become active stakeholders. In 2005, DBEDT recommended that to assure the productivity and viability of a sister-state relationship, the State would need to establish a rigorous selection process which includes:

In addition, your Committees believe that implementing this recommendation strengthens all current and future sister-state relationships.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on International Affairs and Economic Development & Business Concerns that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1890 and recommend that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Finance.