HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.C.R. NO.	211
TWENTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE, 2008
STATE OF HAWAII

HOUSE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

promoting hawaii as the world's interfaith harmony capital.

     WHEREAS, much of the violence in the world arises out of religious conflict; and

WHEREAS, religious conflict is often the result of inadequate understanding of other religions; and

WHEREAS, an effective means for minimizing misunderstanding between religions is to promote open channels of communication between religious faiths; and

WHEREAS, the "aloha spirit" is recognized as an important aspect of the Hawaiian culture and arises from the concepts of understanding and acceptance; and

WHEREAS, the "aloha spirit" has allowed various interfaith religious groups to promote dialogue and activities in a free and open manner and to draw participation from a broad base transcending religious faiths; and

WHEREAS, because of the "aloha spirit", Hawaii is uniquely qualified to serve as a role model for the acceptance and promotion of interfaith religious activities; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-fourth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2008, the Senate concurring, that Hawaii should be promoted as the world's Interfaith Harmony Capital; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that Hawaii serve as a role model for interfaith relations and host activities seeking to develop and promote interfaith relations; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the All Believers Network, a non-profit organization incorporated in the State of Hawaii, is requested to establish the statewide interfaith steering committee consisting of representatives from the various religious and interfaith organizations and groups in Hawaii, including but not limited to:  Baha'i, Buddhism, Christianity, Church Women United, Confucianism, Daoism, Hawaiian Spirituality, Hinduism, Islam, Knights of Columbus, Jainism, Judaism, Mokichi Okada Association, Native Americans, Church of Perfect Liberty, Quakers, Risshio Kosei Kai, the Salvation Army, Seichi-No Ie, Shinnyo-En, Shinto, Sikhism, Sufism, Unitarian Universalism, Unity, Zoroastrianism, All Believers Network, the Interfaith Alliance, and the Open Table; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that members of the statewide interfaith steering committee are requested to select a chairperson from amongst its members; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature requests that the purpose of the statewide interfaith steering committee be to develop and promote interfaith activities to further relations between various religious faiths; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the statewide interfaith steering committee is requested to explore the possibility of organizing a major international interfaith conference in Hawaii to take place by 2011; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that it is requested that the statewide interfaith steering committee be terminated on June 30, 2011; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the interfaith steering committee at 781 Eleele Place, Honolulu, Hawaii 96825, which is in turn requested to transmit copies to representatives of each of the faiths and organizations listed in this Concurrent Resolution.

OFFERED BY:

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Report Title: 

Promoting Hawaii as The World's Interfaith Harmony Capital