HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.R. NO.	277
TWENTY-FIFTH LEGISLATURE, 2009
STATE OF HAWAII

HOUSE RESOLUTION

requesting the university of hawai`i at manoa to establish a muslims in asia research institute.

     WHEREAS, several years ago, discussions began within the University of Hawai`i at Manoa for the establishment of an interdisciplinary Muslims in Asia Research Institute and such discussions are still ongoing; and

     WHEREAS, although other universities have successfully established and secured both national and international funding for Middle Eastern Research Institutes, an interdisciplinary Muslim Asia Research Institute would be the first of its kind in the United States, filling an educational gap about Muslims in Asia and relevant to the University of Hawai`i's international focus on Asia and the Pacific; and

     WHEREAS, the University of Hawai`i at Manoa is ideally suited for such a Muslims in Asia Research Institute, since it has faculty expertise for Islam in Asia, and since it serves as the gateway between the United States and the nations of the Pacific Rim, which have large Muslim and Asian populations; and

     WHEREAS, several Asian governments and partner schools, various national groups, as well as the federal government have expressed interest in such a research institute; and

     WHEREAS, in efforts to diversify our economy, higher education is a viable means to attract revenue, and with an interdisciplinary Muslims in Asia Research Institute comes the opportunity for grant and research moneys and the ability to tap a niche in the higher education market, as well as promote better international understanding of Islam in Asia; now, therefore,

     BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-fifth Legislature of the State of Hawai`i, Regular Session of 2009, that the University of Hawai`i at Manoa is encouraged to establish a Muslims in Asia Research Institute; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to David McClain, president of the University of Hawai`i, Virginia Hinshaw, chancellor of the University of Hawai`i at Manoa, the Center for Southeast Asian Studies, the Center for South Asian Studies, the University of Hawai`i at Manoa Study Abroad Center, the Director of the Pacific Asian Management Institute, the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research and Graduate Education at the University of Hawai`i at Manoa, the Pacific Asian Management Institute and Center for International Business Education and Research (CIBER), the Department of Indo-Pacific Languages & Literatures at the University of Hawai`i at Manoa, the Department of Philosophy at the University of Hawai`i at Manoa, and the School of Pacific and Asian Studies at the University of Hawai`i at Manoa.

OFFERED BY:

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Report Title: 

University of Hawaii at Manoa; Muslims in Asia Research Institute