STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1235

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2011

RE:   H.R. No. 60

      H.D. 1

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Sixth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2011

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on International Affairs, to which was referred H.R. No. 60 entitled:

"HOUSE RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE STATE OF HAWAI`I AND THE ISLANDS OF POLYNESIA,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this resolution is to request the Governor to set up a task force within the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism (DBEDT) to establish a relationship between Hawaii and the islands of Polynesia, including:

     (1)  Western Province – Solomon Islands;

     (2)  Rarotonga District – Cook Islands;

     (3)  Easter Island;

     (4)  Province of Tahiti – French Polynesia;

     (5)  Pohnpei Province – Micronesia;

     (6)  Westland Province – New Zealand;

     (7)  Madang Province – Papua New Guinea;

     (8)  Pitcairn Island District - Pitcairn Islands;

     (9)  Upolu District – Samoa;

    (10)  Tongatapu District – Tonga;

    (11)  Funafuti District – Tuvalu; and

    (12)  ‘Uvea Province – Wallis and Futuna.

     A concerned individual testified in support of this measure.  DBEDT supported the intent. 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1)  Changing its title to read: "REQUESTING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE STATE OF HAWAI‘I AND THE ISLANDS OF OCEANIA";

(2)  Broadening the geographic scope by:

(A)  Replacing references to Polynesia with Oceania; and

(B)  Clarifying that the islands of Oceania that the Governor is being requested to set up a task force to establish a relationship with Hawaii are not limited to the ones listed;

(3)  Replacing Easter Island with the Republic of Vanuatu and adding the Republic of the Fiji Islands as islands of Oceania that the Governor is being requested to set up a task force to establish a relationship with Hawaii;

(4)  Requesting that DBEDT submit a report of the task force's findings to the Legislature no later than 20 days prior to the Regular Session of 2012; and

     (5)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments, for clarity, consistency, and style.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on International Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of H.R. No. 60, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to the Committee on Finance in the form attached hereto as H.R. No. 60, H.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on International Affairs,

____________________________

KAREN L. AWANA, Chair