HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.C.R. NO.	94
TWENTY-SEVENTH LEGISLATURE, 2014
STATE OF HAWAII

HOUSE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

supporting a bid to the Council of Pacific Arts and Culture for hawaii to host the 2020 Festival of Pacific Arts.

     WHEREAS, the Festival of Pacific Arts (Festival) is a traveling event hosted every four years by a different nation in Oceania; and

     WHEREAS, the Festival was conceived by the Secretariat of the Pacific Community, formerly the South Pacific Commission, to promote traditional practices through an event that allows nations in Oceania to showcase, share, and exchange their indigenous cultures; and

     WHEREAS, participating nations honor their living treasures with the opportunity to represent their cultures to Festival participants, visitors, and tourists from around the world; and

     WHEREAS, the Festival began in 1972, with Fiji having the honor of hosting the first event, followed by New Zealand in 1976, Papua New Guinea in 1980, Tahiti in 1985, Australia in 1988, the Cook Islands in 1992, Samoa in 1996, New Caledonia in 2000, Palau in 2004, American Samoa in 2008, and the Solomon Islands in 2012, and will be held in Guam in 2016; and

     WHEREAS, the Council of Pacific Arts and Culture selects the host country based on the principles of equitable opportunity, by rotating the Festival among nations that have never hosted; and

     WHEREAS, Hawaii has participated in every Festival but has never hosted; and

     WHEREAS, Hawaii is an excellent venue to host the Festival, with ample capacity, sizeable populations of residents from nations in Oceania, a large tourist market, and experience hosting cultural events; and

     WHEREAS, while there are costs involved in hosting the Festival and past Festivals have allowed free admission, this event can draw both tourist and local visitors to the Festival venue and its supporting accommodations, which could give the State an economic boost; and

     WHEREAS, the Hawaii delegate to the Council of Pacific Arts and Culture must present an intent to submit a full and formal bid to host the Festival to the Council by May 27, 2014; now, therefore,

     BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-seventh Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2014, the Senate concurring, that this body supports a bid to the Council of Pacific Arts and Culture for Hawaii to host the 2020 Festival of Pacific Arts; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that an exploratory committee be formed, made up of the Hawaii delegate to the Council of Pacific Arts and Culture, as well as representatives from:

(1)  The Office of the Governor;

(2)  The Hawaii Tourism Authority;

(3)  The Office of Hawaiian Affairs;

(4)  The Hawaii Council of Mayors; and

(5)  Any other entity or organization that is critical to the success of a bid proposal and implementation of a bid proposal to host the Festival; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the exploratory committee convene no later than            with the express purpose of submitting a bid proposal to the Council of Pacific Arts and Culture to host the 2020 Festival of Pacific Arts; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Governor, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Hawaii Tourism Authority, Chief Executive Officer of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Chairperson of the Hawaii County of Mayors, and Council of Pacific Arts and Culture.

OFFERED BY:

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Report Title: 

Festival of Pacific Arts; Host