STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1687-14

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2014

RE:   S.C.R. No. 47

      S.D. 1

      H.D. 1

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2014

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Veterans, Military, & International Affairs, & Culture and the Arts, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 47, S.D. 1, entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING JANUARY 17 OF EVERY YEAR AS HO‘OKU‘IKAHI DAY, OR RECONCILIATION DAY, IN HONOR AND REMEMBRANCE OF THE JUSTICE, RECONCILIATION, AND NONVIOLENCE OF QUEEN LILI‘UOKALANI,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to remind and educate the State's residents of the historical events surrounding the 1893 overthrow of Queen Lili‘uokalani by recognizing January 17 of every year as Ho‘oku‘ikahi Day, or Reconciliation Day, in honor and remembrance of the justice, reconciliation, and nonviolence of Queen Lili‘uokalani.

The Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs, Pacific Justice and Reconciliation Center, Committee of Hawaiian Nationals, and several concerned individuals testified in support of this measure.  The Office of Hawaiian Affairs supported the intent of this measure.  The Center for Hawaiian Sovereignty Studies and a concerned individual testified in opposition to this measure.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by inserting three additional WHEREAS clauses that:

     (1)  Acknowledges the complex and multi-faceted process involved in achieving lasting reconciliation;

     (2)  Recognizes the efforts of Queen Lili‘uokalani to achieve peaceful reconciliation for the overthrow of the Hawaiian Kingdom through the restoration of her country and the return of its lands and sovereignty; and

     (3)  Reaffirming the position that the State should remind itself and the people of Hawaii of the steps taken toward the fulfillment of Queen Lili‘uokalani's vision of peaceful reconciliation, and of the need for ongoing work to realize such a vision.

     Technical, nonsubstantive amendments were also made for clarity, consistency, and style.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Veterans, Military, & International Affairs, & Culture and the Arts that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 47, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends its adoption in the form attached hereto as S.C.R. No. 47, S.D. 1, H.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Veterans, Military, & International Affairs, & Culture and the Arts,

____________________________

K. MARK TAKAI, Chair