STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1390

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.R. No. 63

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2017

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.R. No. 63 entitled:

"SENATE RESOLUTION ESTABLISHING A TASK FORCE TO PLAN AND COORDINATE THE CELEBRATION OF THE ONE HUNDRED FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARY OF THE FIRST ARRIVAL OF JAPANESE EMIGRANTS TO HAWAII,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to establish a task force under the State Foundation on Culture and the Arts to plan and coordinate the celebration of the one hundred fiftieth anniversary of the first arrival of Japanese emigrants to Hawaii.

     Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from one concerned individual.

     Your Committee finds that the first Japanese emigrants to Hawaii arrived on June 20, 1868.  They numbered one hundred fifty-three men and women, and were recruited from Yokohama to work in the sugar cane fields as laborers.

     Your Committee finds that the descendants of those initial arrivals and subsequent waves of emigrants from Japan as well as Okinawa have made Hawaii their home, contributing much to the diversity, economy, and history of Hawaii.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.R. No. 63 and recommends its adoption.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

________________________________

JILL N. TOKUDA, Chair