STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1399

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.R. No. 68

       S.D. 1

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. 68, S.D. 1, entitled:

"SENATE RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A PHILIPPINES-HAWAII TOURISM COLLEGE STUDENT EXCHANGE PROGRAM COMPACT,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to request the University of Hawaii System to establish a student exchange program compact between the University of Hawaii System and the University of Northern Philippines College of Hospitality and Tourism Management and the Ilocos Sur Community College Tourism Management Program.

     Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the University of Hawaii System.

     Your Committee finds that the State of Hawaii and the Province of Ilocos Sur in the Philippines have had a long relationship.  The first "sakadas," or plantation workers, from Ilocos Sur arrived in Hawaii on December 20, 1906.  Since 1985, Hawaii has had a sister-state relationship with Ilocos Sur.

     Your Committee also finds that a student exchange program compact between the University of Hawaii System and the University of Northern Philippines and the Ilocos Sur Community College will benefit students of those institutions and the sister-state relationship between Hawaii and Ilocos Sur.  Consequently, your Committee supports this measure.

     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. 68, S.D. 1, and recommends its adoption.

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

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JILL N. TOKUDA, Chair