STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2289

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2896

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2018

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Judiciary, to which was referred S.B. No. 2896 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE 150TH 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 appropriate funds as a grant to the Japanese Cultural Center of Hawaii for the presentation and coordination of events and programs to celebrate and commemorate the one hundred fiftieth anniversary of the first arrival of Japanese emigrants to Hawaii.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism; Japanese Cultural Center of Hawai‘i; Historic Hawai‘i Foundation; Gannenmono Celebration Committee; and Oahu County Committee on Legislative Priorities of the Democratic Party of Hawaii.

Your Committee finds that the Gannenmono Celebration commemorates the one hundred fiftieth anniversary of the arrival of the first group of Japanese emigrants to Hawaii. Twenty community organizations in Hawaii are planning events during this year-long celebration to celebrate the legacy of these Japanese emigrants and the contributions that they and their descendants have made in Hawaii through the years. This measure will provide the resources to ensure broader participation from the public, increased educational activities in schools, collection of oral histories, and further research on the Gannenmono immigrants and their legacy.

Your Committee notes that certain events are scheduled to be held prior to the ability of this Legislature to appropriate funds.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2896 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Judiciary,

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BRIAN T. TANIGUCHI, Chair