STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2864

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 3096

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2020

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Labor, Culture and the Arts, to which was referred S.B. No. 3096 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO STATE HOLIDAYS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to reestablish Lā Kū‘oko‘a, Hawaiian Recognition Day, as an official state holiday.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Ka Lei Pāpahi ‘O Kākuhihewa, Beneficiary Trust Council, Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs, Hawaiian Affairs Caucus, Prince Kūhiō Hawaiian Civic Club, Ka Lāhui Hawai‘i Political Action Committee, and two individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Hawaii Government Employees Association.

Your Committee finds that in 1847, Kamehameha III required his Minister of Foreign Affairs, Robert Crichton Wyllie, to determine a fitting way to recognize and celebrate the anniversary of Hawaii's welcome, as an independent nation, into the family of nations. On October 15, 1847, Wyllie delivered his report by Privy Council to the King and ministers and marked the first official celebration of Hawaiian Recognition Day. Lā Kū‘oko‘a, a source of pride in Hawaii that in recent years has garnered a newfound energy in its celebration.

Your Committee further finds that Hawaii's special heritage and the various holidays currently celebrated distinguish us from other states and Lā Kū‘oko‘a merits additional consideration as a unique Hawaiian holiday.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Establishing Lā Kū‘oko‘a as a state holiday on the fourth Friday of November;

(2) Changing the effective date to July 1, 2051, to encourage further discussion; and

(3) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Labor, Culture and the Arts that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 3096, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 3096, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Labor, Culture and the Arts,

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BRIAN T. TANIGUCHI, Chair