STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1505-22

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2022

RE: H.C.R. No. 14

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Culture, Arts, & International Affairs, to which was referred H.C.R. No. 14 entitled:

"HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION ESTABLISHING A SISTER-STATE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE STATE OF HAWAII, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND THE AUTONOMOUS REGION OF MADEIRA, PORTUGAL,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to establish a sister-state relationship between the State of Hawaii and the Autonomous Region of Madeira, Portugal.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism.

Your Committee finds that Hawaii has a long and strong historical bond with the people of Madeira, beginning with the arrival in Honolulu Harbor of one hundred eight contract laborers from Madeira on September 30, 1878. Immigrants from Madeira brought elements of their culture that have become integral parts of Hawaii, such as the braguinha, which became the ‘ukulele; linguiça, which became Portuguese sausage; and their skills as cattlemen, whose traditions shaped Hawaii's paniolo. Your Committee further finds that the Hawaii Sister-State Committee has reviewed the Hawaii-Madeira sister-state application and has recommended that a sister-state relationship be established between Hawaii and the Autonomous Region of Madeira.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Culture, Arts, & International Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of H.C.R. No. 14 and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs.

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

____________________________

CEDRIC ASUEGA GATES, Chair