STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1507-22

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2022

RE: H.C.R. No. 15

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. 15 entitled:

"HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING MARCH 17 AS ST. PATRICK'S DAY IN HONOR OF SAINT PATRICK AND IN RECOGNITION OF THE LONGSTANDING RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN IRELAND AND THE UNITED STATES AND THE NOTEWORTHY CONTRIBUTIONS AND ACHIEVEMENTS OF IRISH-AMERICANS TO OUR NATION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to recognize March 17 as St. Patrick's Day in honor of Saint Patrick and in recognition of the longstanding relationship between Ireland and the United States and the noteworthy contributions and achievements of Irish-Americans to the United States.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from one individual. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Center for Hawaiian Sovereignty Studies and one individual.

Your Committee finds that although St. Patrick's Day began as a religious holiday, in America it has become a celebration of Irish culture and history by peoples of diverse ethnicities and cultures with parades, festivals, traditional Irish music sessions, and other activities that honor and celebrate the life of Saint Patrick and recognize the contributions and achievements of the Irish to America's melting pot of people and cultures.

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. 15 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