STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1502-22

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2022

RE: H.C.R. No. 162

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. 162 entitled:

"HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE HAWAII COUNCIL FOR THE HUMANITIES, STATE FOUNDATION ON CULTURE AND THE ARTS, AND THE HAWAII STATE PUBLIC LIBRARY SYSTEM TO COLLABORATE FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A HAWAII STATE POET LAUREATE PROGRAM,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to request the Hawaii Council for the Humanities, State Foundation on Culture and the Arts, and Hawaii State Public Library System to collaborate for the establishment of a Hawaii State Poet Laureate Program.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the State Foundation on Culture and the Arts, Hawai‘i Council for the Humanities, Pacific Tongues, and fourteen individuals.

Your Committee finds that literature and poetry are a way to blend multicultural voices, languages, and traditions in a manner that promotes dialogue, pride, and understanding within the State's diverse communities and with the world. On a national level, the promotion of poetry is done through the periodic appointment of a poet laureate by the Librarian of Congress. Your Committee further finds that the Hawaii Council for the Humanities, State Foundation on Culture and the Arts, and Hawaii State Public Library System have the qualifications to establish a Hawaii State Poet Laureate Program to nurture and connect the various cultures in Hawaii through the promotion of poetry.

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. 162 and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Finance.

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

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CEDRIC ASUEGA GATES, Chair