STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2060-22

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2022

RE: S.C.R. No. 179

S.D. 1

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 S.C.R. No. 179, S.D. 1, entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION DESIGNATING MARCH 10 AS ENEWETAK ATOLL (MARSHALL ISLANDS) LIBERATION DAY,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to designate March 10 as Enewetak Atoll (Marshall Islands) Liberation Day.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Office of the Mayor of the County of Hawai‘i and two individuals.

Your Committee finds that Enewetak Atoll, along with the rest of the Marshall Islands, was captured by the Imperial Japanese Navy in 1914 during World War I and mandated to the Empire of Japan by the League of Nations in 1920. Although an initially beneficially arrangement, during World War II the inhabitants of Enewetak Atoll suffered significant hardships, including physical harm, hard labor, starvation, and executions, until the atoll was liberated from Japanese occupation in February of 1944 during the Battle of Eniwetok. Subsequently, the Enewetak residents commemorated March 10, 1944, as the day they "came out of the holes" after the Battle of Eniwetok.

Your Committee finds that March 10 was later selected as a day of celebration in the 1970s to commemorate the defeat of the Japanese by the United States and has come to be known as "Liberation Day" and is one of the most important and enjoyable events on Enewetak Atoll. Your Committee further finds that many people from Enewetak Atoll are displaced immigrants who reside on the island of Hawaii. This measure recognizes, honors, and remembers the people of Enewetak Atoll and their descendants in Hawaii by designating March 10 as Enewetak Atoll (Marshall Islands) Liberation Day.

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 S.C.R. No. 179, S.D. 1, 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