STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3493

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.R. No. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Transportation and Culture and the Arts, to which was referred S.R. No. 1 entitled:

"SENATE RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING THE DAY OF THE SECOND NEW MOON AFTER THE WINTER SOLSTICE OF EVERY YEAR AS THE LUNAR NEW YEAR IN THE STATE OF HAWAII,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to recognize the day of the second new moon after the winter solstice of every year as the Lunar New Year in the State.

Your Committee received no testimony on this measure.

Your Committee finds that the Lunar New Year is joyously observed by numerous residents in the State and is celebrated by more than two-thirds of Chinese, Korean, Japanese, and Vietnamese Americans in general. Your Committee further finds that the United States House of Representatives introduced resolutions recognizing the cultural and historical significance of the Lunar New Year in 2021 and 2023; California recognized the Lunar New Year as a state holiday in 2022; and New York recognized the Lunar New Year as a public school holiday in 2023. Your Committee concludes that recognizing the Lunar New Year in Hawaii honors the State's rich cultural history, demonstrates its commitment to cultural diversity, and extends best wishes for peace and prosperity to all who celebrate this important occasion.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Transportation and Culture and the Arts that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.R. No. 1 and recommends its adoption.

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

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CHRIS LEE, Chair