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THE SENATE |
S.R. NO. |
138 |
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THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2025 |
S.D. 1 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
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SENATE RESOLUTION
REQUESTING THE sTATE ARCHIVES TO EXPAND PUBLIC OUTREACH, SHARE HAWAII'S HISTORY THAT MAY PROVE RELEVANT TODAY, CREATE OPPORTUNITIES FOR PUBLIC DISCUSSION AND CIVIC ENGAGEMENT, AND EVALUATE FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES TO SUPPORT ITS MISSION.
WHEREAS, the State Archives has been the keepers of public memory since 1905; and
WHEREAS, the State Archives maintains a vast array of historically significant and irreplacable records of Hawaii's history, including world leading innovations and social equality initiatives; and
WHEREAS, the State Archives outgrew its original facility in 1953, and has now exceeded its storage capacity for a second time; and
WHEREAS, a structural analysis of the current State Archives facility conducted in 2024 found that the structure is not capable of handling the realized floor loads of the original expansion plans specified; and
WHEREAS, the State Archives is currently engaged in drafting a State Archives Master Plan to propose needed development of a new and expanded archives facility along with increasing its public programming offerings; and
WHEREAS, this public programming is expected to include multi-functional educational spaces for use by teachers and students at all levels of education; and
WHEREAS, there exists a strong, clear need to increase understanding of Hawaii's history, increase opportunities for sharing stories from Hawaii's past that may be relevant today, and increase civic engagement and education; now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Thirty-third Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2025, that the State Archives is requested to expand public outreach, share Hawaii's history that may prove relevant today, create new opportunities for public discussion and civic engagement, including providing perspectives on historical and modern issues through the lens of different segments of the community, including women, immigrants, and Native Hawaiians, and evaluate funding opportunities to support its mission; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Accounting and General Services is requested to conduct a study on the potential for revenue generation opportunities of a new State Archives facility being developed in the State Archives Master Plan to provide a long-term source of funding for the operations and programs of the State Archives; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this study is requested to consider an expanded State Archives facility which is requested to include increased storage and research spaces built to last for generations to come, museum grade, publicly accessible display areas, multi-purpose digital classrooms, event spaces, and a civics education center; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the Comptroller and State Archivist.
DAGS; State Archives; Study; Public Outreach; Civic Engagement