THE SENATE	S.R. NO.	177
THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2025		S.D. 1
STATE OF HAWAII		PROPOSED

SENATE RESOLUTION

reaffirming friendship with the people of canada and recognizing and acknowledging canadian holidays significant to the CULTURES and communities of canada.

     WHEREAS, the Kingdom of Hawaii had foreign consulates in numerous Canadian cities including Belleville, Brockville, Halifax, Hamilton, Kingstown, Montreal, Ottawa, Rimouski, Rockville, St. Johns, Toronto, Vancouver, and Victoria; and

     WHEREAS, the people of Canada and the people of Hawaii share a long and enduring friendship; and

     WHEREAS, today Canada and Hawaii are both places of great diversity amongst people, culture, and communities; and

     WHEREAS, both Canada and Hawaii also share long histories fraught with challenges and injustice related to colonization and exploitation of indigenous communities whose land and sovereignty was taken against their will; and

     WHEREAS, Hawaii was ultimately annexed by the United States of America despite significant protest by its sovereign government and people; and

     WHEREAS, while the injustice of the past can never truly be undone, today both Canada and Hawaii share a commitment to advancing the rights, preserving the culture, empowering new generations, and reaching toward justice for indigenous and native peoples; and

     WHEREAS, while both Canada and Hawaii have much work yet to do to reconcile the past, they may begin by reaffirming a commitment to never allowing those mistakes to be repeated in the present; now, therefore,

     BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Thirty-third Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2025, that this body reaffirms its friendship with the people of Canada and recognizes and acknowledges Canadian holidays significant to the cultures and communities of Canada; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this body recognizes June 21, 2025, as Indigenous Peoples' Day; July 1, 2025, as Canada Day; and September 30, 2025, as Truth and Reconciliation Day, in acknowledgement of a shared commitment to prohibiting infringement of the sovereign right of a people to self-determination; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this body invites leaders from all political parties, indigenous cultures, as well as the people of Canada, to visit the State to collaborate and support this commitment; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the Prime Minister of Canada; Ambassador of Canada to the United States; Consul General of Canada in San Francisco; Governor; Director of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism; and members of the Hawaii congressional delegation.

Report Title: 

Canada; International Relations; Indigenous Peoples' Day