STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1732

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 957

H.D. 1

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Transportation and Culture and the Arts, to which was referred H.B. No. 957, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO LAULAU DAY,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to designate the first Friday in May of each year as "Laulau Day" in the State.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Hawaiʻi Farm Bureau, Chamber of Commerce Hawaii, Highway Inn, Hawaiʻi Island Chamber of Commerce, and thirty-three individuals.

Your Committee finds that kalo farming has been a foundation of Hawaiian agriculture for centuries. As the leaves and coms serve as a staple food source, kalo is a crucial plant used in cooking, medicine, and cultural practices. Your Committee further finds that laulau is a steamed dish comprising of pork or fish wrapped in ti leaves. As a dish that recognizes the contributions of the State's local pork industry and practitioners of Native Hawaiian cultural practices, laulau exemplifies both the State's rich cultural heritage and the future of the State's economic drivers. Therefore, this measure celebrates Native Hawaiian culture and the State's robust culinary traditions while supporting local farmers and cultural practitioners who continue traditional practices.

Accordingly, your Committee has amended this measure by inserting an effective date of November 16, 2836, to encourage further discussion.

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 is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 957, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 957, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, and be placed on the calendar for Third Reading.

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

________________________________

CHRIS LEE, Chair