STAND. COM. REP. NO. 669

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 614

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Transportation and Culture and the Arts and Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred S.B. No. 614 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HAWAIIAN INDEPENDENCE DAY,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to establish "La Kuokoa", or Hawaiian Independence Day, as a state holiday in recognition of the compelling history of Hawaiian independence and to memorialize the injustice of the overthrow of the Hawaiian Kingdom.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs, and numerous individuals.

Your Committees received testimony in opposition to this measure from one individual.

Your Committees received comments on this measure from the Office of Collective Bargaining.

Your Committees find that La Kuokoa, or Hawaiian Independence Day, was a national holiday celebrated annually to commemorate the Anglo-Franco Proclamation of 1843, which constituted official diplomatic recognition of the independence and sovereignty of the Hawaiian Kingdom by Great Britain and France. Your Committees further find that Hawaiian Independence Day holds cultural and historical significance and represents an affirmation of identity and joyful pride for the people of Hawaii. Accordingly, this measure establishes La Kuokoa as a state holiday to memorialize the compelling history of Hawaiian independence and the Hawaiian Kingdom.

Your Committees note the concern raised by the Office of Collective Bargaining that this measure may have a serious operational and financial impact to the State.

Your Committees have amended this measure by:

(1) Inserting an effective date of July 1, 2050, to encourage further discussion; and

(2) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Transportation and Culture and the Arts and Hawaiian Affairs that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 614, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 614, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Transportation and Culture and the Arts and Hawaiian Affairs,

________________________________ HERBERT M. RICHARDS, III, Chair

________________________________ CHRIS LEE, Chair