STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1624

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.C.R. No. 178

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 Higher Education, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 178 entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION URGING THE EAST-WEST CENTER TO EXPAND INTERNATIONAL ENGAGEMENT AROUND THE WORLD AND SERVE AS A BRIDGE TO HELP THE STATE SHARE ITS UNIQUE EXPERTISE WITH TROPICAL AGRICULTURE, FOOD SECURITY, PUBLIC HEALTH, EDUCATION, CLEAN ENERGY, AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT, WHERE IT MIGHT BE MOST HELPFUL TO OTHER COMMUNITIES AROUND THE WORLD,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to urge the East-West Center to expand international engagement around the world and serve as a bridge to help the State share its unique expertise with tropical agriculture, food security, public health, education, clean energy, and sustainable development where it might be most helpful to other communities around the world.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the East-West Center, EWCA Chennai Chapter, NEXUStartups, Hawaiʻi Friends of Civil Rights, Gulf of Mottama Project, PapuaOcean, Asia Pacific Leadership Program Alumni Association, and thirty-three individuals.

Your Committees received comments on this measure from one individual.

Your Committees find that the East-West Center has a long history of fostering cooperation and development among nations in the Asia-Pacific region and around the world through education, research, and policy engagement. Your Committees further find that the East-West Center is uniquely positioned geographically to serve as a bridge between Hawaii, Pacific island nations, and other countries around the world. Your Committees conclude that as United States federal programs and funding shrink, it is imperative for the East-West Center to expand its international collaboration in the areas of tropical agriculture, food security, public health, education, clean energy, and sustainable development.

Your Committees have amended this measure by 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 Higher Education that are attached to this report, your Committees concur with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 178, as amended herein, and recommend its adoption in the form attached hereto as S.C.R. No. 178, S.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Transportation and Culture and the Arts and Higher Education,

________________________________ DONNA MERCADO KIM, Chair

________________________________ CHRIS LEE, Chair