STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2120

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2025

RE: S.C.R. No. 197

S.D. 1

H.D. 1

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Madame:

Your Committee on Culture & Arts, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 197, S.D. 1, entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING JUNE 21, 2025, AS INDIGENOUS PEOPLE'S DAY, JULY 1, 2025, AS CANADA DAY, AND SEPTEMBER 30, 2025, AS TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION DAY, IN ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF THE ENDURING FRIENDSHIP BETWEEN THE PEOPLE OF CANADA AND HAWAII, THE INDEPENDENT SOVEREIGNTY AND SELF-DETERMINATION OF THE PEOPLE OF CANADA, AND A COMMITMENT TO NEVER AGAIN ALLOW THE SOVEREIGN RIGHT OF A PEOPLE TO SELF DETERMINATION TO BE TAKEN AGAINST THEIR WILL,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to recognize:

(1) June 21, 2025, as Indigenous People's Day;

(2) July 1, 2025, as Canada Day; and

(3) September 30, 2025, as Truth and Reconciliation Day,

in acknowledgement of the enduring friendship between the people of Canada and Hawaii, the independent sovereignty and self-determination of the people of Canada, and a commitment to never again allow the sovereign right of a people to self-determination to be taken against their will.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from four individuals.

Your Committee finds that Canada and Hawaii share long histories fraught with challenges and injustice related to colonization and exploitation of indigenous communities whose land and sovereignty were taken against their will. Your Committee recognizes that while the past cannot be changed, Canada and Hawaii still share a commitment to advance the rights, preserve the culture, empower new generations, and work toward justice for indigenous and native peoples. Your Committee believes that this measure reaffirms the enduring friendship between the people of Canada and Hawaii by acknowledging three Canadian holidays.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Inserting language to highlight the enduring friendship between Canada and Hawaii and the commonalities they share;

(2) Requesting the Governor to raise the Canadian flag in a ceremony of recognition; and

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

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Culture & Arts that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 197, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends its adoption in the form attached hereto as S.C.R. No. 197, S.D. 1, H.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Culture & Arts,

____________________________

JEANNE KAPELA, Chair