STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1612

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.R. No. 138

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 S.R. No. 138 entitled:

"SENATE RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE STATE ARCHIVES TO EXPAND PUBLIC OUTREACH, SHARE HAWAII'S HISTORY THAT MAY PROVE RELEVANT TODAY, CREATE OPPORTUNITIES FOR PUBLIC DISCUSSION AND CIVIC ENGAGEMENT, AND EVALUATE FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES TO SUPPORT ITS MISSION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to request the State Archives to expand public outreach, share Hawaii's history that may prove relevant today, create new opportunities for public discussion and civic engagement, and evaluate funding opportunities to support its mission.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Accounting and General Services and one individual.

Your Committee finds that the State Archives has maintained a vast array of historically significant and irreplaceable records of Hawaii's history, including world leading innovations and social equality initiatives since 1905. Your Committee further finds that a structural analysis of the current State Archives facility conducted in 2024 found that the structure is not capable of handling current floor loads. There is a clear need to increase civic engagement, public education, and a deeper understanding of the State's history. Your Committee concludes that facilitating the development of a new and expanded archives facility along with increasing its public programming offerings will create new opportunities for civic engagement and support the mission of the State Archives.

Your Committee has amended this measure by clarifying that the State Archives is requested to expand public outreach that includes providing perspectives on historical and modern issues through the lens of different segments of the community, including women, immigrants, and Native Hawaiians.

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 concurs with the intent and purpose of S.R. No. 138, as amended herein, and recommends its adoption in the form attached hereto as S.R. No. 138, S.D. 1.

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

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CHRIS LEE, Chair