HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.C.R. NO.	180
TWENTY-NINTH LEGISLATURE, 2017
STATE OF HAWAII

HOUSE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

 

 

requesting the hawaii sister-state committee to evaluate and develop recommendations for the INITIATION of a sister-state relationship with the province of british columbia, canada, and TO forward its recommendations to the legislature, pursuant to section 229-3, hawaii revised statutes, for further action.

 

 

     WHEREAS, due to its multicultural population since the days of the Hawaiian monarch in the early 20th century, Hawaii maintains a heritage of international participation and cultural sensitivity unparalleled in other states; and

 

     WHEREAS, the State actively seeks to expand its international ties and has an abiding interest in developing goodwill, friendship, and economic relations between the people of Hawaii and the people of many nations; and

 

     WHEREAS, since 1981, the Legislature has instituted sister-state relationships as a means of asserting the State's active participation in international matters; and

 

     WHEREAS, Hawaii currently maintains sixteen sister-state relationships, however, none of which are with any provinces of Canada; and

 

     WHEREAS, British Columbia, Canada's westernmost province, is home to a diverse population of over four million and faces similar social and economic issues as Hawaii; and

 

     WHEREAS, British Columbia is an important generator of tourism in Hawaii; and

 

     WHEREAS, British Columbia's well-known wintertime and year-round recreational activities attract many travelers from Hawaii; and

 

     WHEREAS, a relationship between Hawaii and British Columbia will be highly beneficial in expanding tourism, strengthening cultural bonds, and would increase the prospective opportunity for economic, social, cultural, educational, and environmental exchanges; and

 

     WHEREAS, pursuant to section 229-3, Hawaii Revised Statutes, the Hawaii Sister-State Committee is tasked with evaluating and developing recommendations for the initiation of all sister-state relationships, and forwarding its recommendations to the Legislature for implementation by either adoption of a concurrent resolution or enactment of session law to that effect; now, therefore,

 

     BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-ninth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2017, the Senate concurring, that the Hawaii Sister-State Committee is requested to evaluate and develop recommendations to initiate a sister-state relationship between Hawaii and the province of British Columbia, Canada; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Hawaii Sister-State Committee report its findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, relative to initiating a sister-state relationship between Hawaii and the province of British Columbia, Canada, to the Legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2018; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Director of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism; and Chairperson of the Hawaii Sister-State Committee.

 

 

 

	OFFERED BY:	_____________________________

Report Title: 

Sister-State; British Columbia, Canada