THE SENATE	S.C.R. NO.	20
TWENTY-EIGHTH LEGISLATURE, 2016		S.D. 1
STATE OF HAWAII		H.D. 1

SENATE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

 

ESTABLISHING A SISTER-STATE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE STATE OF HAWAII OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND THE STATE OF GOA OF THE REPUBLIC OF INDIA.

 

 

     WHEREAS, the State of Hawai‘i is actively seeking to expand its international ties and has an abiding interest in developing goodwill, friendship, and economic relations between the people of Hawai‘i and the people of many nations; and

 

     WHEREAS, the Republic of India, one of the most diverse and the most populous democratic countries in South Asia, is recognized internationally as the future of economic development; and

 

     WHEREAS, Goa is thought of as a leader in technology, and could provide opportunities for student exchanges with the University of Hawai‘i; and

 

     WHEREAS, Goa, the twenty-fifth state of the Union of States of India, is a small state on the west coast of India, and like Hawai‘i, Goa's beautiful beaches and rich tropical landscape have made it a popular vacation destination for national and international visitors, and have attracted a robust surfing community; and

 

     WHEREAS, Goa is one of the richest states in India, having the highest gross state domestic product per capita with tourism leading its economic growth; and a relationship between Goa and Hawai‘i would provide new opportunities to import and export goods and services between the states; and

 

     WHEREAS, a relationship between Hawai‘i and Goa will create new possibilities to share markets involving medicinal, herbal, and other food products, and to trade agricultural and culinary knowledge related to these products; and

     WHEREAS, the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization has recognized the Western Ghats mountain range as a World Heritage Site; and the biological, geological, cultural, and aesthetic resources of the Western Ghats that lie within Goa's boundaries are preserved by the designation of national parks, wildlife sanctuaries, and reserve forests; and

 

     WHEREAS, similar to Hawai‘i, Goa has an ethnically diverse population, and its people speak a variety of languages, including Konkani, Marathi, Hindi, and English; and

 

     WHEREAS, Goa's people live harmoniously with each other while practicing a variety of religions, including Hinduism, Christianity, Islam, Sikhism, and Jainism; and

 

     WHEREAS, Goa's diversity is also evident in its architectural landscape, with buildings showcasing a combination of Indian, Islamic, and Portuguese influences; and

 

     WHEREAS, Hawai‘i and Goa are coastal states with diverse ecosystems, populations, cultures, languages, and religions that value the economic growth and sustainability that benefit all residents; 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 adopting a concurrent resolution or enacting session law to that effect; and

 

     WHEREAS, the Hawaii Sister-State Committee has reviewed the Hawaii/Goa sister-state application and recommended that a sister-state relationship be established between Hawai‘i and Goa; and

 

     WHEREAS, this body believes that a sister-state relationship between Hawai‘i and Goa would promote mutual commerce and trade in areas such as tourism and the film industry, and would increase opportunities for economic, social, cultural, educational, and environmental exchanges; now, therefore,

 

     BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Twenty-eighth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2016, the House of Representatives concurring, that a sister-state relationship between the State of Hawai‘i of the United States of America and the State of Goa of the Republic of India is hereby established; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Governor of the State of Hawaii; Governor of the State of Goa; Consul General of India in San Francisco; Director of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism; and Chair of the Hawaii Sister-State Committee.

Report Title: 

Sister State Relationship; Goa, India