Bill Text: HI SR31 | 2010 | Regular Session | Amended

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft

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Bill Title: Korean National Association Plaque

Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Democrat 12-2)

Status: (Passed) 2010-04-07 - (S) Report and Resolution Adopted, as amended (SD 1). [SR31 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2010-SR31-Amended.html

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THE SENATE	S.R. NO.	31
TWENTY-FIFTH LEGISLATURE, 2010		S.D. 1
STATE OF HAWAII

SENATE RESOLUTION

 

 

REQUESTING GOVERNOR LINDA LINGLE TO RECOGNIZE LOCAL KOREANS BY ALLOWING A COMMEMORATIVE PLAQUE DESIGNATING THE FORMER SITE OF THE KOREAN NATIONAL ASSOCIATION.

 

 

     WHEREAS, on January 13, 1903, the first wave of one hundred and two immigrants from Korea arrived at Honolulu Harbor on the S.S. Gaelic to work on Hawaii's sugar plantations as contract laborers, to be followed in the next two and one-half years by approximately seven thousand four hundred Koreans; and

 

     WHEREAS, on February 1, 1909, Koreans in Hawaii organized the Korean National Association, which would eventually become the oldest Korean organization in America; and

 

     WHEREAS, Washington Place is the official residence of the Governor of Hawaii; and

 

     WHEREAS, on December 14, 1914, the Korean National Association constructed its headquarters at 1306 Miller Lane, the same property as today's Washington Place, where it stood until 1946, when it was subjected to friendly condemnation in December 1945 by the Territory of Hawaii for expansion of the Governor's Mansion; and

 

     WHEREAS, the Korean National Association worked from the Washington Place site for thirty-two years to provide financial assistance, publish a Korean vernacular newspaper, and promote general welfare programs for the aging population of local Koreans; and

 

     WHEREAS, the Korean National Association, also known as Kook Min Hur of Hawaii, is currently dedicated to serving others, preserving the history of the State of Hawaii, donating to various nonprofit charities and organizations, and supporting community events, and the Association is a major participant in the Korean Festival in Hawaii - all a reflection of the indomitable spirit of the Korean people; and

 

     WHEREAS, February 1, 2009, marked the 100th anniversary of the Korean National Association, coincidental with the 50th anniversary of Hawaii statehood; and

 

     WHEREAS, a plaque to honor, commemorate, and remember the immigration of Koreans to Hawaii would be proper and fitting; and

 

     WHEREAS, the location of the plaque should rightfully be on the premises of Washington Place, previously the headquarters of the Korean National Association; now, therefore,

 

     BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Twenty-fifth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2010, that Governor Linda Lingle is requested to direct the placement of a plaque to be funded by the Korean community as follows:

 

(1)  The plaque is to be made of bronze, measuring no larger than twenty-four by fifteen inches, to be mounted on a twenty-four inch high pedestal made of stone or cement block;

 

(2)  The plaque is to be placed at an appropriate site to be determined; and

 

(3)  The plaque should read "Korean National Association Headquarters Site, December 1914 - July 1946"; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the Governor of Hawaii and to the Korean National Association.

Report Title: 

Korean National Association Plaque