THE SENATE                           S.C.R. NO.            213
TWENTIETH LEGISLATURE, 1999                                
STATE OF HAWAII                                            
                                                             
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________


                    SENATE  CONCURRENT
                        RESOLUTION

  REQUESTING THE GOVERNOR TO FORMALLY ESTABLISH A MULTICULTURAL
    AWARENESS TASK FORCE.



 1        WHEREAS, Hawaii's rich multicultural heritage is one of
 2   its most valuable assets; and
 3   
 4        WHEREAS, visitors to Hawaii are attracted by the variety
 5   of cultural experiences available, as well as the islands'
 6   spectacular beauty; and
 7   
 8        WHEREAS, international business travelers to Hawaii find
 9   the multiplicity of cultures beneficial in conducting a wide
10   range of international business transactions with due regard
11   for the appropriate cultural and business protocols; and
12   
13        WHEREAS, in order to encourage and promote the importance
14   of Hawaii's diverse assets, a coalition of multicultural
15   representatives met in the fall of 1998 to establish a Hawaii
16   Council of Heritage and Culture (Council); and
17   
18        WHEREAS, with the support of the Governor, this grassroots
19   Council has focused on creating greater awareness of Hawaii's
20   many cultural traditions and in promoting these traditions as a
21   beneficial way of enhancing Hawaii's economy; and
22   
23        WHEREAS, the Council has held discussions with the State
24   Foundation on Culture and the Arts, the Department of Business,
25   Economic Development, and Tourism, and representatives of the
26   tourism industry; and
27   
28        WHEREAS, the Council has also proposed building a
29   multicultural center in Kakaako; and
30   
31        WHEREAS, the Council has been greatly encouraged by the
32   growing interest in Hawaii's multicultural heritage and
33   commends the Governor for his interest and promotion of
34   Hawaii's diverse cultural assets; and
35   
36        WHEREAS, this grassroots Council believes that Hawaii's

 
Page 2                                                     
                                  S.C.R. NO.            213
                                                        
                                                        


 1   multicultural assets could be enhanced further through creation
 2   of a formal task force to promote tourism and international
 3   business in Hawaii; now, therefore,
 4   
 5        BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Twentieth Legislature
 6   of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 1999, the House of
 7   Representatives concurring, that the Governor is urged to
 8   formally create a Multicultural Awareness Task Force to
 9   implement the ideas, goals, and objectives developed by the
10   Hawaii Council of Heritage and Culture; and
11   
12        BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Governor is urged to
13   appoint Senator Rod Tam and Former Senator Ann Kobayashi as
14   co-chairpersons for the Multicultural Awareness Task Force, who
15   currently serve as co-chairpersons for the Hawaii Council of
16   Heritage and Culture; and 
17   
18        BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a certified copy of this
19   Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Governor.
20 
21 
22 
23                         OFFERED BY:  ____________________________