HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.C.R. NO.

52

TWENTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2003

H.D. 1

STATE OF HAWAII

 
   


HOUSE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

 

establishing a sister state-prefecture relationship between the state of hawaii of the united states of america and the ehime prefecture of japan.

 

 

WHEREAS, the tragic maritime accident off Diamond Head, Honolulu, on February 9, 2001, has brought sadness to the families of the crew of the Ehime Maru training ship; and

WHEREAS, from November 27 to December 2, 2002, two youth teams from Hawaii, along with coaches, parents, government representatives, and other officials, traveled to Matsuyama and Uwajima in Ehime prefecture to participate in a series of baseball games with Japanese youth teams; and

WHEREAS, this first "Ehime-Hawaii Goodwill Baseball Tournament," which it is hoped will become an annual event with alternating venues between Ehime and Hawaii, will do much to strengthen not only Hawaii-Japan relations but also U.S.-Japan relations in general; and

WHEREAS, residents of Ehime prefecture traveling overseas have observed the kind aloha spirit of Hawaii's people and have recently paid homage to the spirits of their deceased loved ones at the Honolulu Floating Lantern "Toro Nagashi" Ceremony during the summer obon period; and

WHEREAS, the government and people of Ehime prefecture have expressed their interest in developing and maintaining international goodwill and friendship; and

WHEREAS, community and civic leaders in Hawaii have come forward to bring the people of Japan and America together in mutual understanding through legal, financial, and spiritual aid; and

WHEREAS, government officials from Ehime prefecture and Hawaii have developed a relationship of goodwill and friendship through the leadership of the Japan-America Society of Hawaii; and

WHEREAS, a sister state-prefecture relationship between Ehime prefecture and Hawaii would encourage and promote cultural, educational, industrial, and economic exchanges between Ehime prefecture and Hawaii, thus strengthening and enhancing the ties among all people; and

WHEREAS, such a relationship would be mutually beneficial to both Ehime prefecture and the state of Hawaii and would be a significant step forward toward the goal of international peace, goodwill, and brotherhood; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-second Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2003, the Senate concurring, that Governor Linda Lingle of the State of Hawaii, or her designee, be authorized to take all necessary actions to establish a sister state-prefecture relationship with Ehime prefecture; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Ehime prefecture be afforded all of the privileges and honors to which Hawaii extends to its other sister states and provinces; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this state-prefecture relationship shall continue until July 1, 2008; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature of the State of Hawaii be fully informed of the process of establishing the relationship and be involved in its formalization to the extent practicable; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the President of the United States through the Secretary of State, the Governor of the State of Hawaii, the President of the state Senate, the

Speaker of the state House of Representatives, Hawaii's Congressional delegation, the Prime Minister of Japan through the Consul General of Japan in Honolulu, and the Governor of Ehime prefecture.

Report Title:

Sister state-prefecture relationship with Ehime prefecture.