THE SENATE

S.C.R. NO.

137

TWENTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2004

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 
   


SENATE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

 

Requesting the Legislative Reference bureau to determine the feasibility of adding surfing as a competitive interscholastic sport.

 

WHEREAS, as an island state with comfortable weather throughout the year, Hawaii provides an excellent setting for a number of outdoor recreational sports, including surfing; and

WHEREAS, surfing was enjoyed by many ali`i, or Hawaiian royalty, as a traditional Hawaiian recreational sport and he`enalu, or "wave sliding" was a vital part of Hawaii's history; and

WHEREAS, surfing is presently enjoyed by many of Hawaii's residents and visitors, and surf sites such as Waimea Beach on O`ahu and Ho`okipa on Maui are world renowned, attracting the attention of athletes and visitors alike; and

WHEREAS, through Act 174, Session Laws of Hawaii 1998, the Legislature formally recognized surfing as Hawaii's official sport; and

WHEREAS, surfing has been a significant boon to Hawaii's economy, particularly the tourism industry because of the extensive media and promotional coverage of international surfing competitions held annually in Hawaii; and

WHEREAS, recognizing the sport of surfing for interscholastic athletic competition by the Hawaii High School Athletic Association, the Oahu Interscholastic Association, Interscholastic League of Honolulu, the Big Island Interscholastic Federation, the Maui Interscholastic League, and the Kauai Interscholastic Federation would promote awareness as well as cultivate sensitivity to Hawaiian history and culture among Hawaii's young people; and

WHEREAS, the Hawaii High School Athletic Association, the Board of Education, and the Department of Education recognize the importance of organized high school athletics as an integral part of the educational curriculum being taught in Hawaii's high schools; and

WHEREAS, the mission of the Hawaii High School Athletic Association is to promote unity and cooperation among member schools in establishing and administering policies for interscholastic athletic programs that foster cultural awareness, promote physical fitness through competitive activities, and instill the values of teamwork and mutual respect in Hawaii's young people; and

WHEREAS, in light of the popularity of surfing and its cultural and historical significance, there is a need to determine the feasibility of conducting interscholastic athletic competitions in the sport of surfing; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Twenty-Second Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2004, the House of Representatives concurring, that the Legislative Reference Bureau is requested to examine the feasibility of making surfing a competitive interscholastic sport; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislative Reference Bureau is requested to review all relevant issues, including the legal liability of the State and counties, the Board of Education and the Department of Education and their personnel, the Hawaii High School Athletic Association, the Oahu Interscholastic Association, the Interscholastic League of Honolulu, the Big Island Interscholastic Federation, the Maui Interscholastic League, and the Kauai Interscholastic Federation if surfing is recognized as an interscholastic athletic event; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Board of Education and the Department of Education and their personnel as well as the Hawaii High School Athletic Association, the Oahu Interscholastic Association, the Interscholastic League of Honolulu, the Big Island Interscholastic Federation, the Maui Interscholastic League, and the Kauai Interscholastic Federation are requested to cooperate and provide necessary assistance to the Legislative Reference Bureau in formulating and conducting this study; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislative Reference Bureau is requested to report its finding and recommendations, including any proposed legislation to the Legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2005; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Acting Director of the Legislative Reference Bureau, the Chairperson of the Board of Education, the Superintendent of Education, and the executive directors of the Hawaii High School Athletic Association, the Oahu Interscholastic Association, the Interscholastic League of Honolulu, the Big Island Interscholastic Federation, the Maui Interscholastic League, and the Kauai Interscholastic Federation.

 

 

 

OFFERED BY:

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Report Title:

LRB study regarding the feasibility of surfing as a competitive high school sport