STAND. COM. REP. NO.  217

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2021

 

RE:   H.B. No. 678

      H.D. 1

 

 

 

 

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2021

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Culture, Arts, & International Affairs, to which was referred H.B. No. 678 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO STATE HOLIDAYS,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to:

 

     (1)  Establish Lā Kūokoa, Hawaiian Recognition Day, as an official state holiday; and

 

     (2)  Remove Election Day as an official state holiday.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from Hawaii Government Employees Association, AFSCME Local 152, AFL-CIO; and five individuals.  Your Committee received comments on this measure from Common Cause Hawaii.

 

     Your Committee finds that Lā Kūokoa was originally established in 1847 by King Kamehameha III to recognize and celebrate Hawaii's recognition as an emerging power by the global powers of the time.  Your Committee further finds that Lā Kūokoa was celebrated as a national holiday by the Provisional Government of Hawaii, the Republic of Hawaii, and through the initial years of the Territory of Hawaii.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

 

     (1)  Reinstating Election Day as an official state holiday;

 

     (2)  Changing the effective date to July 1, 2065, to encourage further discussion; and

 

     (3)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Culture, Arts, & International Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 678, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 678, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs.

 

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Culture, Arts, & International Affairs,

 

 

 

 

____________________________

CEDRIC ASUEGA GATES, Chair