HR 135: REQUESTING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A WORKING GROUP TO STUDY THE FEASIBILITY OF CREATING A HAWAII CULTURAL TRUST TO PRESERVE AND PROMOTE HAWAII'S CULTURAL RESOURCES.

HOUSE RESOLUTION

REQUESTING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A WORKING GROUP TO STUDY THE FEASIBILITY OF CREATING A HAWAII CULTURAL TRUST TO PRESERVE AND PROMOTE HAWAII'S CULTURAL RESOURCES.

     WHEREAS, Hawaii is home to a rich cultural heritage that includes indigenous traditions, historical landmarks, diverse artistic expressions, and significant cultural institutions; and

     WHEREAS, sustained investment in cultural preservation, heritage, and the arts supports economic growth, education, tourism, and the overall well-being of the people of Hawaii; and

     WHEREAS, various states have successful cultural trusts that could be used as models for sustainable funding of cultural organizations by leveraging donations and tax incentives to support arts and heritage programs; and

     WHEREAS, establishing a Hawaii Cultural Trust could enhance financial sustainability for cultural institutions and the arts to provide long-term support for the preservation and promotion of Hawaii's cultural resources; now, therefore,

     BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Thirty-third Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2025, that a working group is requested to be established to study the feasibility of creating a Hawaii Cultural Trust to preserve and promote Hawaii's cultural resources; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the working group is requested to consist of the following members:

     (1)  The chairperson of the House of Representatives standing committee with primary jurisdiction over culture and the arts, who is requested to serve as co-chairperson of the working group for the purposes of convening the working group;

     (2)  The chairperson of the Senate standing committee with primary jurisdiction over culture and the arts, who is requested to serve as co-chairperson of the working group for the purposes of convening the working group;

     (3)  The Director of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism, or the Director's designee;

     (4)  The Director of the State Foundation on Culture and the Arts, or the Director's designee;

     (5)  The Chief Executive Officer of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, or the Chief Executive Officer's designee;

     (6)  The Interim President and Chief Executive Officer of the Hawaii Tourism Authority, or the Interim President and Chief Executive Officer's designee; and

     (7)  The chairperson of the Hawaiʻi State LGBTQ+ Commission, or the chairperson's designee; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the working group is requested to invite a representative or the representative's designee from the following organizations to participate in the working group:

     (1)  The Hawaiʻi Council for the Humanities;

     (2)  A Native Hawaiian cultural organization;

     (3)  A nonprofit cultural or arts organization;

     (4)  A university or research institution specializing in cultural policy or arts administration; and

     (5)  Any other members as deemed necessary by the working group to ensure a comprehensive study; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the working group is requested to examine the potential structure, funding mechanisms, and governance models for a cultural trust in Hawaii, including but not limited to:

     (1)  Identifying potential sources of funding, including public, private, and philanthropic contributions;

     (2)  Exploring tax incentives and other fiscal strategies to encourage donations;

     (3)  Evaluating the impact such a trust could have on Hawaii's cultural institutions, the arts, and communities;

     (4)  Assessing any administrative and legal frameworks necessary to implement and maintain a cultural trust; and

     (5)  Drafting recommendations for legislative action, including proposed legislation establishing the Hawaii Cultural Trust; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the working group is requested to submit a report of its findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to the Legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2026; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the Governor; Director of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism; Chairperson of the State Foundation on Culture and the Arts; Chief Executive Officer of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs; Interim President and Chief Executive Officer of the Hawaii Tourism Authority; Chairperson of the Hawaiʻi State LGBTQ+ Commission; and Executive Director of the Hawaiʻi Council for the Humanities.

Report Title: 

Working Group; Hawaii Cultural Trust; Cultural Preservation; Study

HOUSE RESOLUTION

Requesting the establishment of a WORKING GROUP TO STUDY THE feasibility OF creating A hawaii CULTURAL TRUSt to preserve and promote hawaii's cultural resources.

     WHEREAS, Hawaii is home to a rich cultural heritage that includes indigenous traditions, historical landmarks, diverse artistic expressions, and significant cultural institutions; and

     WHEREAS, sustained investment in cultural preservation, heritage, and the arts supports economic growth, education, tourism, and the overall well-being of the people of Hawaii; and

     WHEREAS, various states have successful cultural trusts that could be used as models for sustainable funding of cultural organizations by leveraging donations and tax incentives to support arts and heritage programs; and

     WHEREAS, establishing a Hawaii Cultural Trust could enhance financial sustainability for cultural institutions and the arts, to provide long-term support for the preservation and promotion of Hawaii's cultural resources; now, therefore,

     BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Thirty-third Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2025, that a working group is requested to be established to study the feasibility of creating a Hawaii Cultural Trust to preserve and promote Hawaii's cultural resources; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the working group is requested to consist of the following members:

     (1)  The chairperson of the House of Representatives standing committee with primary jurisdiction over culture and the arts, who is requested to serve as co-chairperson of the working group for the purposes of convening the working group;

     (2)  The chairperson of the Senate standing committee with primary jurisdiction over culture and the arts, who is requested to serve as co-chairperson of the working group for the purposes of convening the working group;

     (3)  The Director of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism, or the Director's designee;

     (4)  The Director of the State Foundation on Culture and the Arts, or the Director's designee;

     (5)  The Chief Executive Officer of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, or the Chief Executive Officer's designee; and

     (6)  The Interim President and Chief Executive Officer of the Hawaii Tourism Authority, or the Interim President and Chief Executive Officer's designee; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the working group is requested to invite a representative or the representative's designee from the following organizations to participate in the working group:

     (1)  The Hawaiʻi Council for the Humanities;

     (2)  A Native Hawaiian cultural organization;

     (3)  A nonprofit cultural or arts organization;

     (4)  A university or research institution specializing in cultural policy or arts administration; and

     (5)  Any other members as deemed necessary by the working group to ensure a comprehensive study; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the working group is requested to examine the potential structure, funding mechanisms, and governance models for a cultural trust in Hawaii, including but not limited to:

     (1)  Identifying potential sources of funding, including public, private, and philanthropic contributions;

     (2)  Exploring tax incentives and other fiscal strategies to encourage donations;

     (3)  Evaluating the impact such a trust could have on Hawaii's cultural institutions, the arts, and communities;

     (4)  Assessing any administrative and legal frameworks necessary to implement and maintain a cultural trust; and

     (5)  Drafting recommendations for legislative action, including proposed legislation establishing the Hawaii Cultural Trust; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the working group is requested to submit a report of its findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to the Legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2026; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the Governor; Director of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism; Chairperson of the State Foundation on Culture and the Arts; Chief Executive Officer of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs; Interim President and Chief Executive Officer of the Hawaii Tourism Authority; and Executive Director of the Hawaiʻi Council for the Humanities.

Report Title: 

Working Group; Hawaii Cultural Trust; Cultural Preservation; Study

STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1551

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2025

RE:   H.R. No. 135

      H.D. 1

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Madame:

     Your Committee on Culture & Arts, to which was referred H.R. No. 135 entitled:

"HOUSE RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A WORKING GROUP TO STUDY THE FEASIBILITY OF CREATING A HAWAII CULTURAL TRUST TO PRESERVE AND PROMOTE HAWAII'S CULTURAL RESOURCES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to request the establishment of a working group to study the feasibility of creating a Hawaii Cultural Trust to preserve and promote Hawaii's cultural resources.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the State Foundation on Culture and the Arts; Hawaiʻi State LGBTQ+ Commission; and Stonewall Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawaiʻi.  Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority.

     Your Committee finds that sustained investment in cultural preservation, heritage, and the arts supports economic growth, education, tourism, and the overall well-being of the people of Hawaii.  Your Committee also finds that various states have successful cultural trusts that could be used as models for sustainable funding of cultural organizations by leveraging donations and tax incentives to support arts and heritage programs.  Your Committee believes that establishing a Hawaii Cultural Trust will enhance financial sustainability for cultural institutions and the arts and provide long-term support for the preservation and promotion of Hawaii's cultural resources.

     Your Committee recognizes the cultural impact of Hawaiʻi's māhū, LGBTQIA+, QTPI+, and MVPFAFF+ communities on the State and therefore finds it appropriate to include these communities in this critical discussion, as it presents an opportunity for their contributions to the cultural, spiritual, and social fabric of Hawaiʻi to be preserved as well.

     Accordingly, your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Including a representative from the Hawaiʻi State LGBTQ+ Commission to participate in the working group; and

     (2)  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 that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of H.R. No. 135, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Finance in the form attached hereto as H.R. No. 135, H.D. 1.

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