SCR 5: requesting the department of labor and industrial relations to study the feasibility of establishing a hawaii workforce excellence award program.

SENATE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

requesting the department of labor and industrial relations to study the feasibility of establishing a hawaii workforce excellence award program.

     WHEREAS, the Meilleur Ouvrier de France, translated as the "best craftsperson of France," is a historic competition established in 1924 to recognize and revitalize traditional crafts in France; and

     WHEREAS, this competition fosters and expands artisans' skills by preserving and sharing generational knowledge while also publicly elevating craftspersons and their work; and

     WHEREAS, the Meilleur Ouvrier de France showcases France's unique culture through a diverse display of traditional professions in more than two hundred categories, including florists, chefs, and carpenters; and

     WHEREAS, those vying for the Meilleur Ouvrier de France title are judged against a standard of perfection, rather than against each other, allowing for multiple or no awardees for any one category; and

     WHEREAS, each winner of the Meilleur Ouvrier de France is awarded a medal and state diploma and hosted by the French President at the Elysee Palace; and

     WHEREAS, Meilleur Ouvrier de France titles are awarded for life, christening winners as custodians of their trade and tasking them with the preservation and sharing of generational knowledge; and

     WHEREAS, Hawaii has a rich history of skilled artisans and fine craftspersons spanning a wide variety of crafts and trades; and

     WHEREAS, preserving cultural knowledge of these crafts and trades would help to promote alternative career paths and diversify the State's economy; and

     WHEREAS, establishing an award program for craftspersons would demonstrate the State's commitment to preserving Hawaii's significant cultural history and promote participation in traditional crafts and trades; now, therefore,

     BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Thirty-third Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2026, the House of Representatives concurring, that the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations is requested to conduct a study, with industry input, on the feasibility of establishing of a workforce excellence award program recognizing craftspersons in the State, where nominations are collected from the public and annual awards are presented by the Governor at a historically significant venue; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations is requested to research, assess, and make recommendations on:

     (1)  The feasibility of establishing in Hawaii a workforce excellence award program similar to the Meilleur Ouvrier de France to further the State's traditional crafts and trades, preserve generational knowledge, and promote participation in traditional crafts and trades;

     (2)  Key industries, crafts, and trades that should be included in a workforce excellence award program; and

     (3)  Cost-effective means of establishing a workforce excellence award program; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations 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 2027; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Office of the Governor and Director of Labor and Industrial Relations.

Report Title:

Department of Labor and Industrial Relations; Workforce Excellence Award Program; Traditional Crafts and Trades; Meilleur Ouvrier de France; Report