House Standing Committee on Culture & Arts

Good morning, everyone. Gaveling in for our 10:30am agenda for the Committee on Culture and arts. Today is April 11th and we are in conference room 309. We have a handful of resolutions on today's agenda, so we're just going to jump straight into it. First up, we have SCR12SD1 recognizing International Dark Sky Week.

First we have DLNR providing comments.

Good morning, Chair, Vice Chair, Member of the Committee. My name is Kathryn Stanaway, Department of Land and Natural Resources, Division of Forestry and Wildlife. We stand on our written testimony. Just comments on the switch from the University to being. I think in the bill it says that the Department is going to.

You want the Department to chair the Committee. And we support the University being the Chair. But the Department can do it too, I guess. Yeah.

Thank you so much. We also have testimony and comments from the University of Hawaii via Zoom.

Good morning, Chair Kapela, [unintelligible], Members of the Committee, I'm Suzanne Case. I'm at the University of Hawaii Office of Land and Ocean Conservation Futures, testifying on behalf of Vassila Cirmos, the Vice President for Research and Innovation. And we stand on our written testimony with comments.

We provided some background on what's been happening sort of in the background on this matter and strong collaboration and information on what the direction that we've been working on and also some suggestions for language for the resolution. And I'm happy to answer any questions. Thank you so much and good to see you.

Good to see you. Thank you so much. Good to see you. We also have testimony and support from Ilhia Johnson, Mauna Kea Observatories via Zoom.

Aloha Nui Kakou, Chair Kapela, Vice Chair Kong, distinguished Members of the Committee, Iliha Johnson, on behalf of the Mauna Kea Observatories in support of SCR12 recognizing international dark Sky Week. You have a written testimony.

I just want to add that we all know living in Hawaii, how amazing it is to lie under a night sky, see the stars, see the different things out there. That's not just a benefit for astronomy. That's a benefit for everybody who looks up to the stars and dreams.

So just want to add our support to this and I'm available for any questions.

Mahalo Nui, thank you so much for your testimony. Okay, Members, are there any questions? I have a quick question for UH.

Yes, ma'am.

Hi, Director Case. I just want to confirm that you folks. Will you folks be okay if you take the chair lead on the task?

Yes, under the existing Advisory Committee that's set up by statute, the University of Hawaii is lead. And so we. The University organized meetings early on, and then Covid hit, so it kind of petered out. But in the lately, we have been coordinating this group of technical experts that we hope will advise the official Advisory Committee.

We're very happy to continue in that role.

Fantastic. Okay, thank you so much. Members, any other questions? Okay, seeing none. We are going to move on to our next measure, SCR112SD1, requesting the city and County of Honolulu to light up City hall with purple lights on August 7th of each year in honor of National Purple Heart Day.

We have a couple of individuals who have submitted testimony. None of them have said that they would be here, but we have Atevita and TJ Members. There's no one to ask questions of because they are not present or on zoom.

So we're going to move on to our next Measure, which is SCR 131- urging the state to acquire the Hawaii Theater to promote local culture and arts, preserve its historic and cultural significance and facilitate its continued public use. Members, I will note we've heard this.

We heard the House version of this measure already, to which there was numerous testimony. However, on this Concurrent Resolution, the Companion, no one submitted testimony. Is there anyone in the room that's wishing to submit testimony on this measure?

Okay.

Or zoom? Okay. Seeing none, we're going to move on to scr169sd1, requesting the state archives to expand public outreach, share Hawaii's history that may prove relevant today, cross create opportunities for public discussion and civic engagement, and evaluate funding opportunities to support its mission.

First up, we have testimony from the Department of Accounting and General Services in support via zoom.

Chair, Vice Chair, Members of the Committee, thank you for this opportunity to testify on STR 169 on behalf of Comptroller East Bregan of the Department of Accounting and General services. I am Dr. Adam Jansen, and it is my privilege and honor to serve as your state archivist and administrator of the public Archives.

DAG stands on its written testimony in support of this bill. If you've been to the archives, you know we're a bunch of history nerds. We are very passionate about connecting people to their documentary heritage, and this resolution will help propel that forward.

We feel that now, hope more than ever, connecting to the lessons of the past are absolutely critical to understanding the problems of today. Democracy has been under assault on numerous levels. The whole concept of co equal branches of government is being distorted.

So we feel very, very strongly that by looking to our path, we can see what happened? What were the consequences? And by placing that within context, we think we can better prepare the next generation of leaders that are going to have to clean up this mess. So we thank you for this opportunity.

We ask for your not just support of this, but also participation in it as we move forward with more civic education. And thank you for this opportunity. And I'm ready to answer any questions you may have.

Thank you so much, Dr. Jansen. That is all I have on my testifiers list. I also have also from Dags testimony and support from the comptroller. I don't know if he's on or if Dr. Jensen spoke for him, but that's all I had on my testifiers list. Is there anyone else wishing to submit testimony on this measure?

Okay, seeing none. Members, are there any questions? Okay, seeing none, we're going to move on to our final measure, SCR197 SD1, recognizing June 1, 2025 as Indigenous Peoples Day, July 1, 2025 as Canada Day, and September 30, 2025 as Truth and Reconciliation Day. An acknowledgment of the enduring friendship between the people of Canada and Hawaii.

I have testimony and support from the Department from DBEDT via Zoom.

Good morning. Check Capella, Vice Chair Kong and Members of the Committee. Randy Cortez, on behalf of DBEDT. Sorry, let me get my camera. Good morning, Chair Capella, Vice Chair Kong and Members of the Committee. Randy Cortese, on behalf of dbed, we stand on our written testimony in support.

Thank you so much for your testimony. I will note that we have a handful of individuals in opposition. Is there anyone else wishing to testify on this measure? Are there any questions? I have a quick question for Dibet. Mr. Cortese, if you're still there, go ahead.

Thank you so much. I was wondering, you know, with the tariffs that are in place, can you talk about the impact that that might have on Hawaii's tourism industry when it comes to Canada and our neighbors and our partners there?

Sure.

Okay. Unfortunately, Chair, I don't have that information, but I can get that to you via email. That's possible.

Okay.

Thank you so much. That was my only question. Members, we are going to take a short recess for quorum recess. You'd think at the end we'd be really, really good with the process, but gaveling back in for decision making. On 10:30am agenda, we're going to be moving forward with our resolutions.

Up first, we have SCR12 recognizing international dark sky Week. We are going to be passing this measure forward with amendments. We're going to be inserting the amendment the amendments requested by DLNR and the University where the University will take the lead as chair of the task force. Other than that, Members, are there questions, comments or concerns?

Seeing none. Vice Chair for the vote.

[Roll call]

Thank you so much. Members, we're going to be Moving on to SCR112. Requesting the city and County of Honolulu to light up City hall which with purple lights on August 7th of each year in honor of National Purple Heart Day. We are going to be passing this this measure forward with amendments.

Also, since the resolution cannot make permanent standing request, we recommend specifying that the request for City hall to be lit with purple lights will only be on August 7th of 2025 rather than every year. Members, are there any questions, comments or concerns? Seeing none. Vice Chair for the vote.

Voting on SCR112SD1 with amendments with all Members present. Are there any no's with reservations? Chair recommendations adopted.

Thank you so much. Members, we are going to be Moving forward to SCR131 urging the state to acquire the Hawaii Theater to promote local culture and arts, preserve its historic and cultural significance and and to facilitate its continued public use. We are going to be passing this measure forward as is. Are there any questions, comments or concerns?

Okay. Seeing none. Vice Chair for the vote.

Voting on scr131 as is. Are there any nos or reservations? Seeing none Chair, reservation. Reservation. It's adopted. Measure's adopted.

Thank you so much. Moving on to SCR 169. Requesting the state Archives to expand public outreach, share Hawaii's history and that has any history that may improve may prove relevant today, create opportunities for public discussion and civic engagement and evaluate funding opportunities to support its mission. We are going to be passing this measure forward as is.

Members, are there any questions, comments or concerns? Seeing none Vice Chair for the vote.

Okay, voting on SCR169SD1Pass as is with all Members present. Are there any nos with reservations? Recommendation is adopted.

Thank you so much, Members. Moving on to Our last measure, SCR197 recognizing Indigenous Peoples Day, Canada Day and Truth in Reconciliation Day. Members, we are going to be passing this measure forward with amendments.

We'd like to note the testimony from Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism that highlights Hawaiis connection, connection to Canada and shared recognition of Indigenous Peoples and the importance of preserving this culture and strengthening ties and friendship with Canada.

We're going to be adding in a line at the end of the second whereas clause to request the Governor to raise a Canadian flag in Hawaii in a ceremony of recognition at an appropriate time and place. Members, are there any questions, comments or concerns? Seeing none. Vice Chair for the vote voting on.

SCR197, SD1 to pass with amendments. Are there any no's or reservations? Seeing none. Recommendation is adopted.

Thank you Members, and thank you for your work this session. This is our last Committee hearing for the Committee on Culture and Arts this session, so thank you again. We are adjourned.