House Standing Committee on Culture & Arts

Hello everyone. Good morning. We are gathering in for our 11am agenda. This is the Committee on Culture and the Arts and we are in room 309. We have two measures here on the agenda today. Up first we have hv9 Hd1 designating Hawaii as a purple heart state. Up first for testimony.

We only have one person in person, I believe. Takumi Abe. Yes. Perfect.

No pressure.

No. Please come to the mic.

Hello, Good morning. My name is Takumi Abe. I'm with the Military Order, the Department Purple Heart. I am a proud Member of the Purple Heart Chapter 483 in Hawaii. I'm submitting my testimony in strong support of the bill to designate the state of Hawaii as a Purple Heart State.

I have been a serious advocate for ensuring that Purple Heart recipients here in Hawaii are properly acknowledged and recognized for their service and sacrifice they endured in common. Our wounded service Member fought tirelessly when our nation called upon us.

Now that we have returned home bearing the physical and emotional wounds of war, it is vital that our service and sacrifice are recognized not only by our nation, but by the state we proudly call home. This bill holds deep personal meaning for me.

Many Purple Heart recipients are no longer here with us today and I have pushed for legislations in their honor as well as for the recipients who remain and for their Ohana as well. Designating Hawaii and Purple Heart State would send a powerful message that our state stands with and supports its combat wounded veterans. Excuse me.

I have the privilege of working with Council Member Augie to on the Purple Heart City initiative and creating the Purple Heart City signage throughout Oahu. I have also been honored to work alongside of Senator Mike Gabbard and Representative Sam Kong in obtaining the proclamation recognizing Hawaii as a Purple Heart State. Thank you.

Passing this bill would be meaningful continuation of those efforts and would signify Hawaii's lasting commitment to honoring its wounded warriors. This designation is not about politics. It's about respect, remembrance and recognition. It is about ensuring that sacrifice made by Hawaii's sons and daughters are in combat are never forgotten.

Mahalunoiloh for your time, consideration and continued support of our Hawaii veterans. And I look forward to working with you all in the future. Mahalo.

Mr. Abe, thank you so much and thank you for your service.

Thank you.

We also have testimony and support from the Office of Veteran Services as well as the Hawaii Military Affairs Council. And then we have one more testifier I think in person. CARES Community Advocacy, Research Education Services.

Thank you Committee. Angela Melody Young, CARES in strong favor of this bill. So I helped to testify for the resolution and the bill at the City Council legislated and authored by council Member Augie to enact a series of the legislations to support and honor veterans across Oahu with bill 7 and Resolution 2449.

And so across Oahu popped up the very visible signs and you'll see it outside at historic landmarks and significant sites to make Honolulu a Purple Heart city. And so I'm such a fan of this legislation here at the state to make it happen across the state.

And so I traveled with the film team ancestors of the Hundredth Battalion, the Nisei American soldiers who fought for our country's freedom in Europe and here at home in the United States in November. And we did a tour of Florence and all the countries that were involved in the World War II events.

And it was very eye opening. And at my school, we have a bunch of veterans in active duty. And many of my classmates are being trained to provide counseling services and to be chaplains on military bases. And

So the Purple Heart is awarded to members of the United States military, veterans who have been wounded or have died in combat to protect our country's freedom. And so Senator Daniel K. Inouye, his grandmother was in this film. I had the honor of being a background actor with her. It was.

Please keep your remarks specifically to the film is. Yeah. And please wrap up your testimony. I am a fan of this legislation and perhaps I will ask Daniel Kinoy's granddaughter to help testify.

Perfect. Looking forward to it. Thank you so much, Ms. Young. Let's do it. Okay. We also have testimony and support from two individuals. And that's all I have on my testifiers list. Is there anyone else wishing to testify via Zoom? Seeing none. Members, any questions? Okay. Seeing none.

We're going to move on to the last Measure which is SB 2723 relating to State Sheriff's Day. We have two individuals in support from Department of Law Enforcement and an individual. That's all I have on my testifiers list though. And no one indicated that they would be testifying in person.

So with that Members, we're going to roll right into decision making. Up first on hv9hd1 designating Hawaii as a Purple Heart state. I do want to thank you so much for coming and joining us, Mr. Abe. We are going to be. I recommend that we pass this as is. Are there any questions, comments or concerns?

Final comment? Yes. Thank you for your service and thank you to the introducer of the bill. My grandfather was a part of the 442nd hundredth and he is a Purple Heart recipient and as a lot of grandkids are. I don't know his birthday, but this would be a great, you know, day to remember him. So thank you.

Thank you so much. Vice Chair for the vote.

Okay, voting on HB9HD1 as is. [Roll Call] Chair, your recommendation is adopted.

Thank you so much, Members. And then Moving on to SB2723 related to the state Sheriff's Day, we're just going to further defect the date, so Chair recommends passing with an HD1.

Yes. Okay, voting on SB2723 with amendments. Are there any noes or with reservations? Seeing none. Chair, your recommendation is adopted.

Thank you so much, Members. And we're adjourned.