Bill Text: HI HCR14 | 2022 | Regular Session | Amended
Bill Title: Establishing A Sister-state Relationship Between The State Of Hawaii, United States Of America, And The Autonomous Region Of Madeira, Portugal.
Spectrum: Strong Partisan Bill (Democrat 25-2)
Status: (Passed) 2022-05-05 - Resolution adopted in final form. [HCR14 Detail]
Download: Hawaii-2022-HCR14-Amended.html
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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES |
H.C.R. NO. |
14 |
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THIRTY-FIRST LEGISLATURE, 2022 |
H.D. 1 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
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HOUSE CONCURRENT
RESOLUTION
ESTABLISHING A SISTER-STATE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE STATE OF HAWAII, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND THE AUTONOMOUS REGION OF MADEIRA, PORTUGAL.
WHEREAS,
Hawaii has developed and maintained a rich heritage of international relations
and cultural exchange since the days of the Hawaiian monarchy in the nineteenth
century; and
WHEREAS,
since 1981, the Legislature has instituted sister-state relationships as a
means of asserting and promoting the State's active participation in
international matters; and
WHEREAS,
Hawaii currently maintains nineteen
sister-state relationships, only one of which is with a European country; and
WHEREAS,
Madeira is an autonomous region of Portugal and is located in the northern
Atlantic, approximately five hundred miles southwest of Lisbon; and
WHEREAS,
the archipelago of Madeira consists of two inhabited island—Madeira and Porto Santo;
the Desertas Islands comprised of three uninhabited islands;
and the Selvagens Islands, an archipelago including three
main islands and sixteen uninhabited islets; and
WHEREAS,
in 1976, the Archipelago of Madeira, along with the Archipelago of Azores, became
autonomous regions under the Constitution of the Portuguese Republic; and
WHEREAS,
tourism is currently the main economic driver and largest source of revenue in Madeira;
and
WHEREAS,
Hawaii and the people of Madeira share a long history and strong bond, which
began when one hundred eighty contract laborers from Madeira arrived in Honolulu
Harbor on September 30, 1878, on the S.S. Priscilla; and
WHEREAS,
during the three decades that followed, approximately eight thousand Madeiran
immigrants arrived to work on Hawaii's sugarcane plantations; and
WHEREAS,
immigrants from Madeira brought elements of their home culture to Hawaii, many
of which became integral parts of life in Hawaii, such as the braguinha, which became the ‘ukulele; linguiça,
which became known as Portuguese sausage; and their skills as cattlemen, whose
traditions shaped Hawaii's paniolo; and
WHEREAS,
pursuant to section 229-3, Hawaii Revised Statutes, the Hawaii Sister-State
Committee is tasked with evaluating and developing recommendations for the
initiation of all sister-state relationships and forwarding its recommendations
to the Legislature; if the Legislature so chooses, it shall implement the
recommendation to initiate a sister-state or province relationship by either adopting
a concurrent resolution or by enacting session law to that effect; and
WHEREAS,
the State of Hawaii is actively seeking to expand its international ties and
has an abiding interest in developing goodwill, friendship, and economic
relations between the people of Hawaii and the people of many nations; and
WHEREAS,
the Hawaii Sister-State Committee has reviewed the Hawaii-Madeira sister-state
application and on November 16, 2021 has recommended that a sister-state
relationship be established between Hawaii and the Autonomous Region of Madeira;
and
WHEREAS,
this body believes that a sister-state relationship between Hawaii and the
Autonomous Region of Madeira will be highly beneficial in expanding tourism,
strengthening cultural and historical bonds, and advancing common goals of international
peace and fellowship; now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Thirty-first Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2022, the Senate concurring, that a sister-state relationship between the State of Hawaii, United States of America, and the Autonomous Region of Madeira, Portugal, is hereby established; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the United States Secretary of State; Ambassador of Portugal to the United States; Governor; President of the Regional Government of Madeira; Honorary Consul of Portugal in Hawaii; Director of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism; and Chairperson of the Hawaii Sister-State Committee.
Sister-state Relationship; Hawaii, United States of America; Autonomous Region of Madeira, Portugal
