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THE SENATE |
S.B. NO. |
1317 |
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TWENTY-SEVENTH LEGISLATURE, 2013 |
S.D. 2 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
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A BILL FOR AN ACT
RELATING TO THE JAPANESE AMERICAN EXPERIENCE IN HAWAII.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
SECTION 1. The legislature finds that a Nisei veterans legacy center would preserve, perpetuate, and share the legacy of the Americans of Japanese ancestry who served in the United States armed forces in World War II. Such a center would provide research and educational programs, outreach efforts, and displays for residents and visitors. The establishment of a Nisei veterans legacy center would create a facility dedicated to researching, preserving, and interpreting the history of the 100th Infantry Battalion, 442nd Regimental Combat Team, Military Intelligence Service, and 1399th Engineer Construction Battalion to develop deeper understandings of their unique place in Hawaiian, American, and global history.
A Nisei veterans legacy center would curate materials and artifacts to preserve and perpetuate the legacy of the Nisei soldiers of World War II who fought loyally and valiantly against the Axis powers on the European and Pacific battlefields, while having to combat distrust, racial prejudice, and discrimination at home. A Nisei veterans legacy center would examine race, loyalty, citizenship, and "Americanism" against the backdrop of martial law, internment, and the fragility of civil liberties and civil rights during that era, and demonstrate how the Nisei soldiers' battlefield experiences and sacrifices contributed to political leadership, social movements, and social transformation in Hawaii and the United States.
Locating a Nisei veterans legacy center in West Oahu would complement academic and research programs offered at the University of Hawaii, such as the center for labor education and research's archives and the Henry Giugni film collection.
The Honouliuli internment camp is a major historical site located on property currently owned by Monsanto in West Oahu. The United States National Park Service, Japanese Cultural Center of Hawaii, University of Hawaii-West Oahu, the State of Hawaii, Monsanto, and other stakeholders are working to preserve and share the existing remnants of the internment camp, with a planned educational center and memorial. In 2012, the legislature established a Honouliuli advisory group to develop recommendations to help develop this site with government and private resources, and the group will continue to meet through January 1, 2014.
The purpose of this Act is to make appropriations for the planning, design, and construction of a center in West Oahu that would incorporate a Nisei veterans legacy center and a Honouliuli internment camp educational center. The legislature intends for a matching source of private or public funds to be secured prior to the release of the appropriation.
SECTION 2. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $ or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2013-2014 and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2014-2015 for the planning, design, and construction of a Nisei veterans legacy center.
The sums appropriated shall be expended by the department of land and natural resources for the purposes of this Act; provided that no moneys appropriated under this Act shall be expended unless matched by grants or donations from public or private sources.
For the purposes of this Act, the value of in-kind donations from private sources may be included for the purpose of calculating the amount of matching funds; provided that the director of finance shall first verify the value of any such donation.
SECTION 3. The department of land and natural resources shall report to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular session of 2014 on the status of the Nisei veterans legacy center, including funding.
SECTION 4. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $ or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2013-2014 and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2014-2015 to continue the work of the Honouliuli Park Site Project Advisory Group created by Act 235, Session Laws of Hawaii, 2012.
The sums appropriated shall be expended by the University of Hawaii for the purposes of this Act; provided that no moneys appropriated under this Act shall be expended unless matched by grants or donations from public or private sources.
For the purposes of this Act, the value of in-kind donations from private sources may be included for the purpose of calculating the amount of matching funds; provided that the director of finance shall first verify the value of any such donation.
SECTION 5. The advisory group shall report to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular session of 2014 on:
(1) Recommendations to leverage county, state, federal, and private funding for an educational resource center related to the Honouliuli Internment site; and
(2) The status of designating the Honouliuli internment prisoner of war camp site and associated sites within Hawaii as part of the United States National Park Service.
SECTION 6. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2050.
Report Title:
Japanese American Experience in Hawaii; Nisei Veterans Legacy Center; Honouliuli Internment Camp Educational Center; Appropriation; Matching Funds
Description:
Appropriates a blank amount of funds for the planning, design, and construction of the Nisei Veterans Legacy Center and a Honouliuli Park Site Project Advisory Group. Appropriation is subject to matching funds. Allows the value of in-kind donations to be calculated in the matching amount, subject to verification by the director of finance. Effective 07/01/2050. (SD2)
The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.