| 45 | | - | WHEREAS, Hawaii and New Zealand share deep historical, cultural, economic, and environmental connections, rooted in the rich heritage of the Pacific islands; and WHEREAS, the indigenous peoples of Hawaii and New Zealand, the Kanaka Maoli and Māori, share linguistic, ancestral, and cultural ties as members of the greater Polynesian family; and WHEREAS, Hawaii and New Zealand are committed to the preservation and promotion of indigenous cultures, sustainable environmental practices, and economic development that respects traditional knowledge and values; and WHEREAS, Hawaii and New Zealand serve as important hubs for regional cooperation, fostering economic development and environmental sustainability throughout the Pacific region; and WHEREAS, the establishment of a memorandum of understanding would strengthen mutual interests in trade, tourism, education, environmental protection, cultural exchange, and disaster preparedness and response efforts; and WHEREAS, the arts are a vital and transformative part of Hawaii's cultural identity and economy, and New Zealand's rich artistic traditions offer an opportunity for cross-cultural collaboration, creative exchange, and mutual growth in the arts; and WHEREAS, the establishment of a memorandum of understanding would foster artistic innovation, enhance cultural understanding, and create new opportunities for artistic expression, education, and professional development in both Hawaii and New Zealand; and WHEREAS, a formalized relationship between Hawaii and New Zealand would provide opportunities for collaboration in renewable energy initiatives, agricultural innovation, marine conservation, and technology sharing; and WHEREAS, cultural exchange programs between educational institutions in Hawaii and New Zealand would enhance understanding and appreciation of Polynesian traditions, language revitalization efforts, and academic cooperation in fields such as marine biology, climate change, and Pacific studies; and WHEREAS, the people of Hawaii and New Zealand share a strong commitment to global peace, security, and prosperity, making a memorandum of understanding an opportunity to promote goodwill and shared goals; now, therefore, BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Thirty-third Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2025, the Senate concurring, that the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism is urged to evaluate and develop recommendations for the initiation of a memorandum of understanding between Hawaii and New Zealand to foster stronger ties in economic development, arts and cultural exchange, education, and environmental sustainability; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Governor is urged, in consultation with relevant government agencies and stakeholders, to take necessary steps to implement this memorandum of understanding and facilitate ongoing collaboration; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that upon the establishment of the memorandum of understanding, appropriate state agencies, educational institutions, business organizations, and cultural institutions are encouraged to develop programs and initiatives in collaboration with their counterparts in New Zealand; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Governor; Director of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism; and Prime Minister of New Zealand. |
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| 45 | + | WHEREAS, Hawaii and New Zealand share deep historical, cultural, economic, and environmental connections, rooted in the rich heritage of the Pacific islands; and WHEREAS, the indigenous peoples of Hawaii and New Zealand, the Kanaka Maoli and Māori, share linguistic, ancestral, and cultural ties as members of the greater Polynesian family; and WHEREAS, Hawaii and New Zealand are committed to the preservation and promotion of indigenous cultures, sustainable environmental practices, and economic development that respects traditional knowledge and values; and WHEREAS, Hawaii and New Zealand serve as important hubs for regional cooperation, fostering economic development and environmental sustainability throughout the Pacific region; and WHEREAS, the establishment of a sister-state relationship would strengthen mutual interests in trade, tourism, education, environmental protection, cultural exchange, and disaster preparedness and response efforts; and WHEREAS, the arts are a vital and transformative part of Hawaii's cultural identity and economy, and New Zealand's rich artistic traditions offer an opportunity for cross-cultural collaboration, creative exchange, and mutual growth in the arts; and WHEREAS, the establishment of a sister-state relationship would foster artistic innovation, enhance cultural understanding, and create new opportunities for artistic expression, education, and professional development in both Hawaii and New Zealand; and WHEREAS, a formalized relationship between Hawaii and New Zealand would provide opportunities for collaboration in renewable energy initiatives, agricultural innovation, marine conservation, and technology sharing; and WHEREAS, cultural exchange programs between educational institutions in Hawaii and New Zealand would enhance understanding and appreciation of Polynesian traditions, language revitalization efforts, and academic cooperation in fields such as marine biology, climate change, and Pacific studies; and WHEREAS, the people of Hawaii and New Zealand share a strong commitment to global peace, security, and prosperity, making a sister-state relationship an opportunity to promote goodwill and shared goals; now, therefore, BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Thirty-third Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2025, the Senate concurring, that the Hawaii Sister-State Committee is urged to evaluate and develop recommendations for the initiation of a sister-state relationship between Hawaii and New Zealand to foster stronger ties in economic development, arts and cultural exchange, education, and environmental sustainability; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Governor is urged, in consultation with relevant government agencies and stakeholders, to take necessary steps to implement this sister-state relationship and facilitate ongoing collaboration; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that upon the establishment of the sister-state relationship, appropriate state agencies, educational institutions, business organizations, and cultural institutions are encouraged to develop programs and initiatives in collaboration with their counterparts in New Zealand; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Governor, Chair of the Hawaii Sister-State Committee, and Prime Minister of New Zealand. OFFERED BY: _____________________________ |
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