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THE SENATE                           S.R. NO.              S.D. 1
TWENTIETH LEGISLATURE, 1999                                
STATE OF HAWAII                                            
                                                             
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                    SENATE  RESOLUTION
  REQUESTING THE OFFICE OF HAWAIIAN AFFAIRS TO MAKE AN
    APPROPRIATION TO FUND HISTORICAL SIGNAGE FOR THE KING
    KAMEHAMEHA I STATUE.



 1        WHEREAS, tourism is Hawaii's number one industry and the
 2   State is becoming increasingly dependent on tourism to provide
 3   jobs and tax revenues; and
 4   
 5        WHEREAS, the considerable benefits of cultural and
 6   historical tourism have greatly increased in importance in
 7   recent years, as evidenced by a 1998 conference devoted to this
 8   subject by the Historic Hawai`i Foundation and the
 9   establishment of the Native Hawaiian Tourism and Hospitality
10   Association; and
11   
12        WHEREAS, Hawaii's tourism industry badly needs to enhance
13   the visitor experience by offering more interesting and
14   historically significant attractions; and
15   
16        WHEREAS, over the past decade, Hawaii has experienced a
17   profound reawakening of interest in its past, with special
18   interest in its royal history; and
19   
20        WHEREAS, King Kamehameha I is, many historians will say,
21   the most important figure in Hawaiian history; and
22   
23        WHEREAS, the King Kamehameha I statue, together with
24   Iolani Palace, forms the historical "heart" of Hawaii; and
25   
26        WHEREAS, the King Kamehameha I statue is one of Hawaii's
27   most popular tourist and resident attractions, with, perhaps, a
28   thousand people (including school children), visiting the site
29   daily; and
30   
31        WHEREAS, the annual celebration of King Kamehameha Day is
32   a major visitor and resident event, with a lei ceremony at the
33   statue in honor of the King; and
34   
35        WHEREAS, astonishingly, in light of the importance of this
36   historical figure to the people of Hawaii, the area surrounding
37   the King Kamehameha I statue contains no information indicating
38   that Kamehameha I was a king, or when he lived, or what he
39   accomplished, or his stature in Hawaiian history; and
40   

 
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                                  S.R. NO.              S.D. 1
                                                        
                                                        


 1        WHEREAS, it is in the highest interest of the people of
 2   Hawaii and Hawaii's visitor industry to provide this
 3   information regarding King Kamehameha I's life and deeds; and
 4   
 5        WHEREAS, the establishment of historical signage near the
 6   King Kamehameha I statue would offer a significant benefit for
 7   Hawaii's visitor industry and a source of pride for residents
 8   of this State; now, therefore,
 9   
10        BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Twentieth Legislature
11   of the State of Hawai'i, Regular Session of 1999, that the
12   Legislature requests the Office of Hawaiian Affairs to fund
13   historical signage at the Kamehameha I statue; and
14   
15        BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this
16   Resolution be transmitted to the Chairperson of the Office of
17   Hawaiian Affairs; the Chief Justice of the Hawaii Supreme
18   Court; the Chairperson of the Hawaiian Homes Commission; the
19   Director of Business, Economic Development and Tourism; the
20   Chairperson of the Hawaii Tourism Authority; the President of
21   the Native Hawaiian Tourism and Hospitality Association; the
22   Executive Director of the Historic Hawai'i Foundation; the
23   Director of the Bishop Museum; the King Kamehameha Celebration
24   Commission; and the Order of Kamehameha.