HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.C.R. NO.

298

TWENTY-SIXTH LEGISLATURE, 2011

H.D. 1

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

HOUSE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

 

 

REQUESTING THAT THE ASIA-PACIFIC ECONOMIC COOPERATION HOST COMMITTEE SELECT PRODUCTS UNIQUE TO HAWAII THAT SHOWCASE HAWAII'S EXCELLENCE IN AGRICULTURE.

 

 

 


     WHEREAS, the State of Hawaii has an opportunity to develop a new industry in the growing, cultivating, processing, and shipping of Hawaii-grown produce to the mainland United States, Asia and the rest of the world; and

 

     WHEREAS, Hawaii is the only state in close proximity to both Asia and the continental United States, and is ideally located to capture and prosper from the opportunities of a growing agriculture market worldwide; and

 

     WHEREAS, Hawaii has a once in a 20-year opportunity to seize the momentum of the growing success and popularity of locally grown agricultural products; and

 

     WHEREAS, Hawaii's rich soil and perennial warm climate position it as the only state in the United States to commercially grow papaya, cacao, sugar, coffee, and many other products; and

 

     WHEREAS, the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation, is the premier forum for Asia-Pacific economies to cooperate on regional trade and investment issues; and

 

     WHEREAS, Hawaii can seize the opportunity by offering dignitaries of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Hawaii's finest agricultural products, including locally grown tropical flowers and foliage, vegetables, and fruits, such as papaya, mango, lilikoi, pineapple, and Ka'u orange, and other popular value-added products, including confections, jams and jellies, and seasonings; and

 

     WHEREAS, the agriculture industry is poised to heighten the State's economy with a broad range of job opportunities through diversified agriculture including production and processing, and can be a component of the State's efforts to promote agri-tourism, which often contributes more revenue than the actual crop growing activity; and

 

     WHEREAS, branding of Hawaii's products or agriculture products as being produced in Hawaii at high quality standards will differentiate them as unique or distinct from agriculture products from the rest of the world; and

 

     WHEREAS, Hawaii is a multi faceted State that takes pride in all of its culture and heritage; and

 

     WHEREAS, the Hawaiian and Asian culture in Hawaii has a direct influence on who we are and the pride we all take in our culture by sharing gifts and souvenirs that represent our unique culture and heritage; and

 

     WHEREAS, the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation is a great opportunity for Hawaii to share with the rest of the world what it has to offer by sharing its locally grown products, unique to our State with the rest of the world to everyone attending the conference; now, therefore,

 

     BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-sixth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2011, the Senate concurring, that the legislature hereby urges the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Host Committee to promote, showcase and offer Hawaii's finest locally grown products to the dignitaries of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation throughout its conference; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Department of Agriculture is requested to hold a tasting event featuring locally grown products during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation conference; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Governor of the State of Hawaii; Chairperson of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Host Committee; Director of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism; Chairperson of the Board of Agriculture; President and Chief Executive Officer of the Hawaii Chamber of Commerce; and Mayor of the City and County of Honolulu.

Report Title: 

Requesting APEC to select Hawaii agricultural products.