HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.C.R. NO.

146

TWENTY-NINTH LEGISLATURE, 2017

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

HOUSE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

 

 

Requests the Hawaii State legislature declare 'awa as the official beverage of the aloha state.

 

 

 


     WHEREAS, the State has designated a state song, flower, gem, tree, land mammal, marine mammal, fish, dance, insect, sport, team sport and instrument; and

 

     WHEREAS, there is no state beverage even though more than half of the states in the U.S. have official beverages; and

 

     WHEREAS, designation of an official state beverage should serve as an expression of appreciation for the significance of that beverage in the Hawaiian culture; and

 

     WHEREAS, the plant roots of Piper methysticum have been used to make the beverage, 'awa, here in Hawaii since before European contact; and

 

     WHEREAS, the best state for cultivating Piper methysticum is Hawaii due to the state's sunny, humid conditions and year round warm temperatures; and

 

     WHEREAS, the residents of this state, including the kanaka maoli, Hawaii's indigenous peoples, recognize 'awa as an important traditional and cultural beverage; and

 

     WHEREAS, drinking 'awa promotes "aloha" by eliciting a feeling of relaxed contentedness and aids in discussion and conflict resolution; and

 

     WHEREAS, 'awa symbolizes the environmental, social and cultural values important to Hawaii; and

 

     WHEREAS, it is time to formally recognize 'awa's historical and cultural significance to the state and its peoples; now, therefore,

 

     BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-ninth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2017, the Senate concurring, that the Hawaii State legislation declare 'awa to be the official beverage of the aloha state; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Governor and the Chairperson of the board of trustees of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs.

 

 

 

 

OFFERED BY:

_____________________________

 

 

Report Title: 

'Awa, Hawaiian, State Beverage