STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3035

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 3235

H.D. 1

 

 

Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2006

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Media, Arts, Science, and Technology, to which was referred H.B. No. 3235, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE STATE OF HAWAII ENDOWMENT FUND,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to support the continuation of the Honolulu Symphony program by appropriating funds to the State of Hawaii Endowment Fund, which is a separate fund of the Honolulu Symphony Trust, to be matched dollar-for-dollar with private funds.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the State Foundation on Culture and the Arts; the Honolulu Symphony; the Musicians' Association of Hawaii, Local No. 677, American Federation of Musicians; the Democratic Party of Hawaii, Oahu County Committee; and ten private individuals.

The State of Hawaii Endowment Fund is a separate fund of the Honolulu Symphony Trust. The income and capital gains from the fund are to be used for the production of music by an Oahu-based symphony orchestra as determined by the State Foundation on Culture and the Arts. The Honolulu Symphony is an important cultural, educational, and economic asset that provides world-class music to Hawaii audiences. As with most symphony orchestras in North American, however, annual income from ticket sales and financial support from state, county, and private entities has been insufficient to maintain a balanced budget.

The Honolulu Symphony is at risk of losing many talented musicians and reducing the quality and consistency of its music, which will negatively impact the symphony's programs. Your Committee finds that making an appropriation to fund the State of Hawaii Endowment Fund will provide the essential financial stability to ensure that the orchestra's vital music education and enrichment services will remain available and affordable for the general public and, most importantly, for the young people of Hawaii.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Media, Arts, Science, and Technology that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 3235, H.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Media, Arts, Science, and Technology,

____________________________

CAROL FUKUNAGA, Chair