House culture and arts committee advances special plates, commemorative days, state shrimp and ticket-tax HD

The House Committee on Culture, Arts & International Affairs on Wednesday, Feb. 5 in Room 309 advanced a package of measures including a special license plate for the University of Hawaii Cancer Center, designations for several commemorative days, a symbolic state shrimp name, and a short-form bill that would add a 1% tax on concert tickets and was recommitted with an HD for further hearings.

The actions affect a mix of ceremonial recognitions, cultural observances and an arts-funding proposal that would create a dedicated revenue stream for arts access across the state. Committee members moved each measure forward with technical or substantive amendments; the committee also removed language that would have created a costly paid holiday and instead designated a day of recognition.

The panel voted to advance HB 531, which would authorize special number plates recognizing the University of Hawaii Cancer Center, with technical amendments and an effective date of July 1, 3000. Chair Capela moved the recommendation and the chair and vice chair voted aye; Representative Garrett, Representative Lee and Representative Sayama also voted aye; Representative Raesota was excused. The committee adopted the recommendation.

On HB 458, which would designate Brother Joseph Dutton Day, the committee heard in-person testimony from Dr. Adam Jansen, the state archivist at the Department of Accounting and General Services, who described Dutton’s archival materials and historical significance. "Those who do not remember their past are condemned to repeat it," Jansen said, adding that Dutton’s papers and photographs are preserved by the state archives. Patrick Boland of the Joseph Dutton Guild testified in support and summarized Dutton’s 44 years of service to a settlement community. The committee passed HB 458 with an amendment setting an effective date of July 1, 3000.

HB 345, a proposal to name the opaiula as the state shrimp to recognize and protect alkaline pool systems and the fishpond networks that house them, received support from the Department of Land and Natural Resources (Bridal Nielsen) and advocates with Kua'aina Ulu ʻĀmo (Olan Lemomi Fisher and Kevin Chang). Fisher said the bill originated from requests by community members who work with fishpond networks and that the proposal had been attempted previously in 2019. The committee moved HB 345 forward with technical amendments and an effective date of July 1, 3000.

On HB 194, to align the state maritime day with the national observance (adding May 22), the committee adopted amendments to add the date and set an effective date of July 1, 3000 and moved the bill forward.

HB 554, which would have established Lunar New Year as a state holiday, was amended during the meeting. The committee removed section 2 of the bill after members noted an estimated fiscal impact of about $9,000,000 to create a new paid state holiday. The amended language adds a new section to Chapter 8 of the Hawaii Revised Statutes designating the day — the second new moon after the winter solstice — as "Lunar New Year" and specifies that the designation "shall not be construed as a new state holiday." The committee moved the amended measure forward; Chloe Franklin, a Kalaheo High School senior, testified in favor of recognizing Lunar New Year as a day of cultural recognition and economic benefit to Asian American–owned businesses.

HB 957, relating to Laulau Day (the committee record also uses an alternate spelling in parts of the transcript), received written support from the Hawaii Farm Bureau and 36 individuals; the committee amended the measure to designate May as Laulau Day and advanced it with an effective date of July 1, 3000.

Later in the session the committee took up HB 925 (short form), a bill to impose a 1% tax on concert ticket sales with revenues to be used for arts-access programs statewide. The committee passed HB 925 in short form and HD to recommit for future public hearings; committee staff described the HD as the vehicle to develop the bill language and revenue allocation details. The committee record shows the recommendation to pass with HD was adopted with all members present and no recorded no votes.

Votes at a glance: HB 531 (special plates, University of Hawaii Cancer Center): advanced with technical amendments; Chair and vice chair, Rep. Garrett, Rep. Lee and Rep. Sayama voted aye; Rep. Raesota excused. HB 458 (Brother Joseph Dutton Day): advanced with amendment (effective date July 1, 3000). HB 345 (state shrimp — opaiula): advanced with technical amendments (effective date July 1, 3000). HB 194 (maritime day): advanced with amendment to add May 22 and effective date July 1, 3000. HB 554 (Lunar New Year): amended to create a day of recognition (not a paid state holiday), section 2 removed because of estimated $9,000,000 cost; advanced. HB 957 (Laulau Day): advanced with amendment to designate May as Laulau Day (effective date July 1, 3000). HB 925 (concert-ticket tax, short form): passed in short form with HD to recommit for further hearings.

What speakers said: Dr. Adam Jansen, state archivist, told the committee the archives holds Dutton’s manuscripts, letters and photographs and urged recognition. Patrick Boland of the Joseph Dutton Guild summarized Dutton’s decades of service. Bridal Nielsen of the Department of Land and Natural Resources said the department stood on its written testimony in support of HB 345. Olan Lemomi Fisher of Kua'aina Ulu ʻĀmo said the proposal came from fishpond network members and had been attempted in 2019. Chloe Franklin, a Kalaheo High School senior, said designating Lunar New Year "is supportive of the diversity in Hawaii" and estimated economic benefits for Asian American–owned businesses from increased holiday sales.

Next steps: Each advanced bill will proceed in the House process according to the amendments the committee adopted: the commemorative and symbolic measures will move forward with the committee’s recommended language and July 1, 3000 effective dates; HB 925 will be returned as an HD for additional drafting and public hearings on the tax and revenue allocations.

(Committee room and procedural remarks occurred on the record; ceremonial or absent witnesses were noted in committee testimony lists but did not speak during the decision-making votes.)