The Senate Committee on Transportation and Culture and the Arts and the Senate Committee on Higher Education voted March 20 to adopt SCR 178 and SR 148, resolutions endorsing the East–West Center and requesting continued support for the center.

Supporters told the committees the center has long played a role in international exchange, education and local workforce development. Pat Louie, a former East–West Center grantee and president of the East–West Center alumni association, told the committees the center “brings friends … many of whom later become investors, into Hawaii” and said the center “gives our students … the opportunity to learn about the importance of global citizenship.”

Zagbayani, speaking for Hawaii Friends of Civil Rights, said the center’s work remains vital and described personal ties: “I came to Hawaii 60 years ago … I have obtained a master’s and a PhD, with support from the East–West Center and the University of Hawaii,” and said she supports the resolution. An APEC Hawaii representative described the center’s role hosting APEC-related business advisory activity in 2011 and its continuing value in connecting diplomats and business leaders.

Committee chairs told testifiers the measures would be taken together. For the Committee on Transportation and Culture and the Arts the chair’s recommendation was to pass the two resolutions with technical amendments; the recorded votes were Chair Lee — aye; Vice chair — aye; Senator Elefante — aye; Senator Kanuha — aye; Senator DeCort — aye. The Committee on Higher Education recorded the same recommendation and vote of passage with technical amendments: Chair Kim — aye; Vice Chair Kidani — aye; Senator Hashimoto — aye; Senators Fukunaga and Fevella were recorded as excused.

Committee members described the amendments as technical in nature; no substantive changes to the resolutions’ stated purposes were identified during the hearing.

The resolutions will be forwarded with the committees’ recommendations. The committees adjourned after taking the votes.