Lifetime Citizen Portal Access — AI Briefings, Alerts & Unlimited Follows
Committee backs bill to support Hawaii Symphony Orchestra and stabilize arts jobs
Loading...
Summary
The Senate committee moved SB441 forward to Ways and Means after testimony from artists, the Hawaii Theater Center and the Hawaii Symphony Orchestra about the cultural and economic value of steady state support.
Lawmakers on Jan. 30 recommended SB441, which would provide ongoing state support to the Hawaii Symphony Orchestra (HSO), to be advanced to the Ways and Means Committee.
Dane Lamb, music and artistic director of the Hawaii Symphony Orchestra, told the committee the measure would allow the 84‑member orchestra to bring more programming "to more people around these islands from Keiki to Kupuna" and stood on the group's written testimony. Musicians and arts organizations described the orchestra as key to Hawaii’s cultural fabric; Anna Lenhart, a principal horn who moved to Hawaii after winning the orchestra audition, said the bill would invite "highly trained musicians to stay" and would expand outreach to neighbor islands and underserved communities.
The Honolulu Theatre for Youth and other arts groups also testified in strong support, with testimony highlighting the symphony’s role in education and the local performing arts ecosystem. The Attorney General submitted written comments about the funding source named in a related bill (the Works of Special Art Fund), warning that using tax‑exempt bond proceeds for operating expenses could jeopardize tax‑exempt status; the committee noted the AG’s concerns and moved SB441 forward as introduced so the funding and statutory language can be reviewed in subsequent committees.
Next steps: SB441 will go to Ways and Means for fiscal review and to address the Attorney General’s recommendation about fund language; the committee asked future committees to review the AG’s suggested drafting alternatives.
