RELATING TO INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS.

HB1331

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

1331

THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2025

STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

relating
to international relations
.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

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SECTION 1.
�
The legislature finds that Act 101, Session
Laws of Hawaii 1992, established the office of international relations to play
a critical and needed role in fostering, coordinating, and creating
international programs and policies that will affect the State's future
development.
�
The office was seen of as a
success in implementing policies and fostering relationships within the Pacific
region but was eventually sunset on June 30, 1995.

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The legislature further finds that The
Matsunaga Institute at the university of Hawaii college of social sciences is
dedicated to honoring the memory of United States Senator Spark M. Matsunaga
and implementing his hope that "every student enrolled in Hawaii's public
university system will be exposed to peace studies."
�
The Institute promotes cross-cultural
communication and peacemaking leadership and is committed to building on Hawaii's
cultural heritage and island values of aloha, mutual aid and respect, a sense
of community, and caring for the land.

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The purpose of this Act is to:

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(1)
�
Establish the Matsunaga aloha pacific academy
within the office of international relations to facilitate international
affairs meetings regarding the Pacific region; and

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(2)
�
Rename the office of international affairs to
the office of international relations and expand its functions and duties.

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SECTION 2.
�
Chapter 201, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is
amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as
follows:

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"
�201-
�
Matsunaga
aloha pacific academy.
�
(a)
�

There is established the Matsunaga aloha pacific academy within the
office of international relations under section 201-17 for administrative
purposes.

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(b)
�
The academy shall:

����
(1)
�
Collaborate
with the Matsunaga Institute of the university of Hawaii college of social
sciences;

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(2)
�
Raise funds for
operating and administrative expenses from private sources, government and non
governmental entities, nonprofit foundations, and other organizations;

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(3)
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Establish a
main facility on the island of Kauai, in honor of the home of former United
States Senator Spark Matsunaga; and

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(4)
�
Facilitate
international affairs meetings regarding the Pacific region.
"

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SECTION
3
.
�
Section 201-17,
Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

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"
[
[
]�201‑17[
]
]
�

Office of international [
affairs;
]
relations;
established.
�
(a)
�

There is established, within the department of business, economic
development, and tourism, an office of international [
affairs.
]
relations.
�
The head of the office shall be known as the
director of international relations.
�
The
director shall have experience in international affairs, business, law, or
other related fields.
�
The director shall
be appointed by the governor without regard to chapters 76 and 89, and shall be
paid at a salary level that shall not exceed per cent
of the salary of the director of business, economic development, and tourism.
�
The director, may retain staff as necessary without
regard to chapters 76 and 89.

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(b)
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The office shall[
:
]
serve as the principal resource for the
overall analysis, formulation, and coordination of state policies and
strategies relating to international matters.
�

The office shall:

����
(1)
�
Develop policies
and
strategies
that promote and strengthen relations with other countries in
the areas of international business, economy, culture, and the arts;

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(2)
�
Develop policies
that promote transportation between, and tourism with, other countries;

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(3)
�
Develop and
promote international telecommunications and high technology exchanges;

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(4)
�
Encourage the
development of international sister-city programs, pairing Hawaii cities with
cities around the globe for artistic, cultural, economic, educational, and
faith-based exchanges;

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(5)
�
Develop and
promote Hawaii as the economic, trade, commerce, transportation, banking, and
tourism hub of the Pacific;

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(6)
�
Develop an
international affairs and peace education curriculum that includes studies of
international affairs and peace initiatives and takes a proactive, strategic
approach to the development of policies that promote the prevention of national
and international conflict, nonviolent intervention, mediation, peaceful
resolution of conflict, and structured mediation of conflict; [
and
]

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(7)
�
Provide for
exchanges of individuals between Hawaii and other nations to develop
international and peace-based initiatives[
.
]
;

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(8)
�
Formulate and
articulate comprehensive statewide goals, objectives, policies, and priorities
with respect to matters of an international nature;

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(9)
�
Identify and
analyze significant issues, problems, and opportunities in the international
arena that may confront the State and its citizens;

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(10)
�
Serve as the
governor's representative and State's liaison with county, state, and federal
agencies, as well as foreign governments and their local consulates, with
respect to international matters; and

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(11)
�
Provide
direction and coordination of the international programs, projects, and
activities of the various state departments and agencies.

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(c)
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The office shall develop a comprehensive
state strategic plan for international activities.
�
The plan shall include the establishment of
immediate and long-range goals for programs and services relating to
international activities in the State and the assignment of goals to
appropriate state agencies.
�
The office
shall submit the state strategic plan to the legislature no later than twenty
days prior to the convening of the regular session of
2026.

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(d)
�
It shall be the duty and responsibility of
every state agency with operating programs and services relating to international
activities to coordinate with the office in actively working toward the goals
and objectives articulated in the state strategic plan.
�
The executive heads of all appropriate
departments and agencies shall cooperate with the office in providing
information as the office deems necessary for the effective discharge of its
duties.
�
Nothing in this section shall be
deemed to delegate or detract in any way from the functions, powers, and duties
prescribed by law for any other department or agency of the State.

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[
(c)
]
(e)
�
Notwithstanding any other law to the
contrary, if any of the responsibilities or duties of the office of
international affairs under this section overlap with the responsibilities or
duties of another agency or authority under this chapter, the office of
international affairs shall have exclusive jurisdiction and authority over
those responsibilities and duties."

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SECTION 4.
�
There is appropriated out of the general
revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of
$ or so much
thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2025-2026 and the same sum or so
much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2026-2027 for the office of
international relations.

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The sums

appropriated shall be expended by the department of business,
economic development, and tourism for the purposes of this Act.

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SECTION 5.
�
Statutory material to be repealed is
bracketed and stricken.
�
New statutory
material is underscored.

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SECTION 6.
�
This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2025.

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

Report Title:

DBEDT;
Office of International Relations; Matsunaga Aloha Pacific Academy;
Appropriation

Description:

Changes
the name and expands the functions and duties of the Office of International
Relations.
�
Establishes the Matsunaga
Aloha Pacific Academy within the Office of International Relations.

The summary description
of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is
not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.