REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR AND INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS TO STUDY THE FEASIBILITY OF ESTABLISHING A HAWAII WORKFORCE EXCELLENCE AWARD PROGRAM.

SCR5

THE SENATE

S.C.R. NO.

5

THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026

STATE OF HAWAII

SENATE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

requesting the department of labor and industrial
relations to study the feasibility of establishing a hawaii workforce
excellence award program
.

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WHEREAS, the
Meilleur Ouvrier de France, translated as the "best craftsperson of France,"
is a historic competition established in 1924 to recognize and revitalize
traditional crafts in France; and

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WHEREAS, this
competition fosters and expands artisans' skills by preserving and sharing
generational knowledge while also publicly elevating craftspersons and their
work; and

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WHEREAS, the
Meilleur Ouvrier de France showcases France's unique culture through a diverse display
of traditional professions in more than two hundred categories, including
florists, chefs, and carpenters; and

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WHEREAS, those
vying for the Meilleur Ouvrier de France title are judged against a standard of
perfection, rather than against each other, allowing for multiple or no
awardees for any one category; and

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WHEREAS, each
winner of the Meilleur Ouvrier de France is awarded a medal and state diploma
and hosted by the French President at the Elysee Palace; and

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WHEREAS, Meilleur
Ouvrier de France titles are awarded for life, christening winners as
custodians of their trade and tasking them with the preservation and sharing of
generational knowledge; and

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WHEREAS, Hawaii
has a rich history of skilled artisans and fine craftspersons spanning a wide
variety of crafts and trades; and

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WHEREAS, preserving
cultural knowledge of these crafts and trades would help to promote alternative
career paths and diversify the State's economy; and

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WHEREAS, establishing
an award program for craftspersons would demonstrate the State's commitment to
preserving Hawaii's significant cultural history and promote participation in
traditional crafts and trades; now, therefore,

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BE IT
RESOLVED by the Senate of the Thirty-third Legislature of the State of Hawaii,
Regular Session of 2026, the House of Representatives concurring, that the
Department of Labor and Industrial Relations is requested to conduct a study,
with industry input, on the feasibility of establishing of a workforce excellence
award program recognizing craftspersons in the State, where nominations are
collected from the public and annual awards are presented by the Governor at a
historically significant venue; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that
the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations is requested to research,
assess, and make recommendations on:

����
(1)
�
The feasibility of establishing in Hawaii a workforce
excellence award program similar to the Meilleur Ouvrier de France to further
the State's traditional crafts and trades, preserve generational knowledge, and
promote participation in traditional crafts and trades;

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(2)
�
Key industries, crafts, and trades that should
be included in a workforce excellence award program; and

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(3)
�
Cost-effective means of establishing a
workforce excellence award program; and

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BE IT FURTHER
RESOLVED that the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations is requested to submit
a report of its findings and recommendations, including any proposed
legislation, to the Legislature no later than twenty days prior to the
convening of the Regular Session of 2027; and

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BE IT FURTHER
RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the
Office of the Governor and Director of Labor and Industrial Relations.

OFFERED BY:

_____________________________

Report Title:

Department
of Labor and Industrial Relations; Workforce Excellence Award Program; Traditional
Crafts and Trades; Meilleur Ouvrier de France; Report