HI HR12

Urges the Governor of Hawai'i to request all Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) member countries to establish honorary consuls in Hawai'i before the 2011 APEC Summit scheduled for November 12-13, 2011 in Honolulu.

Notes that Hawai'i currently has only four honorary consuls from the 21 APEC member countries despite the summit bringing heads of state and officials from all member nations.

Identifies honorary consuls' roles as safeguarding their country's interests and furthering commercial, economic, cultural, and scientific relations between their sending state and Hawai'i.

Recognizes that honorary consuls can expedite visa processing, facilitate communications between diplomats and Washington D.C., and help establish and maintain economic trade relations between Hawai'i and APEC member countries.

Requires certified copies of the resolution be transmitted to the Governor, Director of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism, Consular Corps of Hawai'i, and the United States Secretary of State.