HI HR130

Requests the Governor to establish a sister-state relationship between Hawaii and the Maritime Province (Primorsky Krai) in Russia through the Hawaii Sister-State Committee for economic, cultural, security, and intellectual benefits.

Cites historical connections between Hawaii and Russia dating back to 1803 when the first Russian ship arrived in Hawaii, including consular representation established in 1859, Russian workers in sugar and pineapple plantations in the early 1900s, and Russian contributions to Hawaii's development.

Highlights existing academic and scholarly ties between the University of Hawaii and Russian institutions, including partnerships with the Russian Academy of Sciences and universities in the Russian Far East in fields such as marine science, astronomy, and Asian-Pacific studies.

Requests the Governor and Hawaii Sister-State Committee to keep the legislature informed of the establishment process and involve the body in formalization of the relationship.

Directs certified copies of the resolution be transmitted to the U.S. President, Russian Federation President, Hawaii Governor, Russian Ambassador and Consul General, Maritime Province Governor, and various state and educational institutions.