HI HR60

Requests the Governor to establish a task force within the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism to create sister-state relationships between Hawaii and 13 specified Pacific island regions and provinces.

Task force membership to include the Governor and representatives from the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism and the East-West Center.

Targeted island jurisdictions include Tahiti (French Polynesia), Fiji, Vanuatu, Solomon Islands, Cook Islands, Micronesia, Papua New Guinea, Pitcairn Islands, Samoa, Tonga, Tuvalu, Wallis and Futuna, and Westland Province (New Zealand).

Governor required to keep the Legislature informed of the relationship-establishment process and involve the Legislature in formalization of agreements.

Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism must submit a report of the task force's findings to the Legislature no later than 20 days before the 2012 Regular Session.