HI HR172

Acknowledges the accomplishments and sacrifices of more than 130 young men, primarily Native Hawaiians from Kamehameha School for Boys, who served as colonists on Howland, Baker, Jarvis, Canton, and Enderbury islands from 1935 through 1942.

Recognizes that the colonists' occupation of these Central Pacific islands directly enabled President Franklin D. Roosevelt to issue Executive Order 7368 on May 13, 1938, establishing U.S. jurisdiction over Howland, Baker, and Jarvis islands.

Notes that three colonists died during the colonization project, including Joseph Keliihananui and Richard Whaley who were killed in the December 8, 1941 Japanese attack on Howland Island.

Honors the 1956 establishment of Hui Panala'au organization by colonization project participants to preserve fellowship, provide scholarships, and honor those who died as colonists.

Marks the 80th anniversary of the colonists' March 30, 1935 departure from Honolulu Harbor and recognizes the international significance of the seven-year colonization effort that extended U.S. sovereignty into the Equatorial Pacific.