ESTABLISHING A SISTER-STATE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE STATE OF HAWAII, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND THE PREFECTURE OF OKAYAMA, JAPAN.

This bill establishes an official sister-state relationship between the State of Hawaii and the Prefecture of Okayama, Japan, formalizing existing cultural and historical ties between the two regions. The resolution recognizes shared heritage dating back to Japanese immigration in the late 19th century and builds on decades of grassroots exchanges, including university partnerships and charter flights between the two locations. By designating Okayama as a sister state, Hawaii aims to expand institutional collaboration in areas such as tourism, agriculture, education, and climate resilience while strengthening people-to-people connections between residents of both jurisdictions. The bill directs the transmission of the resolution to relevant state and federal officials to complete the formal establishment of this partnership.