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News Release - ASIAN LUNAR NEW
YEAR COMMEMORATION
Do you know our dues
paying members attend events sponsored by our collaboration partners worldwide
at their membership rates - go to our event page to find out more!
After
attended a China/Hong Kong Business/Trade Seminar in Hawaii...still unsure what
to do next, contact us, our Officers, Directors and Founding Members are
actively engaged in China/Hong Kong/Asia trade - we can help!
News Archives in
PDF Format
May 1,
2007
Hong Kong.China.Hawaii
Chamber of Commerce has worked with the Hawaii State Legislators for the past 18
month to support the establishment of the "Asian Lunar New Year Commemoration
Week" by Working with Both Democratic and Republican Legislator in the Hawaii
State House of Representative and Hawaii State Senate.
The
legislature enrolled H.B. 1103, S.D. 1, to the Governor and she signed the
measure on May 1, 2007, as Act 48.
Also special thanks to
Maryland Senator Brian Frosh for the information and support.
Report Title: Chinese New Year; Commemoration
Description: Establishes the Asian Lunar New Year Commemoration Week.
HAWAII
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES and HAWAII STATE SENATE
H.B. NO. 1103 and S.B. NO. 247
TWENTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE, 2007
STATE OF HAWAII
A BILL FOR AN ACT
RELATING TO ASIAN LUNAR NEW YEAR COMMEMORATION.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
SECTION 1. Chinese New Year is the preeminent day of commemoration of culture
and arts for more than one quarter of the world's population. A special Chinese
calendar is used to determine festivals. Various Chinese communities around the
world use this calendar, including Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore, and South East
Asian countries such as Thailand, Vietnam, and
Laos.
The beginnings of the Chinese calendar date back to the fourteenth century B.C.
The Chinese calendar is the exact astronomical observations of the longitude of
the sun and phases of the moon, which indicates that the Chinese calendar is
heavily influenced by the same principles of modern astronomy. Determining the
exact date of each Chinese New Year requires a number of astronomical
calculations. Historically, the Chinese New Year Day has practically been
regarded as the only day of the year when China's hard-working peasants allowed
themselves to rest. Although celebrations of the Chinese New Year vary, the
underlying message is one of peace and happiness for family members and friends.
The legislature finds that the prominence of Hawaii's Chinese population and the
emphasis on promoting tourism from China warrants an official commemoration of
Chinese New Year.
The purpose of this Act is to designate the Asian Lunar New Year as a week of
commemoration.
SECTION 2. Chapter 8, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new
section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:
"Asian Lunar New Year Commemoration Week. The one week period following the day
of the Chinese New Year shall be known and designated as the "Asian Lunar New
Year Week of Commemoration in Hawaii". This week shall not be construed as a
state holiday."
SECTION 3. New statutory material is underscored.
SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.
| Date |
|
Status Text |
| 1/22/2007 |
H |
Pending introduction. |
| 1/24/2007 |
H |
Introduced and Pass First Reading. |
| 1/24/2007 |
H |
Referred to TAC/INT, referral sheet 4 |
| 2/16/2007 |
H |
Bill scheduled to be heard by TAC/INT on
Wednesday, 02-21-07 at 9:00 am in House conference room 325. |
| 2/21/2007 |
H |
The committee(s) recommends that the measure be
deferred until 02-28-07. |
| 2/23/2007 |
H |
Bill scheduled to be heard by TAC/INT on
Wednesday, 02-28-07 at 11:30 am in House conference room 325. |
| 2/28/2007 |
H |
The committees on TAC recommend that the measure
be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes were as follows: 9 Ayes: Representative(s)
Yamane, Manahan, Brower, Chang, Herkes, Tsuji, Wakai, Yamashita, Marumoto;
Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; and 3 Excused: Representative(s)
Berg, Hanohano, Ching. |
| 2/28/2007 |
H |
The committees on INT recommend that the measure
be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes were as follows: 7 Ayes: Representative(s)
Cabanilla, Tokioka, Belatti, Mizuno, Rhoads, Shimabukuro, Awana; Ayes with
reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; and 4 Excused: Representative(s) Bertram,
Green, Takai, Ward. |
| 2/28/2007 |
H |
Reported from the committee on TAC/INT (Stand.
Com. Rep. No. 790), recommending passage on Second Reading and placement on
the calendar for Third Reading. |
| 3/1/2007 |
H |
Passed Second Reading; placed on the calendar for
Third Reading with none voting no (0) and Carroll, Nishimoto, Thielen
excused (3). |
| 3/2/2007 |
H |
Passed Third Reading with none voting no (0) and
Takamine, Takumi, Thielen excused (3). Transmitted to Senate. |
| 3/2/2007 |
S |
Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 76). |
| 3/6/2007 |
S |
Passed First Reading. |
| 3/8/2007 |
S |
Referred to TSG. |
| 3/23/2007 |
S |
The committee(s) on TSG has scheduled a public
hearing on 03-29-07 at 1:15 pm in conference room 229. |
| 3/29/2007 |
S |
The committee(s) on TSG recommend(s) that the
measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in TSG were as follows: 4
Aye(s): Senator(s) Nishihara, Kim, Tsutsui, Trimble; Aye(s) with
reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none. |
| 4/3/2007 |
S |
Reported from TSG (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1490) with
recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and placement
on the calendar for Third Reading. |
| 4/3/2007 |
S |
Report adopted; Passed Second Reading. |
| 4/3/2007 |
S |
48 Hrs. Notice 04-05-07. |
| 4/5/2007 |
S |
Passed Third Reading. Ayes, 22; Aye(s) with
reservations: none . Noes, 0 (none). Excused, 3 (Senator(s) Bunda, Sakamoto,
Tokuda). Transmitted to House. |
| 4/5/2007 |
H |
Returned from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 549) in
amended form (SD 1). |
| 4/10/2007 |
H |
House disagrees with Senate amendment (s). |
| 4/10/2007 |
S |
Received notice of disagreement (Hse. Com. No.
548). |
| 4/13/2007 |
H |
Reconsideration of action taken on 4/10/2007. |
| 4/13/2007 |
S |
Received notice of House reconsideration of action
in disagreeing to the amendments proposed by the Senate (Hse. Com. No. 781). |
| 4/16/2007 |
H |
House agrees to Senate amendment(s). |
| 4/16/2007 |
H |
Passed Final Reading as amended in (SD 1) with
none voting no (0) and Bertram, Hanohano, Herkes, Karamatsu, McKelvey,
Morita, Nishimoto, M. Oshiro, Saiki, Shimabukuro, Takamine excused (11). |
| 4/16/2007 |
H |
Transmitted to Governor. |
| 4/17/2007 |
S |
Received notice of House agreement and passage on
Final Reading (Hse. Com. No. 787). |
| 5/1/2007 |
H |
Act 048, on 5/1/2007 (Gov. Msg. No. 377). |
| 5/3/2007 |
S |
Act 048, 5/1/2007 (Gov. Msg. No. 812). |
| 5/3/2007 |
S |
Act 048, 5/1/2007 (Gov. Msg. No. 812). |
Testimony by Dean Emeritus Chuck Gee
(Feb 16, 2007)
Representative Yamane, Representative
Cabanilla and House Speaker Say:
In view of the shortness of time before the hearing(s) of HB 1103 & SB 247,
I am writing to offer my individual support by email for these two House Bills
pertaining to the Observation of the Asian Lunar New Year.
As a Chinese-American who grew up in San Francisco with its large population of
Asian-Americans, I have experienced the importance of the Lunar New Year in that
city. Not only is the lunar new year period a significant part of the history
and cultural life of the diverse Asian-American community, but it makes a major
contribution to the economy of San Francisco itself.
Over the eight days of the celebration of the lunar new year, for example, San
Francisco's Chinatown--the largest of any city in the USA, the City of San
Francisco, the Chinatown Merchants' Association, Chinatown restaurants, grocery
stores, and retail outlets and many others contribute to the activities. The
entire community comes alive as flower vendors and food sellers set up street
stalls to serve the interest of locals and visitors alike who come to buy
branches of cherry blossoms, pots of red azaleas and sweetmeats for observing
the lunar new year at home. It is a happy time for everyone in the community as
the air is permeated with the sweet scent of narcissus and flavors of delicious
food. As in the old country, the lunar new year is a time to settle debts
honorably and of promise and hope for a good year ahead, for success personally
and in business ventures.
The culmination of the Chinese new year ends with a major parade, which is
televised on a mainstream channel. Once with only local participants in the
parade, today there are floats and marchers from other parts of the USA and
outside of the USA as well. Visitors travel to San Francisco from everywhere to
join in the lunar new year celebration, and the economic benefits extend beyond
Chinatown to San Francisco's downtown hotels and businesses in other districts.
While neither HB 1103 and SB 247 provides funding for the lunar new year
celebration, unlike the City of San Francisco which provides significant
financial support for Chinese New Year as part of its tourism promotion, I
believe that these bills do provide useful symbolic support and can encourage or
spur action on the part of the various Honolulu Chinese cultural and business
organizations, as well as interested individuals, that may result in a weeklong
event to nearly rival San Francisco's Chinese New Year celebration and to help
further diversify our tourism attractions in Hawaii. I, therefore, strongly
support the HB 1103 and SB 247.
Chuck Yim Gee
Dean Emeritus
School of Travel Industry Management
University of Hawaii-Manoa
Testimony by Judy Liu, Past President,
Hawaii Chinese Association
Dear Chairman Yamane:
Asian communities in Hawaii would very much appreciate an official state
observance of the Asian Lunar New Year. It is a centuries-old major cultural
tradition that we celebrate every year with re-dedication, special foods and
ceremonies. Your favorable consideration would be most appreciated.
Aloha,
Judy Liu
1114 Punahou St Ste 2B Honolulu HI 96826
Past President - Hawaii Chinese Association
Testimony in favor of HB 1103 and SB
247, Director, TIM International Inc - Alumni Association of UH School of Travel
Industry Management
I strongly support HB 1103 and SB 247 and Observing the Asian Lunar New Year in
Hawaii. Your favorable consideration would be most appreciated.
Aloha,
Laszlo Ravasz
1053 Maunanani Street
Honolulu, HI 96825
 Testimony by Clyde G. Min, CHA,
Vice President, Asset Management, Host Hotel and Resorts
Aloha Kalani,
Hawaii is a great place to be from and to yearn to return some day, because of
our great cultural diversity and the cultural/social benchmark we set for the
rest of our country. My career has given me the opportunity of living in many
Asian countries and in several states on the Continent. I first learned and
experienced my Chinese ancestry thru my “Apo” or maternal grandmother in Hawaii,
but did not fully understand or appreciated what she gave us as celebration food
items until I actually lived in Southeast Asia and experienced similar foods by
the Chinese communities celebrating various festivals and especially Lunar new
year. I was able to better learn and understand my Chinese ancestry and to now
share that by celebrating the Lunar new year while I was living in Florida ,
Virginia , and now Maryland . We always gather friends together during that time
of the year and celebrate! When I visit home I can now appreciate the shops in
Chinatown Honolulu and be a better shopper of Asian food products, but I am also
a better “neighbor” because I understand more of the cultures of Vietnam ,
Singapore , Hong Kong , Korea , Taiwan , etc. These are just some of the Asian
cultures that celebrate the Luna New Year.
I hope to catch up with you again … perhaps in Hana…
All the best,
Clyde
Clyde G. Min, CHA
Vice President, Asset Management
Host Hotels and Resorts
6903 Rockledge Drive, Suite 1500
Bethesda, MD 20817
T 240.744.5295
C 301.370.8432
F 240.744.5795
clyde.min@hosthotels.com
Testimony in favor of HB 1103, Barbara
Marumoto, Hawaii State House of Representative
on March 6 2007
ASIAN LUNAR NEW YEAR IN HAWAII – HB 1103
According to testimony there are about 100,000 people in Hawaii that celebrate
the Asian Lunar New Year. That is why I support this measure and why I
introduced a similar bill. For 3500 years Asian families have gathered for
traditional ceremonies and cuisine, first in China, then in all of Asia and
throughout the world.
Favorable testimony on this measure arrived from Johnson Choi of the
China-Hawaii Chamber of Commerce, the Hong Kong-Hawaii Chamber, as well as the
Hong Kong China Hawaii Chamber.
It is well that we observe this important cultural holiday and a testament to
the many Asian people who have worked to build a better Hawaii. From the Chinese
who were one of the first immigrant groups brought over to work the sugar
plantations to the more recent Southeast Asian ethnic immigrants, all have added
to the rich tapestry that is contemporary Hawaii. We owe much to these vibrant,
productive peoples, and this official observance of the Asian New Year is a
great way to say "mahalo" to each and all of them.
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