Bill > HB1331

This bill revives and significantly expands the Office of International Relations (previously sunset in 1995) within Hawaii's Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism, renaming and reimagining its core functions. The bill establishes the Matsunaga Aloha Pacific Academy within the office, named after Senator Spark M. Matsunaga and dedicated to promoting cross-cultural communication and peace studies. The office will now have broader responsibilities, including developing comprehensive international strategies, serving as a state liaison with foreign governments, coordinating international programs across state agencies, and creating an international affairs and peace education curriculum. The director of the office will be appointed by the governor and must have experience in international affairs, business, or related fields. The new academy will collaborate with the Matsunaga Institute at the University of Hawaii, raise funds from various sources, establish a main facility on Kauai, and facilitate international affairs meetings focused on the Pacific region. By 2026, the office is required to submit a strategic plan for international activities to the legislature, with the goal of positioning Hawaii as a hub for economic, trade, cultural, and diplomatic exchanges in the Pacific.

Business and Industry

https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=HB&billnumber=1331&year=2026