RELATING TO INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS.
HB1331 would reestablish and expand Hawaii’s state-level international relations function within the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism (DBEDT). The bill renames the existing Office of International Affairs as the Office of International Relations, updates and broadens its duties, and directs it to serve as the state’s principal coordinator for international policy, strategy, and programs. Its responsibilities would include promoting international business, trade, tourism, telecommunications, sister-city relationships, peace education, and exchanges with other nations, as well as acting as the governor’s liaison on international matters.
The bill also creates the Matsunaga Aloha Pacific Academy within the office for administrative purposes. The academy would collaborate with the Matsunaga Institute at the University of Hawaii, seek funding from private and public sources, establish a main facility on Kauai, and facilitate Pacific-region international affairs meetings. In addition, the office would be required to develop a comprehensive state strategic plan for international activities and submit it to the Legislature before the 2026 regular session.
HB1331 would amend Chapter 201, Hawaii Revised Statutes, to rename the Office of International Affairs as the Office of International Relations and expand its statutory powers, duties, and coordinating role across state agencies. It would also create a new statutory entity, the Matsunaga Aloha Pacific Academy, and appropriate general funds for fiscal years 2025-2026 and 2026-2027 for the office’s operations. The bill affects DBEDT, the governor’s office, and any state agencies with international-related programs, which would be required to coordinate with the office’s strategic plan.
The available record suggests generally favorable or at least noncontroversial treatment of the bill at introduction, with no recorded committee testimony or votes in the provided materials. The bill’s framing emphasizes Hawaii’s Pacific identity, international engagement, and Senator Spark Matsunaga’s legacy, which indicates a positive policy rationale centered on diplomacy, education, and regional cooperation. However, because there are no transcripts or vote tallies, there is no direct evidence of support or opposition from legislators or stakeholders in the provided context.
The main potential points of contention are likely to be fiscal and jurisdictional rather than ideological. The bill includes an unspecified general-fund appropriation, which could draw scrutiny from budget committees, and it gives the office broad coordinating authority, including language suggesting exclusive jurisdiction where duties overlap with other agencies. That could raise concerns about duplication, administrative reach, or conflicts with existing departmental responsibilities. The creation of a Kauai-based academy and its reliance on outside fundraising may also prompt questions about implementation, governance, and long-term operating costs.