Indian- American Friendship Council (IAFC) - Hawaii chapter Coordinator, Dr. Raj Kumar, initiated Resolutions SCR 20 and HCR 26 to establish a Sister-State Relationship between Hawaii, United States of America and Goa, India in the Twenty Eighth Legislative session, December 2015. The resolution was introduced by Honorable Senator Brian Taniguchi in the Senate and Honorable Representative Ken Ito, Chair of the Veteran, Military and International Affairs (VMI) in the House.

All the 25 senators, both Republican and Democrat, signed this resolution in the first reading after it was introduced in the Senate on January 29, 2016. Indian community, local residents, students, teachers, professors, interfaith leaders and diverse business groups submitted testimonials in support of this important resolution.

The resolution was passed and adopted by the Tourism and International Affairs Committee members- Honorable Senator Kaialiâ€™i Kahele, Honorable Senator Brickwood Galuteria, Honorable Senator Sam Slom, and Vice-Chair and the Senate Majority leader, Honorable Senator Kalani English, on February 28, 2016.

The VMI Committee in the House also passed the resolution unanimously on April 14, 2016. Hawaiiâ€™s Congresswoman, Tulsi Gabbard, and her father, Honorable Senator Mike Gabbard, also supported this resolution.

This historic agreement is not only between two great two states but also between worldâ€™s two large democracies.

Chief Minister of Goa, Mr. Laxmikant Parsekar, appointed Dr. Kumar as Liaison in September 2015. Delegates from Goa will visit Hawaii to sign this historic legislation in July 2016. Consulate General of India from San Francisco, IAFC Founder, Dr. Krishna Reddy and Associate Director of Indian tourism from California may attend the signing ceremony with Hawaii Governor, David Ige, and Hawaii Lawmakers.

East West Center, University of Hawaii, and ISKCON temple will host receptions for the delegates from Goa along with prominent people in Hawaii.

Delegates from Hawaii and the marketing team of Hawaiian Tourism Authority will also travel to Goa in November 2016. Mr. Max Sword, Vice-President of Outrigger hotel announced that he plans to open first Outrigger hotel in Goa, India. Professor Marc Jason Gilbert, who teaches history at Hawaii Pacific University also announced that he would take his students to visit Goa during Winter break.

This Memorandum of Understanding is to promote exchange of culture, education, Information Technology, agricultural products, medicinal plants, herbal medicine, and culinary art programs. It will also promote trade, sports, tourism, Yoga, Ayurveda, wellness expo and training programs, Interfaith and World Peace conferences.

Last year, The Gandhi International Institute for Peace (GIIP) initiated SB 332 in Hawaii Legislature. It was passed and signed into Act 5 by the Hawaii Governor, Honorable David Ige, on April 10, 2015. This bill was to declare â€œMahatma Gandhi Dayâ€ in Hawaii. Therefore, Hawaii is the first state in US to proclaim â€˜October 2 as Mahatma Gandhi Dayâ€™.

photo: In the photo from left to right: Mr. Nathan Miyaki- Office Staff of Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard, Mr. Milton Kwock- Manager of DEBDT, Ms. Ashley Kaono- Office Staff of Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard, Hon. Senator Brickwood Galuteria, Dr. Raj Kumar- President IAFC-Hawaii Chapter, Hon. Senator Kalani English, Madana Sundari and Debbie Young- GIIP members, and Hon. Senator Kaiali\'i Kahele.

Hawaii to establish a Sister-State relationship with Goa