Hawaii County, Hawaii passed a CEASEFIRE resolution on March 20, 2024

RESOLUTION NO. 449-24

A RESOLUTION DEMONSTRATING THE ALOHA SPIRIT AND FOSTERING PEACE, DIPLOMACY, AND UNITY WITHIN THE COUNTY OF HAWAII, THE STATE OF HAWAII, AND BEYOND.

WHEREAS, March 5th is the United Nations' International Day for Disarmament and Non -Proliferation Awareness; and

WHEREAS, Resolution 77/ 5 1, adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on December 7th, 2022, emphasizes the urgent need to increase education around disarmament and non-proliferation, recognizes the significant role of governments, intergovernmental organizations, civil society, academia, and the media in educating the public about how disarmament efforts can provide peace and security for all the world' s people; and

WHEREAS, between October 7, 2023 and February 29, 2024, armed violence has claimed the lives of approximately 30, 000 Palestinians and 1, 200 Israelis, and wounded tens of thousands more, the vast majority of whom are civilians; and

WHEREAS, during times of conflict and war, there is a significant increase in the incidence of sexual violence, hostage situations, and other human rights violations, leading to humanitarian crises and making efforts to foster peace all the more necessary to prevent such atrocities and uphold the dignity of all individuals impacted by armed conflict; and

WHEREAS, in response to this ongoing conflict in Gaza, Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 13, recently introduced in the Hawaii State Senate, urges members of Hawai'i' s congressional delegation to support the Ceasefire in Gaza Resolution introduced by United States Congresswoman Cori Bush; and

WHEREAS, in the words of the late Aunty Pilahi Paki, a beloved Native Hawaiian poet, philosopher, linguist, educator, songwriter, author, and spiritual guide, " the world will turn to Hawaii as they search for world peace because Hawaii has the key; and that key is ALOHA"; and

WHEREAS, section 5- 7. 5, Hawai'i Revised Statutes, states that the Aloha Spirit " was presented as a gift to the people of Hawai' i", and further characterizes Aloha as mutual regard and affection and the belief that each person is important to our collective existence; and

WHEREAS, the County of Hawai'i ("the County") values the principles of peace, diplomacy, and civic discourse as fundamental pillars for fostering harmonious relationships and believes that dialogue, understanding, and cooperation are essential tools to build bridges and create a more inclusive and tolerant society among its residents and the global community; and

WHEREAS, recognizing the interconnectedness of our world and the importance of collaboration in addressing shared challenges, and the inherent dignity and rights of individuals, regardless oftheir race, color, religion, gender, ethnicity, age, ability, or any other characteristic, the County is committed to actively promoting diplomacy and peaceful resolutions to conflicts and disputes with Aloha; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE COUNTY OF HAWAI'I that this body affirms its commitment to seek and promote peace, diplomacy, and civil discourse at the county level and to demonstrate globally the values of understanding, cooperation, and peaceful coexistence with Aloha.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the County hereby recognizes and supports the United Nations' International Day for Disarmament and Non -Proliferation Awareness.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the County encourages local educational institutions, community organizations, and citizens to join the County in observance of the United Nations' International Day for Disarmament and Non -Proliferation Awareness by participating in activities and initiatives that raise awareness and understanding of global disarmament issues and principles that contribute to the greater good of humanity with Aloha.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this body supports and hereby urges the adoption of Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 13 by the Hawai' i State Legislature.

BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that the County Clerk shall transmit a copy of this resolution to the Honorable Joshua B. Green, M.D., Governor ofthe State of Hawai' i; the Honorable Brian E. Schatz, United States Senator; the Honorable Mazie K. Hirono, United States Senator; the Honorable Edward Case, United States Representative; the Honorable Jill Tokuda, United States Representative; the Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi, President of the Hawaii Senate; the Honorable Scott K. Saiki, Speaker of the Hawaii House of Representatives; the Honorable Mitchell D. Roth, Mayor of the County of Hawaii; the Honorable Richard T. Bissen, Mayor of the County of Maui; the Honorable Richard Blangiardi, Mayor of the City and County of Honolulu; and the Honorable Derek S. K. Kawakami, Mayor of the County of Kauai.