BILL NUMBER: ACR 67	INTRODUCED
	BILL TEXT


INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Furutani

                        JUNE 8, 2011

   Relative to Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders communities.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   ACR 67, as introduced, Furutani. Native Hawaiians and Pacific
Islanders communities.
   This resolution would recognize the contributions of Native
Hawaiian and Pacific Islander communities to California, and would
also recognize the importance of preserving Native Hawaiian and
Pacific Islander communities and their traditions.
   Fiscal committee: no.



   WHEREAS, Making up more than 284,000 community members, the Native
Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (NHPI) community in California has one
of the largest NHPI populations in the United States. In addition,
the NHPI population increased by 23.4 percent between 2000 and 2010;
and
   WHEREAS, The NHPI community makes up an incredibly diverse group
comprised of a number of different ethnicities including, but not
limited to, Guamanian/Chamorro, Native Hawaiian, Marshallese, Fijian,
Samoan, and Tongan. Outside of Hawaii, California has the largest
population of Native Hawaiians numbering 60,048. The second largest
NHPI group is Samoan with a population of 49,804. Guamanian/Chamorro
is the next largest NHPI group in California with a population of
33,849. The largest Tongan population in the United States is also
found in California with a population of 15,252; and
   WHEREAS, As a result of the Spanish-American War in 1898, the
United States came to assume formal government control of Guam,
Hawaii, and American Samoa. Because of this, the Chamorros of Guam,
the Hawaiians of Hawaii, and the Samoans of American Samoa became
part of the United States. Most Pacific Islander migrants were men
enlisted in the United States Armed Forces and others worked in
various plantation and entertainment industries. Today, Pacific
Islanders are American citizens or American nationals; and
   WHEREAS, An influx of NHPIs arrived in California in the 1950s
after World War II. Post World War II, military service brought
Pacific Islanders from the United States territories of American
Samoa and Guam to California. Native Hawaiians and Tongans came to
California seeking economic opportunities, with many Tongans
migrating to California via American Somoa. Mormon church activities
also brought Tongan students and other NHPI immigrants to California.
Many NHPIs initially settled in southern California cities such as
Carson, Los Angeles, Long Beach, Oceanside, and San Diego, while
others settled in San Francisco. Most NHPI Californians today reside
in the greater Sacramento, San Francisco, and Los Angeles areas; and
   WHEREAS, The 2010 Census Bureau data shows that NHPIs are
continuing to become a growing part of our nation's economy. Between
2002 and 2007, NHPI-owned businesses saw a 31-percent growth in
number, while United States businesses overall increased in number
only 18 percent. NHPI-owned businesses also saw a 52-percent increase
in revenue, while total business receipts for United States
businesses increased only 33 percent. Data show that about 56 percent
of all Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander businesses were
owned by people of Native Hawaiian origin in 2007; Guamanian-owned or
Chamorro-owned businesses accounted for 10 percent, Samoan-owned
businesses accounted for 8 percent, and businesses owned by people of
Other Pacific Islander descent accounted for 25 percent; and
   WHEREAS, The NHPI community faces unique challenges as a result of
its distinct history and community experience. As a result, the NHPI
community organized and helped institute an update to the Federal
Office of Management and Budget's Statistical Policy Directive No. 15
in 1997 to establish a specific Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific
Islander category relative to the collection of data. The NHPI
community would be best served if local, state, and federal entities
disaggregated data to identify trends specific to the NHPI community;
and
   WHEREAS, While NHPIs represent diverse ethnic, religious, and
political backgrounds, they all also share similar cultural values
and norms. These values include a respect and deference for elders,
appreciation for reciprocal labor and time, and an understanding of
communal and intergenerational authority; and
   WHEREAS, Preserving our Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander
communities throughout California is critical to our state history
and for the preservation of Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander
culture, history, traditions, and other elements of their heritage;
now, therefore, be it
   Resolved by the Assembly of the State of California, the Senate
thereof concurring, That the Legislature recognizes the role that
Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders have played in the social,
economic, and political development of California throughout the
state's history; and be it further
   Resolved, That the Legislature encourages all federal, state, and
local organizations to promote the preservation of Native Hawaiian
and Pacific Islander history and culture, including the preservation
of Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander communities; and be it
further
   Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies of
this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.