[§5-7.6]  Aloha order of merit.  (a) There is established the Aloha order of merit, within the office of thegovernor for administrative purposes, to honor individuals selected under thissection.  Individuals conferred the lifetime title of "member of the Alohaorder of merit" shall be inducted into the order by the governor afterreceiving the approval of the legislature by concurrent resolution.  Honoreesshall have:

(1)  Achieved national or international recognition intheir field either by a single event or by the totality of their work that hasbeen either pioneering in their field or that has been outstanding in thelong-term; and

(2)  (A)  Contributed to the attainment ofstatehood for Hawaii;

(B)  Devoted themselves to the betterment ofthe State, embodying the concept of the Aloha Spirit;

(C)  Provided extraordinary service to theState; or

(D)  Brought honor to the State.

(b)  Honorees shall be selected by an Alohaorder of merit committee.  The committee shall consist of three members.  Eachmember shall serve for a term of two years.  One member of the committee shallbe a member of the senate appointed by the president of the senate, one memberof the committee shall be a member of the house of representatives appointed bythe speaker of the house of representatives, and one member of the committeeshall be appointed by the governor.

(c)  Nominations for honorees shall be acceptedby the committee from members of the legislature, the governor, and the generalpublic.  Nominations shall be in the form and manner prescribed by the officeof the governor.  The committee shall establish criteria for selection andinduction to ensure and maintain the prestige of the order.  The committee mayselect or choose not to select any individual from the nominations received inany given year.

(d)  Upon induction or as soon thereafter asmay be necessary, the governor may award appropriate mementos to members of theorder.

(e)  The governor may request a member of theorder to serve as an emissary for the people of Hawaii on appropriateoccasions. [L 1993, c 231, §2]