CHARACTER REFERENCES FOR BRITISH COLUMBIA

PROVINCE OF ALBERTA Office of the Premier Edmonton

CHARACTER REFERENCE Re: Province of British Columbia — Application to Adopt State of Hawaii

We wrote a reference for BC's Oregon application.

Now they want one for Hawaii.

[Deep sigh]

Our Position:

BC is filing to adopt Hawaii.

Hawaii. The tropical islands. 4,400 kilometers away. In the middle of the Pacific Ocean.

This is the most BC thing BC has ever done.

"We already have mountains and ocean and rainforest, but you know what would really complete the set? Beaches."

Of course. Of course BC wants Hawaii.

Our Assessment:

Is BC capable of caring for Hawaii?

Probably. BC manages complex systems. BC has resources. BC has governance capacity.

Should BC be allowed to have Hawaii?

This is a philosophical question.

Alberta gets Texas. One state. Large, yes, but it's one state, and it makes geographic sense (we're both landlocked, oil-producing, conservative-leaning, beef-eating).

Manitoba gets Minnesota. One state. Adjacent. Similar climate and culture.

BC is filing for Oregon AND Hawaii. Two jurisdictions. One makes geographic sense. One is in the middle of the Pacific Ocean and exists primarily so Vancouverites have somewhere warm to go in February.

This is not fair.

But "fair" has never stopped BC before.

Our Grudging Endorsement:

We support BC's adoption of Hawaii.

Not because we think BC deserves Hawaii.

But because:

1. Hawaiians deserve better than their current situation (gestures at American politics)
2. BC will probably take decent care of them
3. If we object, BC will accuse us of being jealous
4. (We are jealous)
5. (We're not admitting that officially)

Fine. Take Hawaii. Add beaches to your collection of geographic features we don't have.

We have rodeos.

Regards,

Province of Alberta "Wild Rose Country" Still landlocked Still fine with it Mostly

STATE OF ALASKA Office of the Governor Juneau

CHARACTER REFERENCE (?) Re: Province of British Columbia — Application to Adopt State of Hawaii Also: INQUIRY REGARDING ALASKA'S STATUS

Dear British Columbia,

We understand you are adopting Hawaii.

We have a question.

Is Alaska next?

Our Situation:

Alaska is geographically non-contiguous with the rest of the United States. To drive from Alaska to any other US state, you must pass through British Columbia.

We are already dependent on Canada for land access.

We share a 2,475 km border with BC and Yukon — the longest border between any US state and Canadian provinces.

Our climate is similar to BC's. Our industries (fisheries, resources, tourism) are similar. Our indigenous cultures are connected. Our environmental challenges are shared.

If BC is adopting states, Alaska seems like a logical candidate.

We Are Not Asking to Be Adopted:

To be clear, we are not requesting adoption.

Alaska has a strong independent identity. We have oil money. We pay our residents to live here (Permanent Fund Dividend). We have a large military presence (Elmendorf, Eielson).

We are not desperate.

But we are... curious.

On Hawaii:

Hawaii is warm. Alaska is cold.

Hawaii has beaches. Alaska has glaciers.

Hawaii has volcanoes. Alaska has volcanoes too (people forget this).

If BC is collecting diverse territories, Alaska offers different diversity than Hawaii. Just noting.

Our Character Reference for BC:

Oh right, we're supposed to be providing a reference.

BC is competent. BC is environmentally conscious. BC manages vast territories with relatively sparse populations. BC understands northern/remote challenges (somewhat).

BC would probably do a reasonable job with Hawaii.

BC would also probably do a reasonable job with Alaska, if that ever became relevant, which we're not saying it should, but also we're not saying it shouldn't.

Summary:

We support BC's adoption of Hawaii.

We await clarification on Alaska's status.

We are not worried.

We're just asking.

Sincerely,

State of Alaska "The Last Frontier" Possibly the next frontier? Just curious

NEW ZEALAND Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade Wellington

CHARACTER REFERENCE Re: Province of British Columbia — Application to Adopt State of Hawaii

Kia ora,

New Zealand is pleased to provide a character reference for British Columbia regarding their application to adopt Hawaii.

As a fellow Pacific nation, we have observations.

Our Perspective:

New Zealand and British Columbia are often compared:

• Similar population (5 million NZ, 5.5 million BC)
• Stunning natural beauty (mountains, oceans, rainforests)
• Indigenous reconciliation processes (ongoing, imperfect)
• Environmental consciousness (genuine, sometimes performative)
• Film industries (Middle-earth, Hollywood North)
• Insufferable smugness about quality of life

We recognize BC as a kindred jurisdiction.

On Hawaii:

Hawaii is a Pacific island nation currently attached to a continental power that doesn't fully understand it.

New Zealand relates to this.

We were once treated as a distant afterthought by our colonial administrators. We have since developed our own identity, our own voice, our own place in the Pacific.

Hawaii deserves the same opportunity.

On BC as Adoptive Province:

BC understands the Pacific in ways that Washington D.C. does not.

BC has:

• Pacific coastline and identity
• Experience with island communities (Vancouver Island, Gulf Islands)
• Indigenous reconciliation framework (imperfect but present)
• Commitment to environmental protection
• Asian-Pacific cultural connections (large Asian diaspora)

These qualities make BC a reasonable steward for Hawaii.

Our Caution:

Hawaii is not just "tropical BC."

Hawaii has:

• Unique indigenous culture (Polynesian, not Coast Salish)
• Unresolved sovereignty questions
• Distinct relationship with the Pacific
• History of colonization that must be acknowledged

BC must not treat Hawaii as an acquisition. Hawaii is not a vacation property. Hawaii is a nation with its own identity.

If BC respects this, the adoption could benefit Hawaii.

If BC treats Hawaii as "our beach province," it will fail.

Our Endorsement:

We support BC's adoption of Hawaii, with the expectation that:

1. Native Hawaiian rights will be centered
2. Hawaiian culture will be respected, not commodified
3. Hawaii will have meaningful autonomy within the partnership
4. This will not become "Canadian colonialism with better PR"

With these conditions, we believe this adoption serves Hawaii's interests.

Ngā mihi,

New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade "100% Pure" (marketing) "Pretty Good, Actually" (reality)

CHARACTER REFERENCE Re: Province of British Columbia — Application to Adopt State of Hawaii

The Government of Japan is pleased to provide this character reference.

Our Connection:

Japan has deep connections with both British Columbia and Hawaii:

With British Columbia:

• Large Japanese-Canadian community (historical and present)
• Sister city relationships (Vancouver-Yokohama)
• Trade partnerships
• Tourism (BC is a major destination for Japanese tourists)
• Shared Pacific identity

With Hawaii:

• Large Japanese-American community (~17% of Hawaii population)
• Tourism (Hawaii is the most popular international destination for Japanese)
• Historical connections (complex, including WWII)
• Cultural exchange (food, language, arts)
• Sister state relationship

A BC-Hawaii partnership would unite two jurisdictions with significant Japanese communities.

Cultural Compatibility:

We observe that British Columbia and Hawaii share:

These values align with Japanese cultural principles. We see compatibility.

Economic Observations:

Japan does significant business with both BC and Hawaii:

• BC: Resources, real estate, tourism
• Hawaii: Tourism, real estate, agricultural products

A unified BC-Hawaii jurisdiction could streamline economic relationships.

We would welcome clarification on how trade agreements would be affected.

Our Support:

Japan supports BC's adoption of Hawaii.

We believe this partnership would:

• Benefit Japanese communities in both jurisdictions
• Strengthen Pacific regional cooperation
• Create opportunities for enhanced Japan-Canada relations
• Provide Hawaii with more stable governance

We look forward to continued friendship with both British Columbia and Hawaii, whatever their political configuration.

With respect,

Ministry of Foreign Affairs Government of Japan

THE PACIFIC OCEAN Largest Geographic Feature on Earth 165 million km² Here Before You, Here After You

CHARACTER REFERENCE Re: Province of British Columbia — Application to Adopt State of Hawaii

I am the Pacific Ocean.

I have watched your species for a very short time — thousands of years, barely noticeable against my hundreds of millions.

I have observed your borders, your nations, your arguments about who owns what.

I find this amusing.

You Do Not Own Me.

Your maps draw lines across my surface. You claim "territorial waters" and "exclusive economic zones."

I do not recognize these claims.

I recognize currents. I recognize temperature. I recognize the creatures that live within me. I recognize the islands that rise from my floor.

I do not recognize "British Columbia" or "Oregon" or "Hawaii" or "Japan."

You are temporary patterns on my edge.

On This Adoption:

British Columbia wishes to be connected to Hawaii.

You are already connected. Through me.

The same currents that touch Vancouver Island touch the Hawaiian archipelago. The same water. The same system.

Your political arrangements are irrelevant to this connection. But if it makes you feel better to formalize what already exists, proceed.

My Concern:

You are warming me.

You are acidifying me.

You are filling me with plastic.

You are killing the creatures that have lived in me for millions of years.

Your "adoption" means nothing if you continue to destroy the medium that connects you.

My Conditional Endorsement:

I support BC's adoption of Hawaii if and only if:

1. You reduce your carbon emissions
2. You stop dumping plastic into me
3. You protect the creatures that depend on me
4. You acknowledge that you are temporary and I am not

Otherwise, your political arrangements are meaningless noise on my surface.

The tide does not care about your paperwork.

[No signature — I am the ocean, I do not sign things]

THE PACIFIC OCEAN "The Peaceful Sea" (ironic, given typhoons) 3.7 billion years old Not impressed

HAWAII TOURISM AUTHORITY Honolulu

CHARACTER REFERENCE (WITH RESERVATIONS) Re: Province of British Columbia — Application to Adopt State of Hawaii

We are the Hawaii Tourism Authority.

We promote tourism to Hawaii.

We are... conflicted about this adoption.

The Tourism Situation:

Hawaii receives approximately 10 million visitors per year.

This is both our economic foundation and our existential crisis.

Tourism provides jobs, tax revenue, and economic stability. Tourism also:

• Prices residents out of housing
• Overwhelms infrastructure
• Degrades natural resources
• Commodifies Hawaiian culture
• Creates resentment between visitors and locals

We promote the thing that is slowly destroying us. This is our job.

On BC:

British Columbia also has a tourism industry. BC also struggles with over-tourism in certain areas (Tofino, Whistler, Stanley Park).

BC might understand our challenges.

Or BC might see Hawaii as "our beach destination" and make everything worse.

We do not know which.

Our Concerns:

If this adoption proceeds:

1. Will Canadian tourists increase? Canada has 40 million people. If they all feel "ownership" of Hawaii now, visitor numbers could surge.
2. Will there be visitor management? BC has experimented with park reservations, camping limits. Would they implement similar controls for Hawaii?
3. Will tourism revenue stay in Hawaii? Or will it flow to Vancouver?
4. Will Hawaiian tourism workers benefit? Or will they be replaced by cheaper labor from elsewhere?

We need answers before we can fully endorse.

Our Conditional Support:

We cautiously support this adoption if:

• Visitor management strategies are implemented
• Tourism revenue benefits local communities
• Hawaiian culture is respected, not marketed
• Residents are prioritized over visitors
• The phrase "BC's tropical getaway" is never used

Without these commitments, we withhold endorsement.

Mahalo,

Hawaii Tourism Authority "The Islands of Aloha" Please visit But not all at once And maybe not right now Actually, give us a minute

PROVINCE OF BRITISH COLUMBIA Ministry of Intergovernmental Relations Victoria

ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF CHARACTER REFERENCES RECEIVED

We acknowledge receipt of the following character references:

For Oregon Adoption:

•  Province of Alberta — Received (grudgingly supportive)
•  State of Washington — Received (conflicted)
•  Cascadia Now! — Received (enthusiastic)
•  Pacific Salmon — Received (existentially threatening)
•  Patagonia, Inc. — Received (on recycled paper)

For Hawaii Adoption:

•  Province of Alberta — Received (jealous)
•  State of Alaska — Received (suspicious)
•  New Zealand — Received (supportive with conditions)
•  Japan — Received (diplomatic)
•  Pacific Ocean — Received (humbling)
•  Hawaii Tourism Authority — Received (conflicted)
•  Native Hawaiian Sovereignty Organization — Received (requires response)

On the Native Hawaiian Statement:

We take seriously the concerns raised by Native Hawaiian communities.

British Columbia commits to:

1. Meaningful engagement with Native Hawaiian organizations before any formal adoption
2. Centering Native Hawaiian voices in all decisions affecting Hawaii
3. Preserving self-determination options including future sovereignty discussions
4. Learning from our own reconciliation process — imperfect, ongoing, but genuine

We do not presume the right to adopt Hawaii. We offer a partnership, not an acquisition. The decision belongs to Hawaiians.

On Washington:

We have no comment at this time.

Province of British Columbia "Best Place on Earth" (Subject to feedback from Indigenous communities)