The resolution was signed during the Hawai'i Pandemic Flu Summit, a one-day conference to review and coordinate national and state pandemic flu planning efforts, the release said.

The conference focused on coordinating preparedness plans among different sectors of the community, including all levels of government, health care, business, military, emergency management, law enforcement, schools and the visitor industry, the release said.

The conference was attended by state, county, federal and private-sector officials.

"It is critical that we continue to improve, update and revise our pandemic response plans so that we are as prepared as possible," Lingle said in the release. "Today's summit allowed us to share information across the board, from the counties to the federal government, business and community leaders, and to listen to a wide cross-section of those who need to be involved in this important effort."

The summit builds on a tabletop exercise Lingle participated in at the Pentagon in February during which officials from the U.S. Departments of Defense, Health and Human Services and Homeland Security discussed the nation's preparedness to respond to a pandemic outbreak originating in the Pacific.