REPORT TITLE:
Hawaii Tourism Authority

DESCRIPTION:
Gives the Board of Directors of the Hawaii Tourism Authority the
power to fund and support activities that promote responsible
management of Hawaii's natural resources.  (HB1190 HD1)

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                                                        1190
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES                H.B. NO.           H.D. 1
TWENTIETH LEGISLATURE, 1999                                
STATE OF HAWAII                                            
                                                             
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                   A  BILL  FOR  AN  ACT

RELATING TO THE HAWAII TOURISM AUTHORITY



BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

 1      SECTION 1.  Findings and purpose.  The legislature
 
 2 recognizes the connection of the health of Hawaii's environment
 
 3 and the vitality of its economy, especially its tourism sector.
 
 4 Over 7,000,000 tourists visit our islands each year to experience
 
 5 beautiful beaches, fish and snorkel in clean waters, and hike in
 
 6 snake-free rain forests. Immediate steps are needed to assure
 
 7 that long-term funding mechanisms are in place so that Hawaii's
 
 8 environment will be protected in the future.  Especially critical
 
 9 are efforts to assure that our basic necessities, such as
 
10 drinking water and our oceans, are protected and managed for the
 
11 future.  Despite the value of our natural resources to our
 
12 economy and quality of life, an alarmingly small amount is
 
13 invested each year to protect our natural capital base.
 
14 Currently, the department of land and natural resources is
 
15 allotted less than one per cent of the State's budget to protect
 
16 and manage all land and natural resources in the State-- the very
 
17 foundation of our island community.
 
18      As Hawaii's population continues to grow, the number of
 
19 visitors to Hawaii increases, the eco-tourism and ocean
 
20 recreation industries multiply, and increased public demand for
 

 
Page 2                                                     1190
                                     H.B. NO.           H.D. 1
                                                        
                                                        

 
 1 recreational opportunities and access to natural areas will
 
 2 skyrocket.  So will user conflicts.  This calls for more
 
 3 responsive and innovative natural resource management programs,
 
 4 if both economic and preservation goals are to be achieved.  We
 
 5 must invest in and enhance our natural resource base so that it
 
 6 can support existing and increasing demand for use.
 
 7      SECTION 2.  Section 201B-3, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is
 
 8 amended to read as follows:
 
 9      [[]201B-3[]] Powers.  Excepted as otherwise limited by this
 
10 chapter,the board may:
 
11      (1)   Sue and be sued;
 
12      (2)   Have a seal and alter the same at pleasure;
 
13      (3)   Make and execute contracts and all other instruments
 
14            necessary or convenient for the exercise of its powers
 
15            and functions under this chapter, provided that the
 
16            authority may enter into contracts and agreements for
 
17            a period of up to five years;
 
18      (4)   Make and alter bylaws for its organization and
 
19            internal management;
 
20      (5)   Adopt rules in accordance with chapter 91 with respect
 
21            to its projects, operations, properties, and
 
22            facilities;
 

 
 
 
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                                     H.B. NO.           H.D. 1
                                                        
                                                        

 
 1      (6)   Through its executive director represent the authority
 
 2            in communications with the governor and with the
 
 3            legislature;
 
 4      (7)   Through its executive director appoint officers,
 
 5            agents, and employees, prescribe their duties and
 
 6            qualifications, and fix their salaries, without regard
 
 7            to chapters 76, 77, and 78;
 
 8      (8)   Through its executive director purchase supplies
 
 9            equipment, or furniture;
 
10      (9)   Through its executive director allocate the [space or]
 
11            spaces [which] that are to be occupied by the
 
12            authority and appropriate staff;
 
13      (10)  Engage the services of qualified persons to implement
 
14            the State's tourism marketing plan or portions thereof
 
15            as determined by the board;
 
16      (11)  Engage the services of consultants on a contractual
 
17            basis for rendering professional and technical
 
18            assistance and advice;
 
19      (12)  Procure insurance against any loss in connection with
 
20            its property and other assets and operations in such
 
21            amounts from such insurers as it deems desirable;
 
22      (13)  Contract for, and accept gifts or grants in any form
 
23            from any public agency or any other source;
 

 
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                                     H.B. NO.           H.D. 1
                                                        
                                                        

 
 1      (14)  Create a vision and develop a long range plan for
 
 2            tourism in Hawaii, including product development,
 
 3            infrastructure, and diversification issues;
 
 4      (15)  Develop, coordinate, and implement state policies and
 
 5            directions for tourism and related activities taking
 
 6            into account the economic, social, and physical
 
 7            impacts of tourism on the State;
 
 8      (16)  Develop and implement the state tourism strategic
 
 9            marketing plan, which shall be updated every three
 
10            years, to promote and market the State as a desirable
 
11            visitor destination;
 
12      (17)  Have a permanent, strong focus on marketing and
 
13            promotion;
 
14      (18)  Conduct [market development-related] market-
 
15            development-related research as necessary;
 
16      (19)  Coordinate all agencies and advise the private sector
 
17            in the development of tourism-related activities and
 
18            resources;
 
19      (20)  Work to eliminate or reduce barriers to travel in
 
20            order to provide a positive and competitive business
 
21            environment, including coordinating with the
 
22            department of transportation on issues affecting
 
23            airlines and air route development;
 

 
Page 5                                                     1190
                                     H.B. NO.           H.D. 1
                                                        
                                                        

 
 1      (21)  Market and promote sports-related activities and
 
 2            events;
 
 3      (22)  Coordinate the development of new products with the
 
 4            public and private sectors, including the development
 
 5            of sports, culture, health, education, business, and
 
 6            eco-tourism;
 
 7      (23)  Establish a public information and educational program
 
 8            to inform the public of tourism and tourism-related
 
 9            problems;
 
10      (24)  Encourage the development of tourism educational,
 
11            training, and career counseling programs;
 
12      (25)  Establish a program to monitor, investigate, and
 
13            respond to complaints about problems resulting
 
14            directly or indirectly from the tourism industry and
 
15            taking appropriate action as necessary; [and]
 
16      (26)  Fund and support, through grants and other means,
 
17            activities that promote responsible management of
 
18            Hawaii's natural resources, including educational
 
19            programs, information campaigns, and direct management
 
20            activities; and
 
21 [(26)](27) Do any and all things necessary to carry out its
 
22            purposes and exercise the powers given and granted in
 
23            this chapter."
 

 
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                                     H.B. NO.           H.D. 1
                                                        
                                                        

 
 1      SECTION 3.  Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed.
 
 2 New statutory material is underscored.
 
 3      SECTION 4.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 1999.