Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2002

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred H.B. No. 2595, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to appropriate funds to enhance agricultural tourism venues in Hawaii.

Your Committee finds that the agricultural tourism industry is a new revenue source within the market visitor industry. The agricultural tourism industry has been estimated at $26,000,000 with a potential to double in revenue within two years.

This bill will provide the necessary funds to maximize the agricultural tourism industry's growth potential by focusing on public education to better understand land uses, business training to assist ranchers and farmers, interpretive training to help guides and community-based interpreters, and by also providing collaborative marketing assistance and ensuring compliance with "right to farm" regulations and good neighbor policies.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2595, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.