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 S.B. No. 2913, S.D. 1, entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to appropriate funds to enhance agricultural tourism activities.

Your Committee finds that agricultural tourism is rapidly becoming a major segment of the State's tourism industry. The value of agricultural tourism in Hawaii is estimated between $26,000,000 and $36,000,000 with the potential to grow to $75,000,000 in two years. Agricultural tourism has been shown to be a viable source of income for farmers that sell agricultural products to tourists and ranchers that provide new experiences for tourists such as horseback riding.

This bill would provide the funds to not only market agricultural tourism, but also provide public education to understand land issues, business training for farmers and ranchers, as well as interpretive training for guides and community-based interpreters.

Your Committee has amended the bill by:

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 S.B. No. 2913, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2913, S.D. 2.