(1) Representation for the authority in civil actions to which the authority is a party, either directly or through the acts or omissions of its officers or employees;

(2) Advice and assistance to ensure the lawful and efficient administration and operation of the authority;

(3) Review and approval of documents relating to the acquisition of land or interest in land by the authority; and

(4) Other legal service specified by the board.

(1) By the public utilities commission, the labor and industrial relations appeals board, and the Hawaii labor relations board;

(2) By any court or judicial or legislative office of the State;

(3) By the legislative reference bureau;

(4) By any compilation commission that may be constituted from time to time;

(5) By the real estate commission for any action involving the real estate recovery fund;

(6) By the contractors license board for any action involving the contractors recovery fund;

(7) By the trustees for any action involving the travel agency recovery fund;

(8) By the office of Hawaiian affairs;

(9) By the department of commerce and consumer affairs for the enforcement of violations of chapters 480 and 485;

(10) As grand jury counsel;

(11) By the Hawaiian home lands trust individual claims review panel;

(12) By the Hawaii health systems corporation or any of its facilities;

(13) By the auditor;

(14) By the office of ombudsman;

(15) By the insurance division;

(16) By the University of Hawaii;

(17) By the Kahoolawe island reserve commission;

(18) By the division of consumer advocacy; [or]

(19) By the Hawaii tourism authority; or

[(19)] (20) By a department, in the event the attorney general, for reasons deemed by the attorney general good and sufficient, declines, to employ or retain an attorney for a department; provided that the governor thereupon waives the provision of this section."

(1) Requires the authority to establish a website to advertise the Hawaii tourism registry and to publish its promotional and marketing activities; and

(2) Allows the authority to enter into agreements with groups registered with the authority, for the purpose of assisting in the marketing and promotion of Hawaii.

(1) Discuss and promote the Hawaii tourism registry;

(2) Specify qualifications for registration;

(3) Advertise the possibility of entering into contracts, including information regarding how groups may qualify for contracts;

(4) List the groups that are registered; and

(5) Specify the destination of each particular group, the travel dates, the number of individuals in each party, and the marketing or promotional goals and objectives of each group.

(1) Consist of five or more Hawaii resident individuals, who may be related to each other by birth or marriage, and may be nonprofit or for-profit organizations; and

(2) Intend to travel to out-of-state destinations for purposes that are not solely tourism-related, for example, professional, business, cultural, or fraternal organizations or associations attending conventions or meetings, dance troupes and hula halau, groups having common interests, hobbies, or avocations, and high school or college bands performing in concerts or parades.

(1) Contract with a private entity or individuals to implement or assist in the implementation of this section; and

(2) Enter into agreements with groups in the Hawaii tourism registry, either directly or through the private entity or individuals contracted with pursuant to paragraph (1).

(1) Sue and be sued;

(2) Have a seal and alter the same at pleasure;

(3) Make and execute contracts and all other instruments necessary or convenient for the exercise of its powers and functions under this chapter; provided that the authority may enter into contracts and agreements for a period of up to five years, subject to the availability of funds; and provided further that the authority may enter into agreements for the use of the convention center facility for a period of up to ten years;

(4) Make and alter bylaws for its organization and internal management;

(5) Unless otherwise provided in this chapter, adopt rules in accordance with chapter 91 with respect to its projects, operations, properties, and facilities;

(6) Through its executive director represent the authority in communications with the governor and with the legislature;

(7) Through its executive director appoint officers, agents, and employees, prescribe their duties and qualifications, and fix their salaries, without regard to chapters 76 and 78;

(8) Through its executive director purchase supplies, equipment, or furniture;

(9) Through its executive director allocate the space or spaces which are to be occupied by the authority and appropriate staff;

(10) Engage the services of qualified persons to implement the State's tourism marketing plan or portions thereof as determined by the authority;

(11) Engage the services of consultants on a contractual basis for rendering professional and technical assistance and advice;

(12) Procure insurance against any loss in connection with its property and other assets and operations in such amounts and from such insurers as it deems desirable;

(13) Contract for or accept revenues, compensation, proceeds, and gifts or grants in any form from any public agency or any other source, including any revenues or proceeds arising from the operation or use of the convention center;

(14) Create a vision and develop a long range plan for tourism in Hawaii;

(15) Develop, coordinate, and implement state policies and directions for tourism and related activities taking into account the economic, social, and physical impacts of tourism on the State and its natural resources infrastructure; provided that the authority shall support the efforts of other state and county departments or agencies to manage, improve, and protect Hawaii's natural environment and areas frequented by visitors;

(16) Develop and implement the state tourism strategic marketing plan, which shall be updated every three years, to promote and market the State as a desirable leisure and business visitor destination;

(17) Have a permanent, strong focus on marketing and promotion;

(18) Conduct market development-related research as necessary;

(19) Coordinate all agencies and advise the private sector in the development of tourism-related activities and resources;

(20) Work to eliminate or reduce barriers to travel in order to provide a positive and competitive business environment, including coordinating with the department of transportation on issues affecting airlines and air route development;

(21) Market and promote sports-related activities and events;

(22) Coordinate the development of new products with the counties and other public sectors and private sectors, including the development of sports, culture, health, education, business, and eco-tourism;

(23) Establish a public information and educational program to inform the public of tourism and tourism-related problems;

(24) Encourage the development of tourism educational, training, and career counseling programs;

(25) Establish a program to monitor, investigate, and respond to complaints about problems resulting directly or indirectly from the tourism industry and taking appropriate action as necessary;

(26) Set and collect rents, fees, charges, or other payments for the lease, use, occupancy, or disposition of the convention center facility without regard to chapter 91;

(27) Notwithstanding the provisions of chapter 171, acquire, lease as lessee or lessor, own, rent, hold, and dispose of the convention center facility in the exercise of its powers and the performance of its duties under this chapter; [and]

(28) Pursuant to section 201B-  , enter into agreements with and provide funding to Hawaii-based groups in the Hawaii tourism registry to market and promote Hawaii as a tourist destination when traveling out-of-state; and

[(28)] (29) Acquire by purchase, lease, or otherwise, and develop, construct, operate, own, manage, repair, reconstruct, enlarge, or otherwise effectuate, either directly or through developers, a convention center facility.

(1) Promoting, marketing, and developing the tourism industry in the State;

(2) Arranging for the conduct of research through contractual services with the University of Hawaii or any agency or other qualified persons concerning social, economic, and environmental aspects of tourism development in the State;

(3) Providing technical or other assistance to agencies and private industry upon request;

(4) Developing and implementing the state tourism marketing plan; and

(5) Reviewing annually the expenditure of public funds by any visitor industry organization with which the [[]authority[]] contracts to perform tourism promotion, marketing, and development and making recommendations necessary to ensure the effective use of the funds for the development of tourism. The [[]authority[]] shall also prepare annually a report of expenditures, including descriptions and evaluations of programs funded, together with any recommendations the [[]authority[]] may make and shall submit the report to the governor and the legislature as part of the annual report required under section 201B-16.

(c) The [[]authority[]] shall do any and all things

necessary to carry out its purposes, to exercise the powers and

responsibilities given in this chapter, and to perform other

functions required or authorized by law."

(2) Part III shall take effect on July 1, 2003, and be repealed on June 30, 2004.