WHEREAS, one of Hawaii's greatest assets is the beautiful and unique flora that thrive here; and

WHEREAS, our plants and flowers, as well as other aspects of Hawaii's world-renowned natural environment, attract millions of visitors every year and are the foundation of Hawaii's irreplaceable tourism industry; and

WHEREAS, the Hawaii Visitors and Conventions Bureau (HVCB), an organization dedicated to promoting and marketing Hawaii as a travel destination, produces a visitor survey that is distributed to all in-bound visitors before they arrive in Hawaii; and

WHEREAS, the State should continue to promote purchases of Hawaii products, such as native flora, by tourists, while being mindful of the need to regulate plant and flower exports; and

WHEREAS, the Department of Agriculture (DOA) and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) both regulate plant and flower transportation into and out of Hawaii; and

WHEREAS, certain plants and flowers are not prohibited from being exported if they come from certified facilities; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-third Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2005, that HVCB is requested to amend its visitor survey to clarify that visitors may take home certain plants obtained in Hawaii; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that DOA and USDA are requested to provide any assistance that HVCB may need in amending its survey; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the Director of HVCB, the Chair of the Board of Agriculture, and the Secretary of the USDA.

Report Title:

Requesting HVCB to clarify in its visitor survey that visitors may take home certain plants obtained in Hawaii