STAND. COM. REP. NO. 684-06
Honolulu, Hawaii
, 2006
RE: H.B. No. 2145
H.D. 2
Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say
Speaker, House of Representatives
Twenty-Third State Legislature
Regular Session of 2006
State of Hawaii
Sir:
Your Committee on Tourism & Culture, to which was referred H.B. No. 2145, H.D. 2, entitled:
"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO AGRICULTURAL TOURISM,"
begs leave to report as follows:
The purpose of this bill is to diversify Hawaii's visitor industry by:
(1) Allowing agricultural tourism to be conducted on an existing farm, provided that the agricultural tourism activity is accessory and secondary to the principal agricultural use and does not interfere with surrounding farming operations; and
(2) Requiring counties to further regulate agricultural tourism through county ordinances.
The Department of Agriculture, Hawaii Tourism Authority, College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources at the University of Hawaii, Hawaii Agriculture Research Center, Kamehameha Schools, Windward Ahupua'a Alliance, and C&H Farms supported this bill. The Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation supported the intent of this bill. The Land Use Research Foundation of Hawaii, Quality Turfgrass, and Sierra Club, Hawaii Chapter, submitted comments. The Waimanalo Agricultural Association and a concerned individual opposed this measure.
As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Tourism & Culture that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2145, H.D. 2, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.
Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Tourism & Culture,
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____________________________ JERRY L. CHANG, Chair |
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