HB712

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that the visitor industry remains the largest sector in Hawaii's economy. While efforts to diversify into various other sectors are important and should continue to be encouraged, the visitor industry continues to generate the most economic activity and revenues in the State and, as such, needs to be carefully nurtured.

There has always been a fine line between exploiting the natural beauty and resources of the islands in catering to visitors and being knowledgeable and respectful of the culture and history of the Hawaiian people who have been the caretakers of Hawaii's aina. It is the distinct spirit of Aloha that ultimately defines the unique beauty and the source of the State's attraction to the rest of the world. Yet, with the rapid increase in the number of visitors to the State over the past few years, we must guard against trivializing native Hawaiian culture and history for the sake of visitors with misguided commercial stereotypes.

Often, it is the tour guide who has the most frequent and direct contact with visitors to Hawaii and the tour guide can either accurately portray Hawaiian history and culture or not. However, at present, there is no mechanism to ensure that a tour guide possesses the requisite knowledge of Hawaiian culture and history to accurately portray them to the visiting public.

The purpose of this Act is to require the Hawaii tourism authority to study whether tour guides should be licensed to ensure that they possess adequate knowledge of Hawaiian culture and history.

SECTION 2. (a) The Hawaii tourism authority shall undertake a study to assess whether it is necessary or desirable to license tour guides in the State to ensure that they possess an adequate level of knowledge of Hawaiian history and culture. The authority shall consider at least the following issues:

(1) Who shall be subject to licensing;

(2) Criteria to determine an adequate level of knowledge;

(3) Mechanism to assess an individual's level of knowledge;

(4) Term of a license;

(5) Whether temporary licenses are necessary or desirable;

(6) Application and renewal fees;

(7) Cost of implementing a licensing program; and

(8) Any other issues the authority deems relevant.

(b) For the purposes of this section, "tour guide" means a person who, under a contract, agreement, or any arrangement, is directly engaged in providing services that include accompanying, guiding, explicating to, or assisting a visitor to better appreciate the visitor's sightseeing or tour activities in the State, whether the services may include transportation or not, but shall not include travel agents or brokers.

(c) The authority shall report its findings and recommendations to the governor and the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular session of 2008.

SECTION 3. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

INTRODUCED BY:	_____________________________

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	712
TWENTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE, 2007
STATE OF HAWAII