STAND. COM. REP. NO. 394

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 1288

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2007

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committees on Economic Development and Taxation and Tourism and Government Operations, to which was referred S.B. No. 1288 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT MAKING AN APPROPRIATION TO PLAN FOR AND TO HOST THE INTERNATIONAL INDIGENOUS HEALTH CONFERENCE, "HEALING OUR SPIRIT WORLDWIDE" IN HAWAII,"

beg leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to promote Hawaii's indigenous holistic healing practices and promote Hawaii's host culture worldwide.

     Specifically, this measure makes an appropriation of $125,000, for fiscal year 2007-2008, to bring the Healing Spirit Worldwide conference to Hawaii in 2010.

     Testimony in support of this measure was submitted by the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism and Papa Ola Lokahi.

     Your Committees find that hosting the 2010 Healing Our Spirit Worldwide conference is a great opportunity to raise the prestige of the State and benefit economically.  Hosting the conference will strengthen the State's position as a world leader in indigenous health and wellness practices.  Additionally, the State will benefit financially from the expenditures of the expected 5,000 participants from throughout the Pacific, Pacific Rim and Asia.

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Economic Development and Taxation and Tourism and Government Operations that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1288 and recommend that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Economic Development and Taxation and Tourism and Government Operations,

____________________________ CLARENCE K. NISHIHARA, Chair

____________________________ CAROL FUKUNAGA, Chair