HB1582

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that the Pacific Aviation Museum, established in 1999 at Pearl Harbor, is a not-for-profit entity designated by the Internal Revenue Service as a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization. The purpose of the museum is to develop a portion of Ford island into a world-class aviation museum that will honor the patriotism, valor, and sacrifice made by aviators and their ground support personnel in the defense of freedom in the Pacific. The scope of the new museum will include information about World War II, the Korean war, the cold war, the Vietnam conflict, and current American air power. It will feature diorama exhibits, period and reproduction aircraft, an aviation education center, a flight simulation center, a theater, a museum store, a food service area, and a library.

To date, the museum has raised $13,200,000 in federal, state, and private funds for phase one and $1,800,000 for phase two of its development plans. In 2004, the legislature appropriated a $1,000,000 grant-in-aid for phase one of the museum. In 2006, the legislature appropriated $500,000 of a requested $2,000,000 for phase two of the museum. The museum opened to the public on December 7, 2006, after a construction phase lasting approximately nine months. The cost for restoration of hangar thirty-seven, interior improvements, exhibit fabrication, aircraft acquisition, and related expenses totaled approximately $12,700,000. The museum has been widely acclaimed as an excellent addition to the USS Arizona, USS Missouri, and USS Bowfin memorials.

Additional state funds are necessary to provide the foundation for phase two of the museum to be housed in hangar seventy-nine on Ford island. Phase two implementation will include plans, design, and construction to improve and restore hangar seventy-nine, which comprises eighty-five thousand square feet. The current cost to complete phase two is estimated at $33,000,000. Phase two exhibits will encompass the remaining campaigns of World War II, together with an introduction to the Korean war and the Vietnam conflict. The museum will complete its fundraising in Hawaii over the next six months and will then launch a national campaign to fund the balance of phase two development.

The legislature finds that the State's ongoing support is extremely important in demonstrating to potential mainland funding sources the State’s strong backing of the expanded museum. The legislature further finds that it is critical for the State to appropriate the necessary funds to preserve aviation history and honor those who fought for our freedom.

The purpose of this Act is to appropriate moneys to the Pacific Aviation Museum at Pearl Harbor to implement phase two of the museum's development plans.

SECTION 2. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $1,500,000, or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2007-2008, as a grant under Chapter 42F, Hawaii Revised Statutes, to implement phase two of the development of the Pacific Aviation Museum at Pearl Harbor.

The sum appropriated shall be expended by the Hawaii tourism authority, provided that funds expended shall be restricted to the planning, designing, and construction of museum facilities at hangar seventy-nine on Ford island.

SECTION 3. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2007.

INTRODUCED BY:	_____________________________

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	1582
TWENTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE, 2007
STATE OF HAWAII