STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1147

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2007

RE:   H.B. No. 569

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2007

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 569 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO TOURISM,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to enable the public and private sectors, including state and county agencies, to explore ways to revitalize Waikiki in a cooperative and creative manner by establishing a temporary Tourism Economic District Taskforce (Taskforce) to identify and designate one particular district within Waikiki to be the Tourism Economic District.

     The Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism testified in support of the intent of this bill.  The Hawaii Tourism Authority submitted comments on this measure.

     Your Committee recognizes the importance of Waikiki with regard to the State's economy and realizes that the Taskforce must work with the City and County of Honolulu in order for the revitalization of Waikiki to come to fruition.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 569 and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Finance,

____________________________

MARCUS R. OSHIRO, Chair