STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1772

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2009

RE:   H.C.R. No. 174

      H.D. 1

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fifth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2009

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Water, Land, & Ocean Resources, to which was referred H.C.R. No. 174 entitled:

"HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF BUSINESS, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, AND TOURISM TO ESTABLISH A WORKING GROUP TO INVESTIGATE THE FEASIBILITY OF CREATING A MARKET IN THE TOURISM INDUSTRY FOR RIFLERY, ARCHERY, AND HUNTING ACTIVITIES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this concurrent resolution is to request the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism (DBEDT) to establish a working group to investigate the feasibility of creating a market in the tourism industry for riflery, archery, and hunting activities.

     The Hawaii Rifle Association, West Hawaii Gun Club, Hawaii Island Public Shooting Range Working Group, and several concerned individuals supported this concurrent resolution.  DBEDT and several concerned individuals opposed this concurrent resolution.

     Your Committee notes the potential for expanded tourism opportunities in the wealth of outdoor activities available in the state.  Your Committee further finds that this potential is not limited to riflery, archery, and hunting activities, but includes a wide variety of outdoor activities, like hiking, fishing, and watersports.  Accordingly, your Committee has amended this concurrent resolution to request the Hawaii Tourism Authority (HTA) to investigate the feasibility of creating a market in the tourism industry for outdoor activities.  Specifically, your Committee has amended this concurrent resolution by:

     (1)  Expanding the scope of the requested investigation to include all outdoor activities;

     (2)  Replacing DBEDT with HTA as the agency responsible for conducting the investigation and reporting back to the Legislature;

     (3)  Deleting the request to convene and support a working group to research and report on the viability of attracting tourists to participate in riflery, archery, and hunting activities; and

     (4)  Changing the title to reflect the amended request.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Water, Land, & Ocean Resources that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of H.C.R. No. 174, as amended herein, and recommends its adoption in the form attached hereto as H.C.R. No. 174, H.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Water, Land, & Ocean Resources,

____________________________

KEN ITO, Chair