STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1072

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.C.R. No. 132

       S.D. 1

Honorable Shan S. Tsutsui

President of the Senate

Twenty-Sixth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2011

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committees on Education and Tourism and Health, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 132 entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING AN EXPLORATORY STUDY ON HAWAII'S SUITABILITY AS A CLIMATOTHERAPY TOURISM DESTINATION FOR ATOPIC DISEASE PATIENTS FROM EAST ASIA,"

beg leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to request the University of Hawai‘i at Manoa, in partnership with the Hawai‘i Tourism Authority, to undertake an exploratory study evaluating Hawaii's suitability as a climatotherapy tourism destination for atopic disease patients from East Asia.

     Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawai‘i Tourism Authority and six individuals.

     Your Committees find that Hawaii's clean air, light humidity, and remote location may offer therapeutic relief to those suffering from atopic dermatitis.  Your Committees further find that Hawaii is in an advantageous position to capture a portion of the revenue of the climatotherapy tourism market.

     Your Committees have amended this measure by:

     (1)  Requesting that the exploratory study include:

          (A)  A determination of the size of the East Asian market for climatotherapy services for atopic disease patients;

          (B)  Identification of enterprises and operators in the State that can provide the climatotheraphy services required by patients suffering from atopic disease; and

          (C)  An evaluation of the potential business and health industry needs that may arise from the promotion of Hawaii as a climatotherapy destination for atopic disease patients; and

     (2)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Education and Tourism and Health that are attached to this report, your Committees concur with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 132, as amended herein, and recommend its adoption in the form attached hereto as S.C.R. No. 132, S.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Education and Tourism and Health,

____________________________ DONNA MERCADO KIM, Chair	____________________________ JILL TOKUDA, Chair
	____________________________ JOSH GREEN, M.D., Chair