STAND. COM. REP. NO. 632

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 170

       S.D. 2

Honorable Donna Mercado Kim

President of the Senate

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2013

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committees on Tourism and Hawaiian Affairs and Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 170, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO TOURISM,"

beg leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to expand the powers and duties of the Hawaii Tourism Authority to include perpetuating the uniqueness and importance of the native Hawaiian culture and community and the importance of the native Hawaiian culture and community to the quality of the visitor experience by ensuring that:

     (1)  Native Hawaiian culture is accurately portrayed by Hawaii's visitor industry;

     (2)  Native Hawaiian cultural practitioners and cultural sites that give value to Hawaii's heritage are supported, nurtured, and engaged in sustaining the visitor industry; and

     (3)  A native Hawaiian cultural education and training program is provided for the visitor industry workforce having direct contact with visitors.

     Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaii Tourism Authority, Department of Transportation, and four individuals.

     Your Committees find that, in a competitive tourism market, native Hawaiian practices such as ho‘okipa, or greeting and welcoming strangers, are a large part of what makes a Hawaii visitor's experience unique.  It is vital to the tourist industry that the State preserves the dignity of the native Hawaiian culture and preserves those attributes that make Hawaii a desirable destination and top visitor attraction.

     Your Committees have amended this measure by:

     (1)  Clarifying that the Hawaii Tourism Authority, in perpetuating the uniqueness and importance of the native Hawaiian culture to visitors, must support and normalize the Hawaiian language as an official language of the State and as a foundation of the host culture that attracts visitors to Hawaii; and

     (2)  Inserting an effective date of July 1, 2050, to encourage further discussion. 

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Tourism and Hawaiian Affairs and Ways and Means that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 170, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 170, S.D. 2, and be placed on the calendar for Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Tourism and Hawaiian Affairs and Ways and Means,

____________________________ DAVID Y. IGE, Chair

____________________________ BRICKWOOD GALUTERIA, Chair