STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1104

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.R. No. 135

Honorable Donna Mercado Kim

President of the Senate

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2013

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Economic Development, Government Operations and Housing, to which was referred S.R. No. 135 entitled:

"SENATE RESOLUTION URGING THE DEPARTMENT OF BUSINESS, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, AND TOURISM TO ESTABLISH AN OLYMPIC COMMITTEE TO INVESTIGATE THE FEASIBILITY OF HOSTING THE OLYMPIC GAMES IN HAWAII,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to request the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism to establish a committee to:

     (1)  Investigate the feasibility of hosting the Olympic Games in Hawaii;

     (2)  Identify a potential city within the State to host the Olympic Games;

     (3)  Develop and submit a proposal to the International Olympic Committee for Hawaii to host the 2024 Olympic Games; and

     (4)  Report its findings and recommendations to the Legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the 2014 Regular Session.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from one individual.  Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism.

     Your Committee notes that the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism stated that it does not have the resources to conduct a study of the feasibility of hosting the Olympic games, identify a potential city within the State to host the Olympic Games, and prepare a proposal and application.  The Department conservatively estimates it would require $750,000 to fulfill this request.  However, your Committee finds that hosting the Olympic Games in Hawaii may confer considerable benefits upon the State, including international prestige; increased employment; infrastructure modernization; new business opportunities; advertising revenues; and an increase in tourism.  Your Committee believes that the study requested by this measure will be useful in determining the likelihood of achieving the foregoing benefits, the costs involved, and the net impact that hosting the Olympic Games would have on Hawaii's economy.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Economic Development, Government Operations and Housing that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.R. No. 135 and recommends that it be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Economic Development, Government Operations and Housing,

____________________________

DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair