STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2929

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.C.R. No. 37

       S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2016

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committees on Tourism and International Affairs and Higher Education and the Arts, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 37 entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION ENCOURAGING THE HAWAII TOURISM AUTHORITY AND STATE HISTORIC PRESERVATION DIVISION TO WORK WITH COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS TO ASSIST IN THE ESTABLISHMENT OF HISTORICAL MARKERS AND TRAILS,"

beg leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to encourage the Hawaii Tourism Authority and State Historic Preservation Division of the Department of Land and Natural Resources to work with community organizations to assist in and support the establishment of historical markers and trails.

     Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Outrigger Enterprises Group.  Your Committees received comments on this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources.

     Your Committees find that the visitor pursuit of a more authentic experience has resulted in increased tourism in Hawaii's small rural communities.  Historical trails and walking tours have been utilized by community stakeholders to identify historic individuals or landmarks, encourage pedestrian traffic, and improve the local economy.  Historical trails and walking tours have been created in Waikiki, Haleiwa, and Lahaina to increase cultural heritage tourism.

     Your Committees have amended this measure by:

     (1)  Adding the Chairperson of the Board of Land and Natural Resources as a recipient of a certified copy; 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 Tourism and International Affairs and Higher Education and the Arts that are attached to this report, your Committees concur with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 37, as amended herein, and recommend that it be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means, in the form attached hereto as S.C.R. No. 37, S.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Tourism and International Affairs and Higher Education and the Arts,

________________________________ BRIAN T. TANIGUCHI, Chair

________________________________ J. KALANI ENGLISH, Majority Leader