STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3237

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.C.R. No. 147

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2018

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Economic Development, Tourism, and Technology and Judiciary, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 147 entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE HAWAII TOURISM AUTHORITY TO SEND A LETTER TO THE UNITED STATES OLYMPIC COMMITTEE, INTERNATIONAL OLYMPIC COMMITTEE, AND TOKYO ORGANIZING COMMITTEE OF THE OLYMPIC AND PARALYMPIC GAMES STATING THAT THE STATE OF HAWAII IS THE IDEAL LOCATION FOR SPORTS TRAINING FOR ATHLETES FOR THE UPCOMING 2020 TOKYO OLYMPICS AND PARALYMPICS,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to request the Hawaii Tourism Authority to send a letter to the United States and International Olympic Committees and Tokyo Organizing Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games stating that Hawaii is the ideal location for sports training for athletes for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and Paralympic Games.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the O‘ahu County Committee on Legislative Priorities of the Democratic Party of Hawai‘i. Your Committees received comments on this measure from the Hawaii Tourism Authority.

Your Committees find that sporting events in Hawaii have generated revenue for the State through advertisements, promotions, endorsements, merchandising, and more. In 2016, sports tourism in Hawaii was projected to bring in roughly $144,000,000 in revenue from various sporting events hosted in Hawaii. Your Committees note that one of the Hawaii Tourism Authority's objectives is to promote sports tourism throughout the State.

Your Committees also find that Hawaii is in a prime location and can act as a hub for those traveling to Tokyo, Japan, for the 2020 Olympics and Paralympic Games or training for the Games. Your Committees note the newly introduced sports for the 2020 Olympic Games include baseball and softball, sports climbing, karate, skateboarding, and surfing, and believe that Hawaii has appropriate facilities and venues for training in these sports. Your Committees find that the 2020 Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games pose a great opportunity for Hawaii to work with one of its closest international partners in preparing for a global event.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Economic Development, Tourism, and Technology and Judiciary that are attached to this report, your Committees concur with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 147 and recommend that it be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Economic Development, Tourism, and Technology and Judiciary,

________________________________ BRIAN T. TANIGUCHI, Chair

________________________________ GLENN WAKAI, Chair