STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2018-18

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2018

RE: S.C.R. No. 183

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2018

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Tourism and Transportation, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 183 entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION URGING VARIOUS GOVERNMENT ENTITIES TO DEVELOP, UPDATE, AND INTRODUCE POLICIES RELATED TO HELICOPTER AIR TOURS AT THE STATE AND NATIONAL LEVEL,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to address community concerns about noise and improve operator and visitor safety by urging appropriate federal and state agencies to develop, update, and introduce policies related to helicopter air tours by, among other things:

(1) Urging state and federal agencies to work with community stakeholders and the local helicopter tour industry to update air tour flight paths to include a proposed off-shore route, among other things; and

(2) Urging Hawaii air tour operators to operate helicopters within specified times before and after sunrise and sunset.

The Mayor of the County of Hawai‘i, Hawaii Island Coalition Malama Pono, and several concerned individuals supported this measure.

Your Committees have amended this measure by:

(1) Urging the appropriate government agencies in updating air tour flight paths to include a variety of recommended routes, rather than only a proposed off-shore route;

(2) Clarifying the operational time periods before and after sunrise and sunset for Hawaii helicopter air tour operators by referencing the Honolulu website of the United States Naval Observatory; and

(3) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for consistency, clarity, and style.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Tourism and Transportation that are attached to this report, your Committees concur with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 183, as amended herein, and recommend that it be referred to your Committee on Judiciary, in the form attached hereto as S.C.R. No. 183, H.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Tourism and Transportation,

____________________________ HENRY J.C. AQUINO, Chair

____________________________ RICHARD H.K. ONISHI, Chair