STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3012

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 1065

S.D. 3

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 1065, S.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF BUSINESS, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, AND TOURISM,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to add to the Hawaii Tourism Authority's scope and responsibilities.

More specifically, this measure:

(1) Includes best practice destination management and regenerative tourism in the Hawaii Tourism Authority's scope and responsibilities;

(2) Requires the Hawaii Tourism Authority to develop a tourism management plan that includes tourism marketing, best practice destination management, and regenerative tourism;

(3) Requires the Hawaii Tourism Authority to rebuild, redefine, and reset the direction of tourism based on certain objectives and by taking specific actions outlined in each county's destination management action plan;

(4) Outlines the actions contained in each county's destination management action plan; and

(5) Appropriates moneys for the Hawaii Tourism Authority to carry out the action items outlined in each county's destination management action plan.

Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Maui County Council; Kihei Community Association; We Are One, Inc.; and numerous individuals.

Your Committee received written comments in opposition to this measure from Fair Wind Cruises.

Your Committee received written comments on this measure from the Department of Budget and Finance, Hawaii Tourism Authority, Hawaii Lodging and Tourism Association, and Kohala Coast Resort Association.

Your Committee finds that this measure will help to ensure that each community is able to participate in the determination of the direction, and mitigation of the impacts, of tourism in that community.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Deleting language outlining the specific actions contained in each island's respective destination management action plan;

(2) Replacing the identification of specific years for each county destination management action plan with a reference to the number of years that each plan encompasses; and

(3) Making technical nonsubstantive changes for purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1065, S.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1065, S.D. 3.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

________________________________

DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair