STAND. COM. REP. NO. 427

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 1320

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2021

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Energy, Economic Development, and Tourism, to which was referred S.B. No. 1320 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO REGENERATIVE TOURISM,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to incorporate a regenerative framework into the State Planning Act by establishing objectives and policies for the visitor industry.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the City and County of Honolulu, Office of Economic Revitalization; Hawai‘i Tourism Authority; one member of the Hawai‘i County Council; Waikiki Neighborhood Board; Imua Alliance; Conscious Concepts; and eighty individuals. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from one individual. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Office of Planning and two individuals.

Your Committee finds that the tourism industry is a significant part of the State's economy as a whole and linked inextricably with other sectors. Emerging from the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic gives Hawaii an opportunity to restart with a regenerative design for tourism that embraces biosphere stewardship and recognizes that we have the responsibility to preserve the health of our land in a better condition than we found it. Your Committee believes that this measure enhances the capacity of state government, its relevant agencies, and the community to position our economy toward a more resilient and sustainable future for generations to come.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Energy, Economic Development, and Tourism that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1320 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committees on Ways and Means and Judiciary.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Energy, Economic Development, and Tourism,

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GLENN WAKAI, Chair