STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1876

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.C.R. No. 102

H.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Economic Development and Tourism, to which was referred H.C.R. No. 102, H.D. 1, entitled:

"HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION STRONGLY URGING THE REAL ESTATE COMMISSION TO ALLOW FOR THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE REAL ESTATE SALESPERSON'S EXAMINATION IN THE JAPANESE LANGUAGE FOR PURPOSES OF ISSUING A LIMITED REAL ESTATE SALESPERSON'S LICENSE, FOR THE SALE OF TIMESHARE PRODUCTS IN HAWAII, TO JAPANESE NATIONAL VISITORS FOR THE PURPOSE OF ENHANCING JAPAN'S INVOLVEMENT IN AND SUPPORT OF THE HAWAII TOURISM INDUSTRY,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to strongly urge the Real Estate Commission to allow for the administration of the real estate salesperson's examination in the Japanese language for purposes of issuing a limited real estate salesperson's license, for the sale of timeshare products in Hawaii, to Japanese national visitors for the purposes of enhancing Japan's involvement in and support of the Hawaii tourism industry.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism; American Resort Development Association-Hawaii; and Marriot Vacations Worldwide Corporation.

Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Real Estate Commission.

Your Committee finds that in contrast to visitors who stay in hotels, timeshare owners are more likely to become involved in, and consistently support, the local economy, as they return to Hawaii multiple times and on a regular basis. Your Committee further finds that the State's timeshare industry desires to cultivate greater Japanese involvement; however, it has found it difficult to hire a sufficient number of licensed salespersons who are fluent in Japanese to meet the demand of the Japanese market and facilitate an increase in the number of Japanese visitors to Hawaii. By urging the real estate salesperson's examination to be administered in Japanese, this measure will promote the sale of timeshares to Japanese nationals and increase their support of the State's economy.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Economic Development and Tourism that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of H.C.R. No. 102, H.D. 1, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection.

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

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LYNN DECOITE, Chair