STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1451

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.R. No. 46

S.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 S.R. No. 46 entitled:

"SENATE RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF BUSINESS, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, AND TOURISM TO SPONSOR A MICHELIN GUIDE FOR RESTAURANTS ACROSS THE STATE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to request the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism to sponsor a Michelin Guide for restaurants across the State.

Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from one individual.

Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority.

Your Committee finds that the Michelin Guide for restaurants, with its star-based evaluations, has become a world standard. Your Committee further finds that while the State's culinary scene has been rapidly evolving, attracting multiple Michelin-starred chefs and restaurants, the Michelin Guide does not send its inspectors to Hawaii. Your Committee believes that the award of one or more Michelin stars can offer a steady supply of diners, eager sous chefs, and endless publicity for a chef or restaurant. Your Committee concludes that sponsoring a Michelin Guide for restaurants across the State will allow the State's restaurant industry to flourish.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Requesting the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism to review and evaluate the cost-benefit and return on investment of a possible sponsorship of a Michelin Guide for restaurants across the State, rather than requesting the Department to sponsor; and

(2) Amending its title accordingly.

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 S.R. No. 46, as amended herein, and recommends its adoption in the form attached hereto as S.R. No. 46, S.D. 1.

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

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LYNN DECOITE, Chair