HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.C.R. NO.

91

TWENTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2004

H.D. 1

STATE OF HAWAII

 
   


HOUSE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

 

requesting the governor to form a task force to research and collect input from local tour operators and the local community, relative to creating a comprehensive definition of ecotourism AND DEVELOPING STANDARDS and OPERATING guidelines for implementation of an ecotourism program.

 

WHEREAS, Hawaii is heavily dependent on its tourism industry; and

WHEREAS, the continuing success of tourism in Hawaii, in turn, is heavily dependent on the natural environmental beauty of the Islands; and

WHEREAS, tourism and Hawaii's natural environmental beauty work hand-in-hand in what many refer to as "ecotourism"; and

WHEREAS, ecotourism is fast becoming a significant component of Hawaii's tourism industry; and

WHEREAS, ecotourism is defined by various organizations in a variety of ways, such as:

"Nature- and culture-based tourism that is ecologically sustainable and supports the well-being of local communities";

"Nature-based travel to Hawaii's natural attractions to experience and study Hawaii's unique flora, fauna, and culture in a manner which is ecologically responsible, sustains the well-being of the local community, and is infused with the spirit of aloha aina";

"Tourism involving travel to areas of natural or ecological interest, typically under the guidance of a naturalist, for the purpose of observing wildlife and learning about the environment"; and

WHEREAS, in developing the ecotourism industry in Hawaii, where the State and its people are mandated by the State Constitution to be caretakers of the land and its resources and where many of these resources are traditionally, culturally, spiritually, medicinally, and otherwise significant to native Hawaiians and the general public, it is important to follow the guiding principles of The International Ecotourism Society, which include:

(1) Minimizing impact;

(2) Building environmental and cultural awareness and respect;

(3) Providing positive experiences for both visitors and hosts;

(4) Providing direct financial benefits for conservation;

(5) Providing financial benefits and empowerment for local people;

(6) Raising sensitivity to host countries' political, environmental, and social climate; and

(7) Supporting international human rights and labor agreements;

and

WHEREAS, to facilitate and encourage the further development of the ecotourism industry in Hawaii, while ensuring the protection of Hawaii's natural environment, there is a need for a clear, comprehensive definition of "ecotourism" and the development of standards and operating guidelines for the ecotourism industry; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-second Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2004, the Senate concurring, that the Governor is requested to establish a task force to research and collect input from local tour operators, the local community, environmentalists, and the Hawaiian community relative to creating a clear comprehensive definition of "ecotourism" and develop standards and operating guidelines for implementation of an ecotourism program; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Governor is requested to include in the composition of the task force representatives from:

(1) The Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism;

(2) Hawaii Tourism Authority;

(3) The Department of Land and Natural Resources;

(4) The Office of Hawaiian Affairs;

(5) The School of Travel Industry Management of the University of Hawaii;

(6) The Hawaii Ecotourism Association;

(7) Other environmental groups;

(8) Local tour operators; and

(9) The local community;

and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Governor is requested to submit the findings and recommendations of the task force to the Legislature no later than 20 days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2005; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Governor; Director of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism; Chairperson of the Board of Land and Natural Resources; Chairperson of the Board of Trustees of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, each of whom in turn is requested to distribute copies of this Concurrent Resolution to members of the local tour operators, the local community, environmental groups, and the Hawaiian community.

 

 

Report Title:

Ecotourism Defined; Governor's Task Force