HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.R. NO.

103

TWENTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2004

H.D. 1

STATE OF HAWAII

 
   


HOUSE RESOLUTION

 

REQUESTING the HAWAII TOURISM AUTHORITY to reduce barriers to travel and promote tourism between the Philippines and hawaii.

 

WHEREAS, the Hawaii Tourism Authority (HTA) is a public instrumentality of the State dedicated to tourism; and

WHEREAS, the HTA's mission is "to strategically manage the growth of Hawaii's visitor industry in a manner consistent with [Hawaii's] economic goal, cultural values, preservation of natural resources and community interests"; and

WHEREAS, the HTA's powers include the ability to:

(1) Work to eliminate or reduce barriers to travel in order to provide a positive and competitive business environment, including coordinating with the department of transportation on issues affecting airlines and air route development;

(2) Market and promote sports-related activities and events; and

(3) Coordinate the development of new products with the counties and other public sectors and private sectors, including the development of sports, culture, health, education, business, and eco-tourism;

and

WHEREAS, members of the Filipino community have contributed significantly and substantially to Hawaii since their arrival in the islands in 1906; and

WHEREAS, the rich culture and proud heritage of the Filipino people have flourished and are a positive influence in Hawaii; and

WHEREAS, the centennial anniversary of the arrival of the first Filipinos in Hawaii will be celebrated in 2006 and the Legislature, pursuant to Act 159, Session Laws of Hawaii 2002, established a temporary Filipino Centennial Celebration Commission to plan for the commemoration of the centennial anniversary; and

WHEREAS, with the upcoming centennial anniversary, the large Filipino population in Hawaii and the historical ties between these areas, travel between the Philippines and Hawaii presents an area of potentially significant tourism growth; and

WHEREAS, the HTA is positioned to play a pivotal role in the development of travel between the Philippines and Hawaii; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-second Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2004, that the HTA is requested to work directly with any and all federal, state, and county

agencies, including the United States Citizenship and

Immigration Services, Department of Business, Economic

Development, and Tourism, and the Filipino Centennial

Celebration Commission to:

(1) Coordinate its efforts to help reduce travel barriers between the Philippines and Hawaii; and

(2) Coordinate the development of sports, culture, health and wellness, technology, agriculture, and nature tourism between Hawaii and the Philippines;

and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the HTA is requested to develop a detailed strategic plan to carry out this task and to report its findings and recommended strategic plan, including specific deliverables and a timeline, 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 Resolution be transmitted to the Director of the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services of the Department of Homeland Security, the Governor, President of the Republic of the Philippines, Executive Director of the HTA, Director of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism, Mayors of all of the counties, Chairperson of the Filipino Centennial Celebration Commission, and the Philippine Consul General in Hawaii.

 

 

Report Title:

Hawaii Tourism Authority; Philippines-Hawaii Travel and Tourism