HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.C.R. NO.

297

TWENTY-SIXTH LEGISLATURE, 2011

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

HOUSE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

 

 

ENCOURAGING THE HAWAII TOURISM AUTHORITY TO CONVENE A TASK FORCE to study OPPORTUNITIES TO PROMOTE AND EXPAND HERITAGE TOURISM.

 

 

 


     WHEREAS, Hawaii has a unique and culturally rich heritage that can be found in its architecture, artifacts, oral and written histories, music, dress, foods, and people; and

 

     WHEREAS, with nearly six-and-a-half million visitors a year from around the world who spend more than $12,000,000,000 a year, the visitor industry is the State's primary economic driver; and

 

     WHEREAS, one of the fastest developing segments of the visitor industry, Heritage Tourism, focuses on sharing Hawaii's rich cultural diversity with visitors; and

 

WHEREAS, heritage tourism is a clean, low-impact, ecologically sensitive way to grow and develop the visitor industry and strengthen Hawaii's economy; and

 

     WHEREAS, the National Trust for Historic Preservation has conducted various studies that find that tourists who visit historic sites and cultural attractions stay longer and spend an average of $623 per trip, compared with an average of $347 spent per trip by other visitors; and

 

     WHEREAS, Hawaii has many noteworthy and culturally unique areas of interest, including Bishop Museum, Iolani Palace, Lahaina Whaling Town, Ewa Plantation Village, Waikiki Natatorium, churches, temples, heiaus, Pearl Harbor, and the Pacific Aviation Museum, which was recently ranked as one of the ten best aviation museums in the United States; and

 

     WHEREAS, a 2009 audit of the Hawaii Tourism Authority found a lack of long term vision and strategic planning to promote and increase all sectors of tourism in the State; and

 

     WHEREAS, the Hawaii Tourism Authority, combined with the expertise of the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism; the State Historic Preservation Division; the Office of Hawaiian Affairs; and other culturally based community groups, has the resources to formulate a comprehensive plan to invest in historic and culturally based tourism opportunities in the State; and

 

     WHEREAS, the Heritage Caucus of the Hawaii State Legislature is proud of the resources and talent that showcases our culturally diverse and unique State; now, therefore,

 

     BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-sixth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2011, the Senate concurring, that the Hawaii Tourism Authority is requested to convene a task force to study opportunities to promote and expand heritage tourism in the State; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Hawaii Tourism Authority is requested to compose the task force of the following members:

 

     (1)  The Director of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism, or the Director's designee;

 

     (2)  A representative from the State Historic Preservation Division, Department of Land and Natural Resources;

 

     (3)  A representative from the State Foundation on Culture and the Arts; and

 

     (4)  The Chairperson of the Board of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs; and

 

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Hawaii Tourism Authority is requested to invite a representative from each of the following organizations to serve as members of the task force:

 

     (1)  Historic Hawaii Foundation;

 

     (2)  Arts of Aloha;

 

     (3)  Haleiwa Main Street Program;

 

     (4)  Bishop Museum;

 

     (5)  Hawaii Capitol Cultural Coalition;

 

     (6)  Daughters of Hawaii;

 

     (7)  Saint Damien Museum and Archives;

 

     (8)  Friends of Iolani Palace;

 

     (9)  Japanese Cultural Center of Hawaii;

 

    (10)  Hawaii Plantation Village;

 

    (11)  Scenic Hawaii;

 

    (12)  Saint Andrews Cathedral;

 

    (13)  Lahaina Historic District;

 

    (14)  Washington Place;

 

    (15)  Historic Hilo Downtown Association;

 

    (16)  Pacific Aviation Museum;

 

    (17)  Pearl Harbor Memorial Association; and

 

    (18)  Other organizations with expertise in, or a mission focused on, heritage tourism; and

 

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Hawaii Tourism Authority is requested to serve as Chairperson of the task force; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Hawaii Tourism Authority is requested to submit to the Legislature, no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2012, a report of the findings and recommendations of the Task Force, including any proposed legislation; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Governor; the Mayors of the Counties of Hawaii, Kauai, Maui, and the City and County of Honolulu; the Director of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism; the Director of Accounting and General Services, and the Chairperson of the Board of Land and Natural Resources; the Chairperson of the Board of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs; the Chairperson of the Board of the Hawaii Tourism Authority; and the executive directors of the cultural and historic organizations listed above.

 

 

 

 

OFFERED BY:

_____________________________

 

 

Report Title: 

Hawaii Tourism Authority; Heritage Tourism Task Force